Just did my first ride on Skye

pinkteapot

PERFECT day up here - clear blue skies and no wind! Quick 11 mile spin before we go out for the day. Not that quick because I kept stopping to look at the views.

Actually went "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" out loud like a small child as I zipped down a hill because it was that much fun. It's amazing here.

http://app.strava.com/activities/59155733

Cleat Eastwood

haha excellent - who needs McEpo when you have lovely weather

daviesee

If you've not done the Quiraing on your main loop then you have missed out.
Then there is the Kyle of Lochalsh, Dornie, Glenelg, Skye loop.
Then the Plockton loop.
Then the Bealach na Ba.
Then the........ :P

Jehannum

As long as you're in Portree, I'd recommend a trip up the coast road past the Old Man of Storr. Stunning scenery: I'm deeply envious of you.

:-(

-spider-

Daviesee calm down - ye'll ha'e the place hoachin' wi towrists

daviesee

-spider- wrote:

Daviesee calm down - ye'll ha'e the place hoachin' wi towrists

Sorry. :oops:
Naw. Ye are richt enough. The place is hoachin' wi midges. Horrible wee beasties.
And it rains all the time. When it isn't, it is snowing.
And when it isn't blowing a gale, it is a hurricane.

Phew....

-spider-

That's better.

pinkteapot

Not had another chance to get back out on my bike yet (MrTeapot doesn't cycle, so it's getting out around things we're doing). Too busy having awesome fun - trip on a RIB yesterday, and swimming in the Fairy Pools which was simply incredible.

Did spot this though - alright, who parked up on the side of a hill in Glenbrittle Forest?

https://picasaweb.google.com/1074504467 ... 0992611362

-spider-

Take a walk up the Quiraing or the Old Man of Storr - superb (you could involce the bike for the first of these and do the North Skye loop at the same time).

thefd

Try Beleach Na Ba tomorrow - not too far away!!

pinkteapot

Went walking at the Quiraing today - simply amazing. I failed miserably to manage the scramble up onto the Table, but we walked round, past the Prison, underneath the cliffs, then up on top (looking down on the Table) and along back to the car park.

Did all this before reading the suggestions on this thread properly. Was VERY excited by this road:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1074504467 ... 5332586082

The Quiraing car park is 20 miles from where we're staying. Was tempted to have my husband drop me and my bike up here then cycle back, starting with this descent. Then I noticed how hilly the drive back to Portree was.

daviesee

Yup!
That's the one I was alluding to. :P

-spider-

Amazing road to cycle - my dad took me over that when I was 12 - cycling old, steel, caliper brake heaps of junk that we hired in Portree. Brilliant day though.

...and there is a path up on to the table you know?

Just south of Staffin on the main road back to Portree there is a path down the cliffs at the Kilt Rocks - also an amazing experience.

And simply for the view - go to Elgol. You wont regret it.


Oh - and the Bealach suggestion is great. Just the Tornapress to Applecross bit is fantastic. Sea level to sea level, eleven and half miles reaching a height of 2000ft - but the whole loop, if you have time, is stunning.

daviesee

-spider- wrote:

Amazing road to cycle - my dad took me over that when I was 12 - cycling old, steel, caliper brake heaps of junk that we hired in Portree. Brilliant day though.

...and there is a path up on to the table you know?

Just south of Staffin on the main road back to Portree there is a path down the cliffs at the Kilt Rocks - also an amazing experience.

And simply for the view - go to Elgol. You wont regret it.

^^^^ This ^^^^
And the boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk is well worth it if the cloud level is high enough.

pinkteapot

We went out on the RIB from Elgol on Monday - it was amazing - the sea was absolutely flat calm. We came here three years ago, just for two days, and did the trip to Loch Coruisk which is a wonderful spot.

Re the Table at Quiraing - arrrrggghhhhh. We walked along the path to the Prison then ploughed on past it for about a mile, before climbing upwards then switching back to walk along the top of the cliff overlooking the Table, then down towards the car park again. I had wanted to get onto the Table! We then walked to the Prison again. Saw the path to the left this time and headed up it, but it's incredibly loose underfoot and very steep. I get a bit freaked out on loose stuff so we gave up halfway up. Then attempted it again on the grassy bit to the right of the path. Got as far as the foot of the Needle but then it started raining and we were concerned about getting back down the grass if it got wet and slippy, so gave up again.

Never been defeated by a hill before!

I hadn't properly read up on the walks there before going. Apparently to get to the Table, once you reach the Needle you have to scramble up a gully that's a bit of a pain when wet? It's low cloud and set-in rain here today, and it's forecast to be showery for the rest of the week (heading to Uist on Saturday) so I'm not sure we'll get another crack at it.

-spider-

Save the table for your next visit.

The Uists are a bit flatter than some of the roads on Skye but you'll still encouter one or two fine climbs - Eriskay is interesting and fun (well it is all fun really). The roads are really quiet and you will encouter incredible beaches.

How are you returning to the mainland - same route as out or one of the other ferries?

Enjoy!

daviesee

-spider- wrote:

Save the table for your next visit.

The Uists are a bit flatter than some of the roads on Skye but you'll still encouter one or two fine climbs - Eriskay is interesting and fun (well it is all fun really). The roads are really quiet and you will encouter incredible beaches.

How are you returning to the mainland - same route as out or one of the other ferries?

Enjoy!

I bet the climb off the Eriskay ferry from Barra catches out a lot of cyclo-tourists. :shock:

PS:- I can recommend the Polochar Inn at the bottom end of South Uist for either lodging or meals.

pinkteapot

I plotted out the run from the southern tip of Eriskay to the northern-most point of North Uist on ridewithgps and noticed the climb out of Eriskay.

Re route, we drove from Essex to Portree in one day (lonnnggg!), then on Saturday we're getting the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry. Next Saturday afternoon we're getting the Lochboisdale-Oban ferry, then staying overnight in Oban and driving home the next day, which is only about nine hours compared to the twelve to Portree.

Did my second ride yesterday as had a bit of time before dinner:
http://app.strava.com/activities/59939930

15 miles and 1,300ft of ascent (Strava added a few hundred feet as it made up a hill). The most ascent I've done on a ride at home is 1,100ft and that was on a 60 miler!

Average speed ruined by the visibility on the single track road - I couldn't fly down the hills like I wanted to!

Also want to go back and do the Varrigal Bridge Hill segment again. I came zipping down the prior descent, then a van came down the hill so I had to stop in a passing place at the bottom and do the segment from a standing start. I want to do it again with momentum.

I'll get more time for biking on Uist as the husband is into bird photography (avian ) and there's more he wants to go out and find there than on Skye. We're staying pretty much in the middle - top end of South Uist.

-spider-

daviesee wrote:

PS:- I can recommend the Polochar Inn at the bottom end of South Uist for either lodging or meals.

+1

Great place to eat/stay - especially at sunset. Be warned, sometimes they don't seem to close (if you're trying to sleep upstairs).

-spider-

pinkteapot wrote:

I plotted out the run from the southern tip of Eriskay to the northern-most point of North Uist on ridewithgps and noticed the climb out of Eriskay.

Re route, we drove from Essex to Portree in one day (lonnnggg!), then on Saturday we're getting the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry. Next Saturday afternoon we're getting the Lochboisdale-Oban ferry, then staying overnight in Oban and driving home the next day, which is only about nine hours compared to the twelve to Portree.

Did my second ride yesterday as had a bit of time before dinner:
http://app.strava.com/activities/59939930

15 miles and 1,300ft of ascent (Strava added a few hundred feet as it made up a hill). The most ascent I've done on a ride at home is 1,100ft and that was on a 60 miler!

Average speed ruined by the visibility on the single track road - I couldn't fly down the hills like I wanted to!

Also want to go back and do the Varrigal Bridge Hill segment again. I came zipping down the prior descent, then a van came down the hill so I had to stop in a passing place at the bottom and do the segment from a standing start. I want to do it again with momentum.

I'll get more time for biking on Uist as the husband is into bird photography (avian ) and there's more he wants to go out and find there than on Skye. We're staying pretty much in the middle - top end of South Uist.

Good cycle trip - there appears to be loads for you to go back to - another trip would seem to be essential.

At the north end of South Uist I can recommend the Orosay Inn for food (it is along a dead end to the east side of the island) but avoid the Dark Island on Benbecula (unless there is music/a party on). Benbecula itself is very low lying - I think they constructed the roads to keep the bogs from drifting apart.

I prefer the Western Isles to Skye - you'll have a great time (as will hubby)

The ferry journey to Oban is long but get on deck through the Sound of Mull as there is a great chance of seeing dolphins/porpoises - and for hubby, sea eagles.

daviesee

-spider- wrote:

.....At the north end of South Uist I can recommend the Orosay Inn for food (it is along a dead end to the east side of the island) .....

Just don't pay the extortionate prices for what is essentially basic accomodation. My wife and I walked away and were much happier when shown the cheaper and better room at Polochar*. They are not that far apart in a car.

*Other accommodation is available.

-spider-

daviesee wrote:

-spider- wrote:

.....At the north end of South Uist I can recommend the Orosay Inn for food (it is along a dead end to the east side of the island) .....

Just don't pay the extortionate prices for what is essentially basic accomodation. My wife and I walked away and were much happier when shown the cheaper and better room at Polochar*. They are not that far apart in a car.

*Other accommodation is available.

Aye - Polochar for food or sleep, Orosay for food only. Stepping Stone in Balivanich is a good cake stop but Balivanich itself is awful.

pinkteapot

Hello from South Uist!

VERY exciting news.... We're staying in a teeny little cottage. I thought my bike would be living in the back of the car while here. We have an outbuilding that's almost as big as the house itself and the owners told me to put my bike in there:

http://picasaweb.google.com/10745044672 ... 6932947170

My baby's got a bigger bedroom than me!

Cleat Eastwood

we need pics of the outdoors - for some this is the closest we'll to a holiday all year

pinkteapot

I'll take some on my bike adventures

See photo of cool road on previous page....