Journey’s End, 18th August
Journey’s End, 18th August, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. With a foaming pint of Tennent’s before him, and no more cycling for a while, Liam relaxes on our last CalMac ferry, from Craignure on Mull back to Oban on the mainland. We have cycled a total of 275 miles in 6 days, with no major mechanical [...]
What’s the Story,Tobermory?
Tobermory (or is it Balamory?), originally uploaded by lightboxuk. The painted harbour front cottages of Tobermory, now also known as Balamory in the children’s TV show. We did make extensive plans last night to record a video of Liam at some Balamory locations, for the amusement of his children, but today all we seem to [...]
Men in Yellow, 16th August
Men in Yellow, 16th August, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. An hour to kill before the last ferry of the day speeds us to the bright lights of Tobermory after the toughest day’s cycling of the trip. We left Skye this morning on the 8.50 ferry, arriving at Mallaig on the mainland at 9.15, just in [...]
Room With a View
Room With a View, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Having cycled 60 miles over some very tough terrain, in miserable weather, Liam is distinctly unimpressed with the waiting room facilities at Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, which resemble an unused sauna. We’ve kept the jokes going pretty much all the way, but they’re wearing a bit [...]
Armadale
Armadale, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. View of the Knoydart peninsula on the mainland from Armadale. I thought I’d be doing more pictures like this, but quite often the weather isn’t very good, or the light isn’t right, or I have some other excuse for not getting the camera out of whichever panier I have stuffed [...]
The Magnificent Two
The Magnificent Two, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. With a couple of hours before the hostel opens for the night, there is time for another photo-opportunity in between visits to the bar at the Ardvasar Inn. There’s not much else to do in the village of Ardvasar, and our one disappointment concerns the harbourside restaurant advertised [...]
View? What View?
What View?, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Once again, Liam’s demeanour is a reliable barometer of the current state of the tour. Arriving ahead of schedule at Armadale, we are delighted to discover the village possesses a pub with a pool table, the Ardvasar Inn. Simultaneously, we agree to spend a convivial evening there, enjoying an [...]
The Garden of Skye, 15th August
The Garden of Skye, 15th August, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. After 2 nights on Skye, we are heading to Armadale on the Sleat peninsula, cycling in perfect conditions on a good road for once. I can’t really explain why there aren’t more pictures of Skye, but it may be something to do with the amount [...]
Farewell to the Western Isles, 13th August
Farewell to the Western Isles, 13th August, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. After consulting the CalMac timetable, we realize that there is an alternative to Plan A. We decide to give Harris and Lewis a miss, as it’s Sunday and the chances of getting any bodily sustenance today are slim to say the least, not to [...]
A Quiet Night In
A Quiet Night In, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Much like Fletcher and Godber in Porridge, we elect for a quiet night in tonight, which may have something to do with the total absence of pubs. The bikes are happy, as this is a vast improvement on their normal accommodation. We are less happy, as the [...]
Berneray
Berneray, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Having cycled the first 60 miles of the tour, from South Uist, across Benbecula and North Uist to Berneray, the southern cluster of the Outer Hebrides, we are relieved to discover unoccupied beds at Berneray. Our satisfied expressions may have something to do with having just emptied Liam’s hip flask. [...]
Berneray Sunset
Berneray Sunset, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Photography is taking a back seat to cycling, but I took this opportunity to capture the view of the sunset from behind the hostel, looking back to North Uist from Berneray. Seals frolic in the bay, and a snowy owl has been spotted on the Uists today, though I [...]
Berneray Youth Hostel
Berneray Youth Hostel, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. Drawing a blank at Lochmaddy, we return to Plan A, a night at Berneray Youth Hostel, which takes no advance bookings but does not turn away the weary traveller. The hostel is located on the northernmost tip of Berneray, after passing through the village of Borgh, where according [...]
CalMac Ferry, gateway to the Isles
CalMac Ferry, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. A Caledonian MacBrayne, or CalMac, ferry, with Ben More on the Isle of Mull in the background, heads towards Oban on the mainland. We will make extensive use of CalMac ferries on our tour, having purchased Island Rover passes which allow unlimited ferry travel for eight days. The route [...]
Haute Cuisine, North Uist Style
North Uist Cuisine, originally uploaded by lightboxuk. After an uneventful 40 miles from Lochboisdale, down the flat landscape of South Uist, over the causeways of Benbecula, we stop off at Lochmaddy on North Uist, with a view to staying here overnight if we find accommodation and sustenance. The description in the Rough Guide conjours up [...]