THE FERRY FROM OBAN TO CASTLEBAY IN THE OUTER HEBREDES TAKES 51/2 HOURS. IT IS THE START OF YOUR EPIC TOUR OF THE HEBRIDEAN WAY START POINT AT VATERSAY ON THE ISLE OF BARRA. THIS IS ABOUT AS REMOTE YOU CAN GET. BUT THE WILD CAMPING AND BEACH IS ASTOUNDING.
FROM THIS POINT YOU WILL NEED TO CROSS VARIOUS CAUSEWAYS AND HOP ON LOCAL FERRIES TO HEAD NORTH TO REACH THE MAIN ISLE OF LEWIS AND HARRIS....
YOU ARE BETTER OFF PURCHASING THE ISLAND HOPPER FERRY PASS FOR YOUR DURATION AND PLANNING AHEAD. TO DO THIS YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR DESTINATIONS AND ROUGH TIMESCALES IN MIND , SO THIS IS WHERE THE ROUTE MAPPING COMES IN. IT GUARANTEES YOUR FERRY BUT CAN LIMIT YOUR TIME IN ANY PARTICULAR SPOT. IT IS 20 MINUTES TO VATERSAY FROM THE FERRY, BUT YOUR NEXT FERRY IS FROM ARDMHOR ON THE ISLE OF BARRA. THERE IS A SPLIT LOOP ROAD AROUND BARRA AFTER CROSSING YOUR FIRST CAUSEWAY FROM VATERSAY, TAKE THE A888 AROUND THE WEST COAST INTO NORTHBAY AND THEN TO THE FERRY.
THIS IS A BRILLIANT JOURNEY THROUGH THE ISLES TO ERISKAY. TIME TO CHARGE YOUR BATTERIES FOR THE NEXT LEG.
FROM ERISKAY, YOU HEAD NORTH OVER MULTIPLE CAUSEWAYS, THIS IS WHERE THE SCENERY GETS BETTER AND BETTER AS YOU HEAD TOWARD SOUTH UIST. YOU START ON THE B ROAD. B888 AND ONTO THE A865 ACROSS MORE CAUSEWAYS BEFORE ENDING UP ON THE ISLE OF BENBECULA, STUNNING COASTAL RIDE.
FROM HERE AGAIN ALWAYS HEADING NORTH, YOU FINALLY GET TO NORTH UIST, THERE ARE OPTIONS HERE AS YOU HEAD NORTH, STUNNING WHITE SANDY BEACHES TO THE WEST AS YOU HEAD TO FERRY PORT AT BERNARAY.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE JOURNEYS THROUGH THE SMALL ISLES WHERE YOU MAY JUST SEE THE DOLPHINS FOLLOW THE FERRY, EVENTUALLY LANDING AT LEVERBURGH.
YOU ARE SPOILT FOR ROUTES HERE BUT WEST IS BEST AS YOU FIND THE COAST ROAD TO SEILEBOST AND LUSKENTYRE BEACH, SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.. BREATHTAKING....
HORGABOST CAMPSITE IS RECOMMENDED WITH FULL FACILITIES, AND AN AMAZING BEACH AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE PICS BELOW.
YOUR JOURNEY NORTH FROM HERE TAKES THE WEST COAST ROAD WHICH TURNS EASTERLY ACROSS AND ONTO THE MAIN ISLE OF LEWIS AND HARRIS.
THERE ARE SOME HIGH ROUTES ON THE MAIN ISLE THAT CAN BE EXPOSED BUT YOU ARE NOT FAR FROM FUEL OR SUPPLIES ON LEWIS. STORNOWAY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND IS WHERE YOU WILL BE TAKING YOUR FINAL FERRY TO ULLAPOOL, TAKE NOTE... THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES OF INTEREST YOU WILL NEED TO SET YOUR OWN ITINERY, THE BLACKHOUSES AND STANDING STONES NOTEWORTHY. BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO COMPLETE THE HEBRIDEAN WAY. HEAD TO THE BUTT OF LEWIS LIGHTHOUSE. ITS A BLEAK ROAD BUT WORTH IT , ALTHOUGH YOU NEED TO USE THE SAME ROAD BACK TO STORNOWAY FOR THE RETURN.
FOR ONE, I WILL BE HEADING BACK AT SOME POINT AS THERE REALLY IS SO MUCH TO EXPLORE. BUT HOPE THIS GIVES INSPIRATION AND AN INSIGHT TO SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY SCOTLAND HAS TO OFFER...
Alchemoto
