It has been 9 years since i took my then new first Fatbike beach riding on the Western Isles.
2 nights and a full day riding the beaches of western Harris has been overdue and friend Craig joined me for a Roadtrip. Bikes in the van we headed to the Isle of Skye with one stop on route at a famous memorial...
Up on Skye we stopped of to see good friend Dave S and family before driving across to Uig and leaving the van caught the evening ferry across the minch, instead of a 6.30pm departure the ferry had to have somw work done and it was 9pm before we departed...
Across the Minch and mirky mist added to that feeing of adventure a ferry trip can give, crossing to another island always feels like more of an adventure...
It was nearly dark as we rode from Rarbert and headed by road across to Luskentyre on the western coast of Harris, with head torches on we found a suitable pitch and with Craig's tarp up using the bikes were soon in our bevy bags out of the light drizzle and sound asleep after a 6 hour drive and long day...
Next morning`s light revealed a lovely machair field of flowers including Orchids...
Stove on and Breakfast made we packed up and after a ride around the penulsia of machair we had pitch on we rode west along the coast...
Awesome view...
Impressive Stone holiday houses...
Past Borve and heading for the `main course`...
`Triaigh Scarasta` beach...
As you can see the beach was really soft above the tide line due to all the dry weather like back home, it was nearly un ridable here but fine once lower down on wetter sand...
Awesome...
Fields of machair...
Croft fields...
Across to the southern end and a cycle along above the small bays to the ruin medieval chapel and put the stove on for a spot of lunch...
Across the tracks back to the beach...
We then returned to Luskentyre and cycled around to the northern end along the coffin road and found a suitable pitch to camp....
Between dunes i found these two old cars dumped upside down, looked very old...
Then right on cue around 9pm the clouds out at sea parted and we were rewarded a spectacular sunset...
Next morning we packed up and left early to ride the 10 miles back over to Tarbert to catch the only ferry of the day at 11.30am...
It was dark when we cycled the other evening so now you can see the contrast between west and east Harris, the east coast all rock and water, peat is cut here for heating...
We passed the start of `The Golden Road` which i previously cycled on my first visit here 9 years ago, the road is reputed to be named so because of the cost to construct...
Taking of roads the surfaces here are superb, no pot holes and well made, though the rock used here being some of the oldest in the world is also hard wearing, ideal for the winter s up here...
Into Tarbert and a couple of hours to relax, eat and chill waiting for the ferry...
Sun came out as we headed back across the Minch for Skye... still a 6 hour drive home but worth it...
Here is some film from the trip,
Song is `Scotland's Shame` by Mogwai
Cycling the Western beaches of the Isle of Harris, July 2018 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.
More soon...
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