Tony Crosby cycles the Hebridean Way for Radio Tyneside

I was so tired last night I had to rest for eight hours before updating my blog. I would say that possibly through an accumulated tiredness, day 4 was a tough one too.  The winds picked up from lunchtime and for the second day it was a Northerly into my face, just requiring a bit more effort to manage undulating hills.  The first seven miles before a breakfast stop at Langabhat were pleasant enough with traffic light at this early hour. A left turn took me onto a quieter road (and off the main route to the "capital" Stornoway). Steady up and down undulations without ever being difficult, and soon on to the Callanish Stones, dating back some 5000 years and of huge archeological importance. No forklifts in those days, difficult to imagine how the people of the day could move such heavy stones. On the lower islands all signs were in Gaelic with an English translation, but as I got further north the English is dropped from many signs. Maybe there is an historical or cultural reas...

This began well, a beautiful morning as I only had to travel 500 yards to the ferry terminal to catch the ride to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris. Perfectly calm sea, hardly a ripple, and cycling proper got underway shortly before 11am with a modest climb out of the port. Once at the top, the views of unspoiled beaches and turquoise water were abundant and it became a stop/ start sort of ride because there were so many great shots to snap. The weather was incredibly warm again but the wind was from the North this time so in my face, just making it that little bit harder than the cross breezes of the first two days. Lovely views then gave way to a hard slog up the first steep incline of the day, which lasted for 4 miles and took nearly 45 mins of constant effort to reach the top.  What goes up?  .....yes a flying downhill section into the attractive town of Tarbert for a lunch break taking 40 mins off the bike. I wish I hadn't had the carrot cake though as the next climb was q...

Very short update tonight as I can hardly keep my head off the pillow. It was a beautiful day once again with warm sunshine throughout.  The roads were quiet as the blue "Hebridean Way" signs kept me off the main routes and onto the smaller single track roads with passing places. There were no great climbs today and I made good time covering the whole of Benbecula, Grimsay and North Uist before the final causeway across to tonight's island Berneray. The views have been outstanding all day and on my lunch break near Malaclete, a local resident told me that just two weeks earlier there had been very bad storms. So I have been lucky. Tomorrow an early ferry at 9.30 over the Sound of Harris to Leverburgh then a day in the mountains, I've been told by a walker staying here that they are tough but once up and over, it will be free wheel time down into tomorrow's stayover at Balallan. Happily I got all my past three days kit washed and dried in the late evening sunshine,...

A decent ride nearing 50 miles/80kms today from Castlebay up the western coastline to Ardhmor with a quick detour to Barra Airport, how curious I was that planes can land on wet sand. Although I didn't get to see any landings or take offs, inspection teams were patrolling the "runway" presumably looking for any deep puddles?! Cars were dropping people off too so maybe a flight was in the offing. After a short ferry hop to Eriskay, and a chunky climb out from the port, again some beautiful beaches and signs for AM Politician a sunken ship made famous in Whiskey Galore when crates of whiskey and bank notes were washed ashore.  Over the causeway then to South Uist, herons standing in the shallow water looking for a fish supper! Following the blue Hebridean Way signs helped stay away from the busier roads still mainly single track with numerous passing places and cattle grids. Sunny all the way with mainly crosswinds, so nothing to stop the cranking out of decent miles, while...

Staying over Friday night in Oban, it was lovely to start the day by cycling up to McCaigs Tower with spectacular views down onto Oban town with the bay in fine Spring sunshine, and beyond the beautiful islands including Mull. There was also an opportunity to drop into my own Saturday show, excellently hosted today by Neal Younger, to give an update on how my challenging cycle ride ahead was shaping up.  I'll be doing the same tomorrow (Sunday) and each morning next week sometime shortly after 10am on Radio Tyneside. Oban impressed as did CalMac ferries who ran to a perfect timetable. Very helpful staff to a first time visitor to these islands and services.   The weather was glorious on the five hour crossing to Barra in the Outer Hebrides, plenty of time to soak up the sea breeze and walk around the deck in good Spring sunshine.  On arrival into Castlebay past the landmark of Kisimul Castle, built in the harbour, no time to waste but straight on the route to Vatersa...

A 6am alarm, quick shower and coffee and by 7.15 with a fully loaded bike, a brisk cycle in fine early morning sunshine to Central Station.  The route into town was reasonably quiet and I made good time covering the 20kms within the hour. Newcastle Central is busy at all times but it was easy to grab a coffee and wait for the first of my three trains of the day to Edinburgh. LNER were very good  leaving on time and arriving 10 mins early into Waverley. The route to Glasgow was also on time and the Oban train was also punctual, an unbelievably good run for a Friday when things can get hectic. One other cyclist was boarding the train at Newcastle, we swapped chat about where we were going. He was also booked on exactly the same three trains as me to Oban, then catching a ferry to Tiree tomorrow about half an hour short of the Outer Hebrides. What's even more strange was that on an eight carriage train to Oban, his seat reservation was....next to mine. So it was all cycling talk ...