09 Hebridean Way Completed - Balallan to Butt of Lewis

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 reason for that.

Making good progress, I found an Arts centre at Bragar that did nice food and lovely coffee, these are Community Hubs, which become the focal point for locals (and passing tourists) to gather. I was able to grab an interview for later broadcast with the Arts Officer Calum who was very interesting. I get the impression the islands are keen to find ways of creating jobs that young people want and need, to try to reverse a potential decline in population numbers.

At Barvas, a left turn sets you onto your last 12 miles of the Hebridean Way with the Butt of Lewis at the top the usual conclusion of this epic adventure.  However certainly in a Northerly headwind, it does not give you an easy ride. A very straight road that makes you climb constantly and whether mental fatigue kicks in, or general tiredness, I found it draining.  I was so happy to reach Ness at the top and get my first view of my goal, the Butt of Lewis lighthouse around 4pm. 

There is a football ground for Ness FC nearby which must be one of the most northerly clubs in the UK.

And so onto a lovely single track road passing wild swimmers dipping in more turquoise watersand onto the finish line of the Hebridean Way and a photo opportunity! 

Final stats......190 miles, 305 kms from bottom to top, no punctures, no mechanical issues,no injuries, no rainfall, no midge bites, yay! 

Thanks for reading, thanks too for your messages, they really help when you're out here on your own.

Thanks also to everyone who donated to save Radio Tyneside, a community radio service run by volunteers for 75 years, we can't let it disappear off the dial (showing my age again when everyone is using Alexa!). www.radiotyneside.co.uk for more.

And so onto today and a final ride back down to Stornoway for an afternoon ferry back to the mainland at Ullapool. Then tomorrow another ride to the nearest railway station at Garve to pick up onwards trains to Inverness and ultimately Newcastle, expected to arrive about 1.15pm Saturday afternoon. 

Thank you all and until next time.