No, this is not the Greek islands, it's Harris in the Outer Hebrides


Ten days ago I gave a presentation at HUBB/UK on Orkney and the Outer Hebrides from a trip I did last year. I'm planning another visit this year encompassing Shetland and other islands in the Hebrides group, so I've been busy extending my research.

I've now uploaded a .gpx file that contains over 220 waypoints in Shetland, Orkney, northern Scotland and the Hebrides. The waypoints are mainly places to visit and accommodation options, and most of the waypoints include a link to websites describing the place. The .gpx file also includes ferry links and route suggestions.

This represents at least four man days of work, so please do not incorporate this into other works.

Ferries
Obviously ferry costs need to be considered. The cheapest ferries to the Hebrides—Ullapool to Stornaway (Lewis) or Uig (Isle of Skye) to Tarbert (Harris)—work out at about £65 return for motorbike and rider. A much longer route from Oban to Castlebay (Barra), then island hopping to Lewis and returning Stornaway to Ullapool is about £110 for bike and rider.

The cheapest ferry to Orkney from the tip of Scotland (Scrabster or Gills Bay) is about £60 return. If, instead of directly returning you take the overnight ferry from Orkney to Shetland and return on the overnight ferry to Aberdeen, the total cost rises to £150 return, plus cabin accommodation if you want it.

Accommodation
The Scottish islands are incredibly wild-camping-friendly so one option is to pitch up near a handy pub where you can use the toilets and wash basin, in exchange for buying food and drink. In Shetland there's a series of 'böds' which are basic huts costing £10 per night. These are self-catering and you need your own bedding. Elsewhere there's many inexpensive hostels ranging from £16 to £22 per night.

Ferries
Northlink Ferries (to Shetland, Orkney)
Pentland Ferries (to Orkney)
Orkney Ferries (between Orkney islands)
Calendonian MacBrayne (to Hebrides)

Low-cost accommodation
Independent Hostels Guide
Shetland Camping Böds
Hostel Scotland
Scotland Campsites

Places to visit
Undiscovered Scotland
Shetland Heritage
Visit Shetland
Orkneyjar
Visit Outer Hebrides
Scottish Monuments
Walk Highlands
Secret Scotland

Ask questions
TripAdvisor Shetlands
TripAdvisor Orkney
TripAdvisor Hebrides

The worst of the research has been done, all you need to do is to fine tune your routes and pack your bike. Enjoy!

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__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)