CYCLE THE ISLE OF SKYE - SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

The Isle of Skye off the north west coast of Scotland is a playground of mountains and lochs that delivers breathtaking vistas at every twist and turn of the narrow roads which thread through the beautiful landscapes of the Isle of Skye. A cycling holiday on the Isle of Skye is the perfect way to discover the welcoming people and amazing scenery of

Skye.

Arriving by ferry in Armadale on the peninsula of Sleat, you can feel the excitement and anticipation build

as you look forward to your journey on the Misty Isle. A place of mystery and moods that you will come to

know well. Initially you head north through the Garden of Skye to Broadford, enjoying views of the Black

Cuillin. Amazingly the scenery just continues to improve as the light, mountains and sea combine in an

ever changing panorama as you cycle north to Dunvegan and then Uig. The Quirang, Storr and Portree

are all on the itinerary as you head south on your journey back to Armadale.

Cycling on Skye is an unforgettable way to discover all the reasons the Isle of Skye is just such a

wonderful island to visit. Skye is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the British Isles, quiet

country roads, prolific bird and wildlife including sea and golden eagles, a strong Gaelic culture and a

warm and welcoming people. Combined with hand-picked B&B’s, guesthouses and small country hotels,

daily baggage transfer this makes for a wonderful cycling holiday in Scotland.

Gaining a whole new perspective on Scotland’s most famous island.

Breathtaking views around every corner will have you constantly reaching for your camera.

Welcoming bike friendly accommodation and local hosts.

Unbeatable mountain and coastal scenery.

WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH US?

Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are

passionate about delivering outstanding cycling holidays where every last detail is taken care of. As

regular cyclists with a passion for travel we understand what makes for an unforgettable adventure. Great

routes, breathtaking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation.

Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs

Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. They will help you to make

the most of your time on the Isle of Skye with their in-depth knowledge of the route, accommodation and

must-see attractions on the way.

Self guided cycling holidays are a wonderful relaxed way to discover the Isle of Skye. We will supply you

with a clear map and a pre-departure info pack to guide you every step of the way. Your baggage will be

collected and moved onto your next accommodation so that you are free to cycle each day with just a

pannier or daypack. In the unlikely event you should require emergency support our office is always more

than happy to help with your queries so you can relax and look forward to an unforgettable self-guided

cycling holiday.

SUMMARY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation: 7 nights hand-picked B&B’s,

small hotels, country inns and guesthouses.

Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and

dinner not included but always available at accom-

modation or nearby.

Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage trans-

fer.

Information Pack: Comprehensive Map and info

pack

IS IT FOR ME?

This holiday is best suited to regular cyclists and is

graded moderate to strenuous. Highland roads

can involve lots of ups and down so although the

distances are not long they can feel that way. Oh,

and it’s not called the Misty Isle for nothing, you

can expect some wet weather. Most of the route is

on quiet country roads but some sections are on

main roads which can get very busy in summer.

Tour: The Isle of Skye—6 Days

Code: CSSIS1

Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday

Price: See Website

Dates: March—November

Cycling Days: 6

Nights: 7

Start: Armadale

Finish: Armadale

Distance: 198 Miles

THE ISLE OF SKYE - 6 DAYS

SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

HIGHLIGHTS

THE ISLE OF SKYE—6 DAYS/7 NIGHTS

Code: CSSIS1

Cycling Days: 6

Nights: 7

Average Daily Distance: 33 Miles

Grade: Moderate to Strenuous

DESCRIPTION

Our six day cycle tour on the Isle of Skye covers

every corner of this magnificent island, giving you

time to discover the magnificent landscape, rich

Gaelic culture and welcoming people.

GRADE

This cycling holiday is graded moderate to

strenuous because a couple of the longer days

involve plenty of climbing so the trip is slightly

more demanding than the relatively modest

distances might indicate. Most of the route is on

fairly quiet roads, the exception being the section

between Broadford and Portree which can be

busy in the summer so you should be

comfortable cycling on roads and we wouldn’t

recommend this trip for families.

NAVIGATION

This route is not waymarked but is easy to follow

with the help of the supplied map and route

notes.

DAY 1

Arrive Starting Point: Armadale Armadale at the quiet southern tip of the Isle of Skye is best reached by the ferry from Mallaig which connects with trains from Glasgow. (6 hour journey time from Glasgow). Alternatively you can drive via the Skye Bridge (5-6h from Glasgow). Overnight: Ardvasar Armadale and Ardvasar enjoy beautiful views over the sound of Sleat to Mallaig and have a wonderful tranquillity. The Armadale Castle has wonderful gardens that you may like to explore. DAY 2 Armadale to Broadford—28 Miles The lovely run to Broadford follows the quiet road on the western side of Sleat via Tarskavaig and Ord. This section of sometimes hilly single track road rewards with some of the best views in Skye across Loch Eishort to the Cuillin Hills. Sleat is more wooded than the rest of Skye and this relatively easy day is a great start to the week. Overnight Broadford

Broadford is the second biggest town on

Skye and has a choice of restaurants and a

large co-op supermarket as well as the

normal facilities. It is a great place to add

an extra night and either cycle down to

Elgol (33 mile round trip) or catch the

public bus so that you can enjoy a boat

cruise to Loch Coruisk at the heart of the

Black Cuillin.

DAY 3 Broadford to Dunvegan —40 Miles You leave Broadford knowing that a tough but very rewarding day lies ahead. Initially following the A87 which can be busy. The

views across to the Isles of Scalpay and Raasay are great and you soon leave the main road at Sligachan, skirting the jagged Black Cuillin as you head to Drynoch, Bracadale and eventually Dunvegan. The short diversion to taste Talisker Whisky at Carbost is always tempting. Overnight Dunvegan

Dunvegan nestles at the head of Loch

Dunvegan tucked away from the worst of

the winter storms. Several B&B’s and

hotels offer a warm welcome and the

imposing Dunvegan Castle, seat of the

Clan Macleod, gives a fascinating insight

into the life of a clan chief.

DAY 4 Dunvegan to Uig—27 Miles A cracking day of cycling on quiet and picturesque roads. You traverse the Waternish Peninsula before heading up the west coast of the Trotternish Peninsula. The sea and mountain views are constantly changing and the quality of light is enchanting. Overnight Uig

Uig has a lovely end of the world feeling,

tucked away in a protected bay, huddled

around the ferry port to the Outer

Hebrides. The Skye Brewery and Uig

Pottery are both worth a visit for different

reasons. On certain days of the week it is

possible to do a day trip to either North

Uist or Harris on the ferry, both of which

can be explored by bike. An extra night in

Uig is easily arranged if you would like to

explore the outer Isles.

DAY 5 Uig to Portree—33 Miles The Trotternish Peninsula is the most northernmost of Skye’s wings and as you cycle round the northern point you can see Uist, Harris and Lewis on the horizon although the highlight of the day is cycling down the east coast. The Trotternish Ridge

Day Route Miles

1 2 3 4

5

6 7

8

Arrive Armadale Armadale to Broadford Broadford to Dunvegan Dunvegan to Uig

Uig to Portree

Portree to Broadford

Broadford to Armadale

Onward Travel

0 28 40

27

33

42

28

Total Distance 198

THE ISLE OF SKYE - 6 DAYS

SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

DETAILED ITINERARY

is a spectacular line of huge cliffs and towering pillars. Both the Quiraing and The Storr should be explored. Overnight Portree

Brightly coloured houses and inns crowd

around the working harbour in Portree to

lend Skye’s capital a lively atmosphere.

There are plenty of great places to eat and

drink and live folk music most nights in the

Isles Inn.

DAY 6 Portree to Broadford—28 or 42 Miles A choice of routes, the shorter following the busier A87 takes you back to Broadford. Personally I prefer the longer route as you get one more great close up view of the towering Black Cuillin. Overnight Broadford

DAY 7 Broadford to Armadale—16 or 28 Miles A last relaxing day on the Isle of Skye as you meander south on the Sleat Peninsula, time to reflect on a rewarding journey on the Misty Isle. Hopefully like me you will simply want to come back again soon. Overnight Armadale/Ardvasar

DAY 8 Onward Travel Either pick up your car in Ardvasar for the drive home or catch the ferry/train back to Glasgow (6h).

Time of Year

This holiday is available from March to

November. Spring and Autumn can be cold and

the weather wild but road are quiet. April, May,

June and September are recommended as the

Island is very busy in July and August.

Additional Nights

I would recommend extra nights in Broadford so

you can go to Elgol, Uig for a day trip to the

Outer Hebrides and Portree for just relaxing and

taking in some gentle walks.

Fewer Nights

If you wish to reduce the number of nights we

can tailor your trip to your requirements.

Accommodation

One of the highlights of this tour is the high

standard of the hand-picked accommodation we

use. We specifically choose the hotels, inns,

guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy

every minute of your stay. All offer a warm

welcome to cyclists, have secure bike storage,

offer traditional hospitality and delicious local

food.

Single Rooms

This independent cycling holiday is available to

solo cyclists but there is a solo supplement

payable to cover the additional costs of baggage

transfer and a single supplement to cover the

cost of single occupancy rooms.

If you require single rooms in your party we will

of course try to accommodate your request,

subject to availability. There will be a single

supplement payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning.

Lunch and dinner are not included so you are

free to choose from the available options. Most of

your accommodations will more than happy to

provide a packed lunch on request and this can

be booked on arrival. Dinner is always available

either at your accommodation or nearby pubs.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your

accommodation as per your itinerary and moved

onto your next overnight accommodation. We

ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to

15kg per person.

Bikes & Equipment

Either a road bike, touring bike, hybrid or

mountain bike with semi slick tyres would be fine.

The whole route is on tarmac.

You will need a helmet, cycling clothes,

waterproofs and warm clothes as well as casual

clothes for the evenings. Your info pack will have

a detailed equipment list.

Bike Hire

We do not have a local bike hire depot but have

hire locations in Fort William so you can collect/

drop-off your hire bikes on the way to Skye by

train or car. We use excellent quality mountain

bikes with slick tyres or hybrid bikes equipped

with a rear pannier rack, repair kit, pump and

lock.

Bike hire costs £100 for this tour plus £15 per

day for any extra days.

Getting to/from Skye/Armadale

Glasgow is the best access point. From Glasgow

take the train to Mallaig via Fort William and then

the ferry to Armadale. For train and ferry times

visit www.calmac.co.uk Mon—Sat trains leave at

0821 or 0851 and 1221. Sun trains leave at

1220. The journey takes about 6 hours. Bikes

must be pre-booked on First Scotrail services.

The drive via Mallaig or the Skye bridge takes 6

hours from Glasgow.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend taking out travel

insurance to cover cancellation or curtailment of

your holiday.

THE ISLE OF SKYE - 6 DAYS

SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

RECOMMENDATIONS

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit

Our operating policies, office policies, holidays

and tours are all designed to minimise impact

and maximise benefit to the environment and

local communities.

Action & Advocacy

We believe that by engaging our team and

clients in environmental and community projects

we can make a real difference.

Carbon & Communities

Travel and our business activity does of course

contribute to carbon output and climate change.

We have put several policies in place to minimise

our carbon footprint.

Sensitive & Sustainable

Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that

our holidays are sensitive to the community you

are visiting and sustainable over the long term.

We are justifiably proud of our reputation for

outstanding holidays on the Isle of Skye. You can

read numerous customer reviews on our website

to get a good idea of what to expect from Macs

Adventure on the Isle of Skye.

Availability

This cycling holiday is best enjoyed between

March and November. You can start on any date

that suits your travel plans and you will find up to

date availability on our website.

Price

Detailed up to date prices for all our Skye Cycling

Holidays are available on our website here...

Included

Seven nights bed and breakfast accommodation in handpicked 3 or 4 star B&B’s, guesthouses and small hotels in ensuite rooms.

Door to door baggage transfer.

A detailed info pack, route notes and map for the group leader.

Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Excluded Travel to or from Skye.

Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Personal Equipment.

Bike Hire

Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage.

Once you have read all the information in this

factsheet or on our website and decided on your

preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a

call to confirm availability. You can then book by

any of the following methods:

Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886

Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form

and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf,

Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845

527 5688

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on

+44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email:

info@macsadventure.com if you have any

queries and one of our expert customer service

team will be happy to help.

Financial Security

In accordance with "The Package Travel,

Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations1992" all passengers booking with

Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the

initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all

monies paid to us, including repatriation if

required (this insurance will not cover repatriation

to the country of origin for the passengers

outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or

curtailment of your travel arrangements due to

the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd

Book with Confidence. We are a member of

ABTA which means you have the benefit of

ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We

provide full financial protection for your money.

ABTA Member

Statement

Macs Adventure Holidays

is a Member of ABTA. ABTA and ABTA

Members help holidaymakers to get the most

from their travel and assist when things don’t go

according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a

high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code

of Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the

Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme

available to you if you have a complaint, contact

ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020

3117 0581 www.abta.com

THE ISLE OF SKYE - 6 DAYS

SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

HOW TO BOOK

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

M.A.C.S. RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE