Scotland
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Isle of Benbecula Circularwith thanks to Iain Gow who contributed this article Distance - 31 miles; Est Time - 6 hours
Some of Benbecula is single track with passing places which requires more care and attention than normal. Further information on single track roads is available in the Highway Code.
STAGE 1 If driving to the start of the route, there is parking available on the A865 between the junctions for Iochdar and Carnan on South Uist or start from Loinacleit. Head north across the causeway to Benbecula then take the B892 exit to Lionacleit passing the supermarket and hotel. Apart from the hill Ruabhal at 124mtrs on the east of the island, Benbecula and the road network is relatively flat and makes for easy cycling on a calm day. Continue clockwise on the single track road to point NF763 521 where there is a track to a beautiful sandy beach hidden from the road by the machair.
Continue north to the main town of Balevanich where there are some shops, hospital, garage, airport, military base and yes, another of the numerous empty sandy beaches of the Hebrides. MacGillivrays gift shop on the outskirts of the town is worth a quick visit. The road is now 2-way from Balevanich to the A865 where you turn left through Gramasdal with a short section of single track then take the right turn to Kyles Flodda following the single track road for about 1.5 miles, over the short causeway. Park your bike and walk the short distance to the rocky shore where there is evidence of Otters and numerous seals to watch. STAGE 2 Retrace the track back to the junction at the A865 and continue the clockwise route heading towards Lionacleit over the desolate loch-strewn landscape typical of the Hebrides. Just before reaching Lionacleit, turn left onto the undulating B891 and continue to the jetty at Peters Port. Return to Lioncleit and the starting point of the route. iain gow Download GPS data in GPX format. |
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