‘S ann air latha geamhradail am meadhan a’ Mhàirt a ghabh am fear-rothair iomraiteach Mark Beaumont an dùbhlan os làimh gun siùbhladh e Slighe Innse Gall gu lèir an ceann 24 uairean a thìde. Da rèir fhèin bha an t-slighe, a tha 185 mìle a dh’fhaid agus anns an robh frasan fuar flinne cunbhalach, ‘caran garbh an siud ‘s an seo’. Chaidh a bhrosnachadh air an rathad le clann sgoile agus a ghiùlan cuideachd le bàta rib, agus choilean e a dhùbhlan ann an nas giorra na 12 uair a thìde san dìollaid. Leughaibh an t-artaigil Gàidhlig gu h-ìosal.

It was a wintry day in mid-March when round-the-world cyclist Mark Beaumont took on the challenge of riding the Hebridean Way end-to-end in under 24 hours. He later described the 185-mile ride in a strong wind with occasional sleety showers as ‘a bit gritty in places’.   Cheered on by school children and at one point transported by high-speed rib, he accomplished the feat in less than 12 hours in the saddle. Read the full Gaelic version below.

A’ cumail dlùth ris a’ chosta ann an ceann a deas na Hearadh / Hugging the coast in South Harris. ©Outer Hebrides Tourism/Richard Barrett

Thankfully, a greater degree of comfort and a more relaxed pace is possible for those contemplating this exceptional route through the length of the Outer Hebrides. The Hebridean Way website gives options for a four or six-day trip to just take the time to enjoy the stunning scenery, get acquainted with the wildlife, or relax over the delicious food and drink on offer.

Most people choose to ride from south to north, with the prevailing wind.

Take a gentle start on the low-lying, machair-fringed island of Vatersay. Across the causeway you reach Barra. Abundant wildlife, flower-strewn machair grasslands, and quiet roads make for a great day’s cycling before crossing the Sound of Barra to Eriskay.

A’ fàgail Èirisgeigh / Leaving Eriskay. © Outer Hebrides Tourism/Richard Barrett

There’s a beautiful loop walk from the ferry terminal in Eriskay which takes in the sandy beach where Bonnie Prince Charlie first stepped ashore in Scotland. And a causeway takes you to South Uist and your fourth island after less than 20 miles.

On the spectacular island of South Uist, the Hebridean Way meanders on and off the main road, taking the traveller into the heart of the crofting landscape.

Croitearachd aig tèarmann nàdair nàiseanta Loch Druideagbaig, Uibhist a Deas / Crofting by Loch Druidibeg NNR, South Uist. ©Lorne Gill/SNH

With the next causeway you’re in Benbecula and island five of the 10-island trip.

There are spectacular beaches and broad sweeps of machair to greet you in Benbecula, and the Hebridean Way follows the main road to Balivanich, a good place to stock up on supplies. Onward through Grimsay, where you can buy seafood direct from the pier to enjoy as you relax after your day’s exertions.

Another causeway – there are six linking islands on the Hebridean Way – takes you to North Uist and this lacework of water and land is fringed on the west coast by wide expanses of wildflower and bird-rich machair in the summer.

The Sound of Harris ferry crossing runs only in daylight, due to the intricate coastline the ferry navigates. An hour after leaving Berneray, you’ll arrive in Leverburgh and set out on your ninth island and the steepest climbing leg of the trip, the Clisham. The route follows the west coast, through fertile farmland and past jaw-droppingly wonderful beaches. From Tarbert the road climbs slowly over the hills of North Harris, home to golden eagles. You’ll have plenty to time to look out for them as you take in the 800m climb. From the top you can coast downhill into Lewis. Island number 10 on the official counter and the end is in sight.

Tràigh Sgarasta, Na Hearadh / Shell sand beach at Traigh Scarista, Isle of Harris. ©Lorne Gill

And then you can marvel at the breathtaking monuments of Calanais’s early settlers and the remarkable Iron Age Broch of Dun Carloway. The crofting settlements of Barvas, Bragar, Brue and Galson line your route for the final stretch to the parish of Ness in the far north. The Hebridean Way ends at the spectacular Butt of Lewis lighthouse, perched high on a clifftop and in the summer surrounded by the calls of seabirds.

Tràigh Mhangurstaidh, taobh an iar Leòdhais / Traigh Mangurstadh, Isle of Lewis. ©Lorne Gill/SNH

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) works in partnership to promote the use of the outdoors for better health and well-being, and contribute to a healthier Scotland. We are committed to improving levels of regular participation in outdoor recreation, and support for projects such as the National Walking and Cycling Network is a key element of this.

Gu fortanach, faodar an t-slighe a ghabhail os làimh ann an dòigh nas cofhurtaile agus gun a bhith a cheart cho cabhagach air turas rothair air leth air feadh nan Eilean Siar. Faodar Slighe Innse Gal a shiubhal mar thuras ceithir no sia làithean no faodar a dhèanamh nas socaire agus tlachd fhaighinn às na seallaidhean àlainn, às an fhiadh-bheatha agus à biadh is deoch bhlasta na sgìre.

Bidh a’ mhòr-chuid a dhaoine a’ siubhal bhon cheann a deas chun a’ chinn a tuath, air sgàth àird nan gaothan àbhaisteach.

Machair Bhatarsaigh / The Vatersay machair. ©Lorne Gill

Tòisichibh air ur socair air machair Bhatarsaigh. Thairis air a’ chabhsair thig sibh a Bharraigh. Chithear fiadh-bheatha am pailteas, a’ mhachair fo bhlàth agus rathaidean sàmhach mus tèid sibh a-null thar Caolas Bharraigh a dh’Èirisgeidh.

Tha slighe coiseachd aig a’ chidhe ann an Èirisgidh a bheir sibh mu thimcheall an eilein taobh na tràghad gainmhich far an tàinig Teàrlach Òg Stiùbhart air tìr an Alba airson a’ chiad uair. Bheir an cabhsair sibh a-null a dh’Uibhist a Deas, an ceathramh eilean taobh a-staigh 20 mìle.

Tha Slighe Innse Gall a’ lùbadh air ais is air adhart air an rathad mhòr agus far an rathaid ann an eilean brèagha Uibhist a Deas, far am faicear fìor chridhe tìr na croitearachd.

Thairis air an ath chabhsair agus tha sibh ann am Beinn na Faoghla, an còigeamh eilean de na deich.

Tha tràighean àlainn agus raointean mòra machrach rim faicinn ann am Beinn na Faoghla agus tha Slighe Innse Gall a’ leantainn an rathaid mhòir a Bhaile a’ Mhanaich, deagh àite airson stad agus ur cuid bidhe is deoch a cheannach. A’ leantainn air adhart a Ghriomasaigh, far an urrainn dhuibh biadh-mara a cheannach aig a’ chidhe fhèin agus beagan fois a ghabhail an dèidh saothair mhòr nan rothan.

Bothag air machair Uibhist a Deas / A ringed plover on the South Uist machair. ©Lorne Gill

Tha cabhsair eile ann – tha còig dhiubh ann a’ ceangal sia de na h-eileanan air Slighe Innse Gall ri chèile – a bheir sibh a-null a dh’Uibhist a Tuath, eilean nan lochan far a bheil raointean mòra machrach air an taobh siar agus dìtheanan agus eunlaith am pailteas.

Cha bhi aiseag Caolas na Hearadh a’ seòladh ach ann an solas an latha air sgàth cladaichean creagach is sgeireach a’ chaolais. Uair an uaireadair an dèidh Beàrnaraigh fhàgail, ruigidh sibh An t-Òb agus an naoidheamh eilean agus an earrann as caise den turas, An Cliseam. Tha sinn a’ leantainn slighe an taoibh siar an seo, tro thalamh torrach agus seachad air tràighean air leth brèagha. An dèidh an Tairbeirt, tha an rathad ag èirigh thar beanntan Taobh Tuath na Hearadh, rìoghachd an iolaire-bhuidhe. Bidh ùine gu leòr agaibh air an lorg fhad ‘s a shreapas sibh na 800m. Bhon a’ mhullach, ‘s urrainn dhuibh siubhal air ur socair leis a’ bhruaich a-nuas a dh’Eilean Leòdhais. ‘S e seo an deicheamh eilean agus tha an deireadh air fàire.

Tursachan Chalanais, Eilean Leòdhais / The Calanais standing stones, Isle of Lewis. ©Lorne Gill/SNH

Chithear an sin clachan arsaidh Chalanais agus Dùn Chàrlabhaigh a chaidh a thogail ann an Linn an Iarainn. Thèid sibh tro na bailtean croitearachd ann am Barbhas, Bràgar, Brù agus Gabhsann air an earrainn deireannaich gu ruige Nis san fhìor cheann a tuath. Tha Slighe Innse Gall a’ tighinn gu crìch aig taigh-solais Rubha Robhanais, a tha suidhichte air oir creagan an rubha agus air a chuairteachadh as t-samhradh le gairm nan eun-mara.

Bidh Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba (SNH) ag obair an com-pàirteachas airson ùisneachadh a’ bhlàir a-muigh a brosnachadh airson slàinte a thoirt am feabhas agus airson cur ri Alba nas fallainn. Tha e fa-near do SNH tricead com-pàirteachaidh ann an cur-seachadan sa bhlàr a-muigh a thoirt am feabhas agus tha an taic a chumar ri pròiseactan a leithid Lìonra Nàiseanta Coiseachd is Rothaireachd na prìomh eileamaid a dh’ionnsaigh coileanadh an dùbhlain seo.