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Stage 4 of 5 · Hebridean Way← Stage 3Stage 5 →

Balivanich to Ardmore

73 km road cycling route129 m climbing5 h 14 minGPX

Balivanich, Western Isles, United Kingdom · Road

A flat 73 km road cycling route from Balivanich, Western Isles to Ardmore through Àird, West Gerinish and Snishival, with 129 m of climbing. There is a 26 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 12–38).

Signed route The waymarked Hebridean Way (regional route HW), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 4 of 5 of the Hebridean Way. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

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At a glance

Best for
Flat, steady riding
Distance
73.3 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
129 m
2 m per km
Riding time
5 h 14 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
85% paved · 2% unpaved · 13% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
32.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 9.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 26 km
9 cafés and restaurants · 6 shops · 1 water point · 2 petrol stations · 8 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Balivanich → Ardmore

Map and elevation profile

Ruin at Ardmhor
Photo: Hugh Venables · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
129 m
Distance
73 km
0204060m0 km20406073 km49 m · highest, at 61.2 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Balivanich
  2. Àirdkm 1
  3. West Gerinishkm 17
  4. Snishivalkm 25
  5. Ormiclatekm 32
  6. Askernishkm 41
  7. Kilphederkm 47
  8. Smercletekm 53
  9. Haunkm 60
  10. Ardmorekm 73

Starting in Balivanich, the route heads northeast passing through Àird, Nunton, Liniclate, Creagorry, and many other small settlements including West Gerinish, Stilligarry, and Howmore. The road is mostly flat with the lowest point at 0 m around 15.9 km. The surface is 85% paved, with some gravel or unpaved sections (2%) and 13% unmapped surface.

The ride includes 32.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes, including 21 km on the A865 and 8.3 km on the B892. There is a climb starting at 58.6 km lasting 2.2 km with 49 m elevation gain at an average gradient of 2.2% and a maximum of 4.2%, reaching the highest point of 49 m at 60.9 km. The longest descent is 1.1 km from 61.3 km with a 44 m drop. Facilities include shops and cafés near Balivanich and several points along the route including Kildonan and Kilbride. There is a longest stretch with no café, shop, or water of 25.5 km from km 12.1 to 37.6.

Highlights

  • Climb of 2.2 km with 49 m gain at km 58.6
  • Peaks near road: Ruaidheabhal (87 m) at km 18.9
  • Askervein (126 m) near km 41.7
  • Beinn Sgritheann (185 m) near km 60.6

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Nunton 2.2 km
  2. Liniclate 7.5 km
  3. Creagorry 10.1 km
  4. West Gerinish 17.2 km
  5. Grogarry 19.5 km
  6. Stilligarry 20.6 km
  7. Drimsdale 22.1 km
  8. Howmore 23 km
  9. Snishival 25 km
  10. Howbeg 25.5 km
  11. Peninerine 27.5 km
  12. Stoneybridge 30.2 km
  13. Ormiclate 32.4 km
  14. Bornish 34.6 km
  15. Kildonan 37.3 km
  16. Milton 38.9 km
  17. Frobost 39.5 km
  18. Askernish 41.3 km
  19. Garryheillie 43.1 km
  20. Daliburgh 43.8 km
  21. Daliburgh West 44.8 km
  22. Kilpheder 46.9 km
  23. North Boisdale 48.8 km
  24. South Boisdale 50 km
  25. Garrynamonie 50.5 km
  26. Trosaraidh 51.5 km
  27. Smerclete 53.3 km
  28. West Kilbride 54.1 km
  29. East Kilbride 55.9 km
  30. Ludaig 56.6 km
  31. Haun 59.6 km
  32. Rhuban 59.8 km
  33. Balla 60 km
  34. A' Choilleag 61.2 km
  35. Parks 61.4 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb58.6 km2.2 km · 49 m · 2.2 % · max 4.2 %49 m

High point 49 m at 60.9 km; low point 0 m. Passes beneath Ruaidheabhal, Thatharsal, Askervein.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (32.9 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
45% main road · 36% minor road · 4% quiet street · 1% track · 1% other roads and tracks · 13% unmapped
Main roads
32.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
9.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
A865 (21 km), B892 (8 km)
Surface
Paved: 85% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 13% has no surface data.
Gradient
3% climbing · 4% descending · 94% flat

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 26 km, from km 12 to 38. Along the route: 9 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 1 water point, 2 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0.1 kmUist and Barra Hospital · hospital · 100 m off route
  2. 0.2 kmSeaview Filling Station · petrol station · on the route
  3. 0.3 kmMacleans Cottage Bakery · bakery · 70 m off route
  4. 0.3 kmMacLennans · supermarket · 60 m off route
  5. 0.3 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  6. 7.5 kmPublic Bar - Dark Island Hotel · pub · 120 m off route
  7. 9 kmPetrol station · 260 m off route
  8. 10.1 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · on the route
  9. 12.1 kmCafé · 140 m off route
  10. 37.6 kmKildonan Cafe · café · 90 m off route
  11. 37.6 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  12. 44 kmCo-op Dhalabroig · convenience store · 230 m off route
  13. 54.7 kmKilbride Cafe · café · on the route
  14. 54.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
  15. 60 kmEriskay Shop · convenience store · on the route
  16. 61.9 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  17. 61.9 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  18. 71.5 kmArdmhor Coffee · café · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 61.9 km — Ceann a' Ghàraidh (ferry), 40 m off route
  • 71.5 km — Àird Mhòr (ferry), on the route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 2.1 km — St Mary's Chapel (ruins)
  • 6.4 km — Borve Castle (castle)
  • 12.6 km — Dun (archaeological site)
  • 37.6 km — Cille Pheadair Square Cairn (archaeological site)
  • 47.6 km — Dun (archaeological site)

Stay after this ride

  • Tigh Grianach Bed & Breakfast · guest house · 830 m from the finish
  • Heathbank Hotel · hotel · 1.3 km from the finish
  • Croft 183 · campsite · 2.8 km from the finish

Start and access

Starts at Balivanich. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Food and coffee
Macleans Cottage Bakery (270 m), Stepping Stone Restaurant (400 m)
Shops
Lovats Shop (210 m), MacLennans (370 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 25.5 km from km 12.1 to 37.6
  • 32.9 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 9.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
  • 2% gravel or unpaved sections

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Hugh Venables · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Carol Walker · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Stage of

About this route

Route line
Traced from the waymarked route’s relation in OpenStreetMap.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Balivanich (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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Page last updated

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