Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Portree – Bracadale – Sligachan was the third of three days of cycling on my five day trip to Skye. The trip covered the period 19th. – 23rd. April 2023.
I cycled this route on Saturday 22nd.. April 2023.
On Thursday I had been based in Broadford and I cycled from Broadford to Elgol (see Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Broadford – Elgol). I then drove to Portree where I am based for two nights. Yesterday I cycled from Portree to Uig (see Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Portree – Uig).
Today I again started cycling from the hotel car park in Portree, this time on my ride to Bracadale and then Sligachan.
Portree
Portree is the capital of the island of Skye. It is a bustling tourist town with several bars, restaurants and hotels.
There is a pleasant village square just off the main road.
Portree of course also has a picturesque harbour.
Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Portree - Bracadale - Sligachan
- Route Directions
After leaving Portree the route follows the A87 road for a short distance.
To get to the A87 road from the harbour in Portree I cycled along a road called The Green. This led on to Bridge Road. At the end of Bridge Road I turned right onto the A87 road.
After a short distance I turned left onto the B885 road, signposted for Struan. I continued on the B885 until the end of the road where I turned left onto the A863 road. I followed the A863 all the way to Sligachan. From Sligachan I turned left onto the A87 road and followed it all the way back to Portree.
Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Portree - Bracadale - Sligachan
- My Timings and Distances
Started cycling from Portree 9.30 / Bracadale 11.00 (9.73) / Sligachan 1.05 (22.53) / Seamus”s Bar at Sligachan Hotel for lunch 1.20 – 2.00 / Walked about the rapids at Sligachan until 2.35 / Left Sligachan 2.40 / Back at Portree 4.00 (32.00).
(The figures in brackets are the cumulative miles from the start of the route.)
Cycling on the Isle of Skye : Portree - Bracadale - Sligachan
- Log
Portree - Bracadale
It was another beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky and not a cloud to be seen.
After I cycled out of Portree and turned left off the A87 onto the B885 road I passed by a new modern hotel called the Bracken Hide Hotel. I was surprised to see the hillside at the back of the hotel covered in small lodges called pods, presumably run by the hotel.
The B885 road was a minor single track road. It had several stretches with large potholes. There was very little traffic on this road, although there were some sheep on the road at times.
As I cycled further along this road there were fine views of the mountain ridge ahead.
Once I reached near the end of this road Loch Harport came into view. There were some steep descents to free wheel down to get to the shores of the loch.
Bracadale - Sligachan
Once I reached the bottom of the descents I came to the junction with the A863 road. The road to the right led immediately to Bracadale and then on to Struan. As I was heading for Sligachan I turned left here.
The route here was flatter and ran alongside the loch providing fine views, especially as the weather had continued to remain glorious.
I continued cycling along this road until I reached the cut-off to Glen Brittle.
At this junction there was this carving and unofficial warning sign.
After I left this junction the cycling became much more difficult due to an incredibly strong headwind. The wind was so strong that even using the second level of assistance from my electric motor I still only managed to cycle at 6.4 mph.
I continued cycling along against the wind until I reached a large haulage firm’s yard. I stopped here to get some respite from the wind.
Parked in this yard was a mobile cinema. Presumably this is used to travel around remote parts of Scotland.
After resting for about 10 minutes I continued cycling along the road towards Sligachan, whilst admiring the views of the mountain ranges ahead.
Sligachan
After a while I reached Sligachan and the Sligachan Hotel.
I went into Seamus’s Bar in the Sligachan Hotel for lunch.
Just across the road from the hotel is the old Sligachan Bridge, and after lunch I walked across the bridge to the rocky banks of the river on the other side.
Just above the banks of the burn is the Collie & MacKenzie statue. It is a statue of two well known climbers who were based in Skye, Norman Collie and John MacKenzie.
The rocky banks of the river are popular with tourists and provide a good view back over to the hotel.
After spending some time walking about the burn in the warm sunshine I got back on the bike and turned left onto the A87 road and cycled back to Portree.