Outer Hebrides; Flights Finalised.

Today, I finalised and paid for the flights in May to the Outer Hebrides. I ended up going with Qantas and changing a few of my previously planned travel dates and times so I could do both the out and back Singapore-London routes on the A380. I now end up back in Brisbane on Friday morning rather than Sunday morning so I have reduced the trip by two days.

The Qantas flights were not the cheapest but nor were they the most expensive on offer. Return economy fares Brisbane-Singapore-London-Glasgow cost $2328.72. By the time I added in travel insurance (around $149) plus the extra they charge you for using a credit card to pay the total came to $2518:91.

By my calculation I will have 16 days to travel from Castlebay to Stornoway which should be more than enough time. At this stage I will be spending two nights in Oban before I start cycling giving me a day to assemble the bike and get provisions for the first few days of cycling.

I still have the following to organise; accommodation in Oban (2 nights), return accommodation in Glasgow before I fly home (1 night),the actual detail and luggage space for the bus trip from Ullapool to Glasgow the day before I fly out, and consider insuring my bike for theft/damage. And of course I still have to organise my packing list and get the Thorn Nomad sorted for the trip but, that is a whole other story!

Wednesday 11/5/11.

*Fly out of Brisbane 13:55pm

*Arrive Singapore 19:50pm (7.55hrs)

*Depart Singapore 23:59pm

*Arrive London 06:35am (13:36hrs)

*Depart London 10:00am

*Arrive Glasgow 11:25am (1:.25hrs)

*Catch the train from Glasgow to Oban 18:21pm arriving 21:26pm - takes 3.5hrs

*Overnighting in Oban - Failte Bed and Breakfast Oban (0044 1631570219) (www.failtebedandbreakfastoban.co.uk)

Thursday 12/5/11 - Friday 13/05/11.

*As I will have arrived in Oban so late last night I will stay another night in Oban which will allow be to stock up on food on the mainland and assemble my bike for the ferry crossing tomorrow. - Failte Bed and Breakfast Oban (0044 1631570219) (www.failtebedandbreakfastoban.co.uk)

Saturday 14/5/2011.

*Ferry crossing from Oban to Castlebay departing 15:40 arriving Castlebay at 20:30pm

*Overnighting in Castlebay - Craigard Hotel Castlebay (01871 810200) (email- stay@craigardhotel.co.uk)

Sunday 15/5/11 - Monday 30/05/11.

*Cycling Barra to the Butt then final night;

*Overnighting in Stornoway at Caladh Inn Stornoway (44-01851-702740) (email- caladhinn@calahotels.com)

Tuesday 31/05/11.

*Ferry crossing from Stornoway to Ullapool depart 07:00am arrive 09:40am

*Catch the bus from Ullapool Pier to Inverness depart 09:50am arrive 11:10am

*Car hire downtown Inverness then drive to Glasgow Airport Holiday Inn

*Overnighting at Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport - (email-Operations-Glasgow@Ihg.com) (44-871-9429031)

Wednesday 01/06/11.

*Fly out of Glasgow 16:10pm

*Arrive London 17:40pm (1:20hrs)

*Depart London 21:20pm

*Arrive Singapore 17:30pm (13:00hrs)

Thursday 02/06/11

*Depart Singapore 21:25pm

Friday 03/06/11

*Arrive Brisbane 06:55am (7:30hrs)