Bike Hire on the Isle of Barra
Hire bikes & advice for families & individuals planning to explore the wild & beautiful Outer Hebridean Isles
2024 .... looking to 2025
IMPORTANT UPDATE - We have a new mobile number for enquiries for anything related to bike hire or bike repairs.
The new number for use on Barra is - 07985 637957. You can phone, text, WhatsApp or Messeger on this number.
October 2024..... We have just concluded another busy season. For bike hire on Barra & Vatersay and for Hebridean Way hires we have once again been rushed off our feet. It has certainly been as busy as any previous season!!! Many wonderful memories of some amazing people from all over the world. Its has however been a mixed year weather-wise. I have to say it has been "challenging" weather for riders undertaking the Hebridean Way. We have had far more 'poor" weather and weeks when, at times, the wind has been from the wrong direction!!!! ....... Nevertheless there have been lots and lots of visitors wanting bikes and lots and lots of riders sucessfully completing the Hebridean Way.
So now looking ahead to 2025 and beyond ........ I'm afraid Barra Bike Hire is not offering bike hire for Hebridean Way hires for next year.....i.e. 2025. We are taking a year out. The demands of running a small family business are demanding and all encompassing.
After 8 years of managing the logistics of hiring bikes on Barra and arranging for bikes, dropped off in Stornoway, to be transported back to Barra, we have decided to take a year off. 2025 is the year when we put time aside to spend more time travelling ourselves ... have our own adventures .... and make more time to see family and friends around the world.
We will however have arrangements in place for bike hire on Barra for use on Barra and neighbouring islands however we are unable to provide bikes for use on the Hebridean Way.
There are a number of other operators offering Hebridean Way bike hires. If you need assistance finding who's offering bikes do feel free to e-mail us through the website and we will gladly pass on further details of other operators.
As mentioned above Barra Bike Hire will continue to offer hire bikes on Barra during 2025 but our operation will be restricted mainly to the Isle of Barra and neigbouring islands. Bike hire on Barra, and return them to Barra, will be our main offering for 2025.
We will have limited scope to also offer some bike hire for mini-expeditions up the Uists incorporating bike returns to Barra. We can also support bike drop offs at pre-arranged locations on the Uists and Berneray. There will be a charge applied for bike drop offs to cover the cost of recovering them back to Barra. Typical bike drop offs on the Uists would be Lochboisdale ferry terminal, Benbecula airport, Lochmaddy ferry terminal, Berneray ferry terminal or any accommodation base where you plan to finish your ride. Please enquire if this something you are considering.
Thats it for now. If you have any queries or questions about anything bike hire related on the Outer Hebrides then do feel free to ask. All the best for now.
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON. Tony [Barra Bike Hire].
For further updates or questions feel free to e-mail info@barrabikehire.co.uk or WhatsApp or call me for a chat on 07985 637957. If you don't manage to get through please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
We often have problems with mobile phone connections in the winter months - possibly due to high winds and adverse weather conditions resulting in mast problems and interrupted mobile phone signals. The best and most reliable means of getting through is a by e-mail or a WhatsApp message on 07985 637957. [Tony Flanagan]
Welcome to Barra Bike Hire
Barra Bike Hire is based on the beautiful Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides - the 'Islands on the Edge'. It is a truly amazing place and we count ourselves very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. Each and every day one feels to be close to, part of and surrounded on all sides by the landscape... a landscape of hills and moorland, sea and surf and some of the most fantastic beaches in the world. The coastal ring road around Barra is a relatively quiet single carriageway - with passing places - and is generally ideal for cycling. There are also a number of spur roads that give you access to many more wonderfully secluded spots to discover and explore. A quality hire bike from Barra Bike Hire is, in our opinion, easily the best way to explore our island ‘Barradise’. We pride ourselves on providing first class service from point of contact right through to getting you on the road on your bike. Don't just take our word for how good our service is .... see what past clients have said on Trip Advisor. Read more about the Isle of Barra »
Bikes for Hire
1. Local bikes [..for use on Barra & Eriskay/South Uist]. We have a varied fleet of well maintained bikes for hire locally. We cater for individuals, families, and groups. Bikes can be hired for half days (up to 4hrs) or a full day (normally available from 9.00am til 6.30pm - earlier &/or later by arrangement). Multi-day rentals are also available and the more days you hire a bike the cheaper it gets. We also offer a bike delivery and collection service when possible anywhere on the island ....but only for full day and multi-day hires (Due to the high prices of fuel & transport and staffing costs we do have to make a nominal charge for delivery).
Hire rates for adult bikes (2025 season) - these fees apply to bike hires for day and multi day use on Barra & Vatersay & for day excursions on Eriskay & South Uist.
Standard bikes: (Hybrid or MTB) £20.00/day 1 - £14.00/day 2 & then £12.00/day for each day thereafter. Half day hires are £14.00/bike
E-bikes: £35.00/day 1 - £30.00/day 2 & then £25.00/day for each day thereafter. Note: we only offer full day hires (no half days) for e-bikes during May, June, July & August.
2. Hebridean Way Touring / Hybrid bike [Barra - Stornoway]. Very sorry but we are not offering bike hires for Hebridean Way use in 2025
3. Electric Pedal Assisted bikes for use locally on Barra and neighbouring islands. These are high spec CUBE e-bikes that are available all year round and will definitely get you round everything on Barra and beyond without having to get off and push up any of the hills!!!!. If you have never tried an e-bike you will be amazed at just how easy they are to use and at how effective they are!! The e-bike mantra is .... "further, faster and for longer". [Hire rates, once again, for adult bikes for use on Barra & Vatersay - £35.00/day for day 1 & then £30.00/day for day 2 and then £25.00/day each day thereafter for "local use".
Note: Due to legal requirements we are unable to hire e-bikes to anyone under 14 years of age.
THE HEBRIDEAN WAY.
I'm afraid Barra Bike Hire is not offering bike hire for Hebridean Way hires for next year.....i.e. 2025. We are taking a year out. The demands of running a small family business are demanding and all encompassing.
After 8 years of managing the logistics of hiring bikes on Barra and arranging for bikes, dropped off in Stornoway, to be transported back to Barra, we have decided to take a year off. 2025 is the year when we put time aside to spend more time travelling ourselves ... have our own adventures .... and make more time to see family and friends around the world.
We will have some limited scope to also offer bike hire for mini-expeditions up the Uists incorporating bike returns to Barra. Also we can support bike drop offs at pre-arranged locations on the Uists and Berneray. There will be a charge applied for bike drop offs to cover the cost of recovering them back to Barra. Typical bike drop offs on the Uists would be Lochboisdale ferry terminal, Benbecula airport, Lochmaddy ferry terminal, Berneray ferry terminal or any accommodation base where you plan to finish your ride. Please enquire if this something you are considering. We are happy to discuss your specific bespoke plans with you if your plans require a bike "drop off" on the Uists.
Bike Repairs, Servicing
Barra Bike HIre also offer a bike repair & maintenance service. We keep a limited stock of spare parts to keep bikes on the road. If needed we can order in parts however it can take a day or two to arrive by post depending on what is needed. We are able to undertake emergency call outs to anywhere on the island for our own hire fleet and also visiting cyclists and their bikes. Contact us on 07985 637957. WhatsApp messeging is usually the most reliable way of getting through. More repairs & servicing »
Family Run
We are a small, friendly, family run business. We originally set up in 2013 / 2014 when we invested in half a dozen rental bikes to provide for guests staying in our self-catering apartment and the self-catering holiday let 'across the road'. At that time bike hire on Barra was difficult to source and at times simply not available. Since then, due to growing demand, we invested in more bicycles and now have a varied and diverse rental fleet to cater for most needs. We have conventional bikes - hybrid, road and mountain bikes, children's bikes and also E-bikes. Read more about us »
Our Cycle Hire Prices
| Up to 4hrs (half day) | Full Day (4hrs+ - 6.30pm) 1 | Multi-Day after day 1 (per day) 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Bikes | £14.00 | £20.00 | £14.00 |
| Child's Bike / Youth Bike | £12.00 | £16.00 | £10.00 |
| Kiddy adaptions | £5.00 | £8.00 | £5.00 |
| E-Bikes | £28.00 | £35.00 | £30.00 |
1 Bikes to be returned by 6.30pm on day of hire or on the last day of hire for multi day hires.. 2 An adult bike hired for 3 days or more the charge is £10.00/day for day 3 and each day thereafter. E-bikes on day 3 are charged out at £20.00/day and each day thereafter. | |||
Call us on +44 (0) 7985 637957 or email .
