Scottish Island Hopping by Bike

Arrive in Ardrossan and pick up your rental bikes just before 5.30pm. Then take the 6 pm by ferry to the Isle of Arran. The ferry journey takes just under the hour. Your accommodation shall be a short walk from the harbour. Now you can start to enjoy Island life.

The Isle of Arran has it all, mountains, coastal cliffs, rolling and flat roads, that’s why many people say that Arran is a Scotland in miniature. Before setting off on today’s cycle ride why not visit the 13th century Brodick Castle and gardens or the Arran brewery. Today you cycle around the southern half of the Island. The road south provides you with ever-changing views. Small villages intermix with spectacular coastal scenes.

Lamlash provides the link to Holy Isle, where a ferry can be caught to the monastery still occupied by Buddist monks. The Isle has had a spiritual heritage since the 6th century.  Return to Arran and continue your ride clockwise before you head back across the ‘String’ the link road across the centre of the island. This day is hillier than other days and does involve some short steep climbs.

A day to cycle and relax on ferries. You cycle north, firstly on a flat section of five miles before climbing over to Lochranza. If you have time visit the ruined castle and then catch the ferry to Cloanaig (carry own luggage onto the ferry). Then it is back on your bike for the short ride across the Kintyre peninsula to catch your second ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig on Island of Islay (carry own luggage onto the ferry). This two-hour ferry crossing passing some stunning coastal scenes. The fast flowing  Sound of Islay, the waterway between Islay and Jura is a great habitat for whales and dolphins. Once on Islay we normally stay in Ballygrant a few miles inland.

Today a short ferry crossing to the Island of Jura. On Jura navigation is easy, there is only 1 road. The Island of Jura is populated by some 5000 deer and 250 people. Jura House can be visited with some wonderful walled gardens and exotic plants. The road east gradually gets smaller and smaller until eventually turning into a footpath. Here you will feel you have reached nowhere and the solitude will be something you will remember forever.

You might start to hear the noise of the Corryvreckan whirlpool a very dangerous effect where three tidal waters meet and create a whirlpool. For a short additional trip visit Finlaggan near Ballygrant on your return to Islay, the home of the ancient seat of the Lord of the Isle’s, the rulers of the Western Isles once the Vikings had been removed.

Catch the ferry at Port Askaig to Colonsay in the morning. Colonsay being 10 miles long will allow you to explore most of the Island. Cycle to Ornasay across the tidal causeway to visit the ancient priory. The north section of Colonsay has some of the finest beaches in the Western Isles. Catch the evening ferry back to Islay.

Today you will explore by bike the north-west of Islay, known as the Rinns of Islay before cycling to the south of the Island. Today you will pass the Bruichladdich distillery before arriving in Port Charlotte. Then to the north coast where you shall find Kilchoman distillery just before a wonderful sandy beach, ideal for a picnic, pass the wildlife centre, rural life museum or RSPB centre then cycle the quiet lanes south to either Port Ellen or Bowmore.

Today there are a few options, for whisky lovers, heaven has arrived in Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. If you are staying in Bowmore first you cycle to Port Ellen or you may decide to stay in Bowmore and visit the distillery which has been refining whisky for over 240 years. For those wanting to cycle further, the coastal road to Claggain Bay passing Kildalton cross is totally stunning or if you are into Golf then just outside Port Ellen is Islay’s only Golf course. The whisky tour in Ardbeg is extremely interesting, you shall not only find out about how whisky is made but also the fascinating history of whisky production on the Island.

After breakfast, you will take the 9.45 am ferry (or 12:45 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays) from Port Ellen to Kennacraig (carry your own luggage onto the ferry). If you stayed in Bowmore you shall first have the cycle ride to Port Ellen. Once in Kennacraig, it’s back on your bike to cycle across the Kintyre peninsula to Cloanaig. Then it is back on the ferry to the Island of Arran (carry your own luggage onto the ferry) and your last cycle ride to Brodick this time along the not yet explored north-west coastline, where you shall catch the ferry around 19:20 back to Ardrossan where you shall hand back you bikes just around 8.15 pm. From Ardrossan, there is a train service which leaves after each ferry arrival back to Glasgow