Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
Being a weekend worker, I have missed out on the Arran and Stirling rides; so I hereby propose a midweek ride, to be held sometime in August. Any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday will do. Provisional date is Thursday 15th August, but this is flexible to suit the majority.
The route I am suggesting would involve meeting at Wemyss Bay train station (plenty of parking £3 per day) about 11am (this allows Glasgow folk to travel on an off peak train leaving Central station at 9.55 for £7.80 return instead of £11 an hour earlier!), then cycling 7 miles to McInroys Point (Gourock) for the ferry to Dunoon. The Wemyss Bay to Gourock section involves a section along the A78 trunk road, BUT there is a suitable tarmac path which can be used to avoid that, and I generally use the path when out myself. Keen roadies might prefer to stay on the A78.
From Dunoon, it's a minor road over to Loch Striven then a quite "interesting" climb (about 500 feet in 2 miles) up the west side of Loch Striven and then a long downhill and on to Colintraive, a distance of about 20 miles from Dunoon, for the second ferry crossing.
The third ferry takes us over to Rhubodach at the north end of my old home, the Isle of Bute (where I got "Brandane" from). There follows a reasonably flat 9 miles to the town of Rothesay, and the last ferry of the day which takes us directly back to Wemyss Bay train station.
I make that a total of 36 miles, but there are options available on the Isle of Bute for lengthening it if people want, and if the weather is good. There are a few options for food and/or drink in Colintraive and in Rothesay.
Usual rules apply; all you need is a bike and no-one gets left behind! Rothesay is famous for Zavaronis ice cream. Cake and beer also available
. Ferry fares for the 3 crossings come to a total of £10.
Some pics for shameless promotion purposes
: The famous train station at Wemyss Bay:
Ferry #1......
Head of Loch Striven from part way up THAT hill:
Ferry #2, the crossing is only about 3 minutes and you could throw a stone across:
Rothesay:
The route I am suggesting would involve meeting at Wemyss Bay train station (plenty of parking £3 per day) about 11am (this allows Glasgow folk to travel on an off peak train leaving Central station at 9.55 for £7.80 return instead of £11 an hour earlier!), then cycling 7 miles to McInroys Point (Gourock) for the ferry to Dunoon. The Wemyss Bay to Gourock section involves a section along the A78 trunk road, BUT there is a suitable tarmac path which can be used to avoid that, and I generally use the path when out myself. Keen roadies might prefer to stay on the A78.
From Dunoon, it's a minor road over to Loch Striven then a quite "interesting" climb (about 500 feet in 2 miles) up the west side of Loch Striven and then a long downhill and on to Colintraive, a distance of about 20 miles from Dunoon, for the second ferry crossing.
The third ferry takes us over to Rhubodach at the north end of my old home, the Isle of Bute (where I got "Brandane" from). There follows a reasonably flat 9 miles to the town of Rothesay, and the last ferry of the day which takes us directly back to Wemyss Bay train station.
I make that a total of 36 miles, but there are options available on the Isle of Bute for lengthening it if people want, and if the weather is good. There are a few options for food and/or drink in Colintraive and in Rothesay.
Usual rules apply; all you need is a bike and no-one gets left behind! Rothesay is famous for Zavaronis ice cream. Cake and beer also available
. Ferry fares for the 3 crossings come to a total of £10.Some pics for shameless promotion purposes
: The famous train station at Wemyss Bay:
Ferry #1......
Head of Loch Striven from part way up THAT hill:
Ferry #2, the crossing is only about 3 minutes and you could throw a stone across:
Rothesay:
trying out some new routes.
). Please note the edit to the provisional date .... now Thursday 15th.
