Arran

[tradesecrets]

What is the quickest time that anyone you know that has cycled round the Island ..

How heavy is the traffic with tourists drving round the Island during Spring / Summer ?

 

[Crackle]

- No idea but why would you want to rush it, it's a beautiful island. It's also quite up and down apart from a few places with at least one big climb. I think I bimbled around in 4.5/5 hours

- Traffic is very light even in high season, nothing to worry about at all. It can be a few minutes before a car goes past, normally slowly as the roads are not wide.

 

[westcoaster]

How fast can you ride 57 miles? We stopped at Blackwaterfoot for lunch and the distillery at Lochranza was a compulsory visit. One thing we did discover - you can't cycle faster than a swarm of midges no matter how hard you try. Full length tights or leggings are advisable in the summer, and long sleeves.

 

[numbnuts]

I've got an Arran jumper if that helps

 

[Chris James]

- No idea but why would you want to rush it, it's a beautiful island. It's also quite up and down apart from a few places with at least one big climb. I think I bimbled around in 4.5/5 hours

- Traffic is very light even in high season, nothing to worry about at all. It can be a few minutes before a car goes past, normally slowly as the roads are not wide.

I was a bit caught out by the Cornwall=esque up and down roads in the south of the island. The 'big' climb near Sannox was quite straightforward as I recall. I enjoyed my double scoop ice cream at Whiting Bay. I had been fantasising about it for about 10 miles!

There was hardly any traffic when I was there in May.

I think I averaged about 14mph so I guess that makes 4 hours or so? The road surface wasn't great so I wojuld recommend more than the 23mm tyres that I was running.

 

[JonnyBlade]

Worked on the island on 3 occasions some 20 years ago. A fantastic place to be. My advice would be to take a week to cycle around it and if you're looking for quiet roads, don't visit during the Glasgow holiday week

Seriously, take your time and chill

 

[Telemark]

I have to agree with the "take your time" replies so far. I've been round Arran three times with different company, we always took a weekend (either arriving late Friday or on an early ferry on Saturday). It's a place to be enjoyed, with stops to watch the seals and birds, detour to see the standing stones of Machrie Moor, have an ice cream, etc. We met other cyclists who had come off the same ferry, who were clearly just doing a day (or half day) ride. Nothing wrong with that, but you are missing out on a lot if you are just going for a quick circumnavigation by bike - it's a lovely place! If you are lucky and in the right place at the right time, you can even watch an otter family play in the surf at dusk ...

Here is a write-up of one of our Arran weekends with some photos if you want to know more.

T

 

[jackthelad]

glad this subject came up was going to take the wife for the day,was told if you come off the ferry and turn right then it is flat for 15 miles,so was going to do that and back to the ferry,she just would not handle the hills.
Was wondering how are the road condition on this stretch,just so we know what tyres to put on our bikes to accommodate
jackthelad

 

[Norm]

JTL, a few minutes on Streetview shows the tarmac is pretty good and that section doesn't seem to rise much above sea level.

But, that's only as far as what is marked as Sannox, you've then got a climb over a pass to Lochranza which gets up to 650ft, although it's then flat for another 15 miles to Auchagallon.

I'd recommend Google Streetview to check out the roads and something like BikeHike.co.uk to check out the elevations. 10 minutes on both and you'll have a good understanding of the area and some great images to persuade Mrs Jack that it's worth the climb.

 

[ACW]

last time i went over i got the 9:30 ferry over (on the road by 10:45) and got the 4:40 back (i was back at the ferry port for 3:30)


roads are ok, watch for some of the tight hairpin bends.
check the wind direction before you go if its south weserly then go round the island clockwise that way you get the shelter from the hills when you head into it and its on your back when you are by the coast up the back side of the island.
you turn left when you leave the ferry you go straight into a climb up a fairly steep hill, then its hilly all the way round the bottom of the island, fairly flat up the back of the island, final climb up over a big hill at the top of the island then you will hit 50-60 mph on the way down back to the ferry.

Have fun

 

[Crackle]

glad this subject came up was going to take the wife for the day,was told if you come off the ferry and turn right then it is flat for 15 miles,so was going to do that and back to the ferry,she just would not handle the hills.
Was wondering how are the road condition on this stretch,just so we know what tyres to put on our bikes to accommodate
jackthelad

This is great section to ride and there's lots to stop at and see: Arran Brewery, Arran cheese shop which is just before the brewery and in a small arcade of other shops and a very good seafood restaurant, Creelers. Then there's Brodick castle, a beautiful coastline with numerous pubs and hotels including the Sannox Bay Hotel, right at the end before the road goes over the pass. Road surface is good here, you do get some potholes developing and the roads are only narrow but not so busy as to make things uncomfortable, in fact it's a relaxed ride. There's also a section of rocks just outside Brodick and before the castle where you quite often get seals sunbathing. You could easily make a comfortable day ride of this section.

 

[fatboysoontobeslim]

just seen this,hope you dont mind me asking. how would my 13 year old cope with the hills if we were to do this??? hes relatively new to cycling and has mountain bike was thinking of putting some road tyres on it and considering doing this over two days, hes quite a fit lad

 

[Telemark]

A circumnavigation of Arran should we well within the capabilities of a reasonably fit 13 year old. Just take it easy, have plenty of ice cream or bakery or seal watching stops ...
A word of warning, if you are thinking of doing this during a weekend, make sure you have your accommodation booked! We were once were lucky to find a room, with apparently 3 weddings on the island at the time ....

As someone has said, don't underestimate the southern part between Brodick & Blackwaterfoot, there are plenty of ups & downs, whereas the roads along the west & east coast of Arran are more or less flat. The northern end just has one long climb, but it's not too steep. I've always gone round clock-wise, and would probably stay near Blackwaterfoot if you can find a room there (highly recommend the Lochside Guesthouse just south of BWF if you can get in!), and spend the spare time in the afternoon either walking along the beach towards the King's Cave (look out for otters) and/or drop off the bags at the accommodation and cycle up the road to the small car park for the Machrie Moor standing stones and stretch your legs.

Why do I suddenly feel all nostalgic and want to go back there soon?

Another option for those not sure about hills is the Isle of Bute, which is much flatter and also has plenty to see & do, and very quiet roads. There are quite a few loops or out & backs that can be done from the town of Rothesay. You can drop your overnight stuff off at a B&B and then just travel lightly for day trips (there is a write-up on our 2.5 day tour of Bute last May on the same blog I mentioned earlier). Bute is just as easy to get to as Arran by public transport, with plenty of space for bikes on the train & ferry. I love cycling down the ramp onto a ferry, that's when the adventure begins ...

T

 

[newbiebiker]

I've got an Arran jumper if that helps

I did a doubletake on the name too

 

[fatboysoontobeslim]

hey thanks for that telemark much appreciated