Campbeltown to Corran Ferry via Oban, Tobermory and Kilchoan

[Twilkes]

Any advice for this route, roads to take or avoid, places not to miss while I'm up there?

Campbeltown to Oban would be one day, which looks like 90 miles minimum; Oban to Tobermory to Corran Ferry is 70 miles by most direct route but I'd be happy to bump either of those up to 100-120 miles as it'll be long summer days so plenty of breaks.

 

[T4tomo]

Campbletown to Oban - follow classic Caledonian way route, which is more like 125 miles so you avoid the worst of the A83 (i.e hit the west coast loop north of Tarbert.

Not a lot of different roads to choose after Oban, the much longer route via Loch Beg will be far quieter than the direct route, and after the next ferry at Tobermory, hug Loch Linnie on the B road rather than take more of the A road.

doesn't @oldwheels reside on Mull?

 

[matticus]

Oban to Tobermory to Corran Ferry is 70 miles by most direct route but I'd be happy to bump either of those up to 100-120 miles as it'll be long summer days so plenty of breaks.

That might be the most stunning 70miles you can do on a bike (+ferries!) in the UK, and super-quiet. Maybe divert to the Ardnamurchan lighthouse? Most westerly point of UK mainland, with a cafe

 

[slow scot]

If you have the time I’d advise turning left when you land on Mull and take the longer road round to Tobermory. It’s one of the best days to be had on a bike up here.
From Kilchoan to the Corran ferry you go via Strontian, and your only variation is to add the loop over to Kingairloch. This is very attractive but adds distance and climbing.

 

[Twilkes]

Campbletown to Oban - follow classic Caledonian way route, which is more like 125 miles so you avoid the worst of the A83 (i.e hit the west coast loop north of Tarbert.

Strava lets me plot a route that turns left at Achahoish, looping around a small southwest peninsula and then heading north avoiding Lochgilphead completely, but Google maps won't plot this - am I assuming that part of that is off-road?

 

[T4tomo]

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/55...-5.554736&zoom=7.2063&type=2d&placesCategory=

ride with GPS checks whether surfaced or not, might be better using that than strava to plot.

on the linked route above, you would need to take a small section of A816 near Kilmartin, then back to minor roads.

 

[Twilkes]

If you have the time I’d advise turning left when you land on Mull and take the longer road round to Tobermory. It’s one of the best days to be had on a bike up here.

Thanks, yes I was kind of planning on that depending on when I arrived on the island and syncing with the ferries, would be a shame to go all that way and not explore.

 

[Twilkes]

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/55...-5.554736&zoom=7.2063&type=2d&placesCategory=

Yes, that's the route I'd found - where Strava thinks i can go is turning left at Achahoish below - there's a gap in the Streetmap view because it's signed as a private driveway but the Strava heatmap continues through to the loop around to Kilmory.

I may not have time to take that detour in any case, but I'm curious if it's rideable. The signs say no.

edit - right of way says yes, although it gets rough at parts so might take me too long: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29277

 

[Sallar55]

The Loch Sween link is a declassified road , the good bits have grass between 2 tarmac strips.😁

 

[T4tomo]

3 miles "unsurfaced"

 

[Twilkes]

^^^ Maybe if I have time and I trust my tyres, there's plenty of other good stuff to see though so it's not essential. Thanks, will largely follow the Sustrans route, depending on traffic.

 

[Twilkes]

Looking at the east coast from Campbeltown, it looks crazy hilly. Given I’ll be leaving early morning so minimal traffic, will I be missing out on scenery by taking the west coast road? I could do with saving energy for later in the trip.

 

[PeteXXX]

If you intend having a meal out in Tobermory, book ahead!

 

[Twilkes]

If you intend having a meal out in Tobermory, book ahead!

I’ll have been three days in the same clothes, I don’t think they’d let me in anyway!

Actually staying overnight in the southwest tip of Mull then doing the rest of the loop the next day, as far as Glencoe. Long days but that’s the joy of riding solo.

 

[Aravis]

Looking at the east coast from Campbeltown, it looks crazy hilly. Given I’ll be leaving early morning so minimal traffic, will I be missing out on scenery by taking the west coast road? I could do with saving energy for later in the trip.

I once rode both sides as a loop when I was capable of such things and both are magnificent. In my opinion, scenically the west Atlantic cost is the one you should not miss.

I was up there again a couple of years ago and the A83 was as quiet as I remember it. It is an A-road on which those inclined could drive fast, but lines of sight are generally good.

Travelling northwards you will have the rocks, beaches and Atlantic breakers at your elbow. Here's a view close to where I was staying - plenty more to look at on Streetview of course: