Scotland : Argyll, Isles & Loch Lomond Chat for CC Ecosse Islay Cycle Tour 2014

[Fubar]

Ok, a wee update - I got the following back from SYHA Bookings (based on 12 people):

I can confirm at the time of writing we do have availability for your group and could offer you the below:
15th August Lochranza
£19.00 per person in dormitory accommodation
16th August Port Charlotte
£19.00 per person in dormitory accommodation
I can put a booking for you and hold this for 28 days of which we will require a 20% deposit and the full payment 6 weeks prior to arrival.
If you would like me to put on a booking for you or if you require any more information please do not hesitate to contact me.

So if we want to take this idea further it's a go'er! 12 x £19 is £228 which at 20% is £45.60 (times 2) - if peeps were able to commit to the weekend of 15-18 August I would be willing to pay the deposit up front then claim back from each of you as and when (or send round the boys with a baseball bat!).

MY ONLY SLIGHT CONCERN IS: looking at the timetables again there are very few ferries from Islay-Kennacraig even on a Monday and only one from Port Askaig at 15:00, therefore if on Jura on Monday AM it would be a very early and very long trip to catch the ferry from Port Ellen at 09:45!

I apologise that I haven't had a good look at this (work is busy again!) but I'll try to go over it again since we revised it to 4 days - in the meantime if anyone has any clever suggestions please jump in! Also I know it's early days to be trying to pin everyone down to a date and a deposit but I imagine it will become very difficult to book a group of 12-14 into a youth hostel after Easter (plus I'm a bit anal about these things...).

 

[Fubar]

The other thing I was going to add is are the ladies who have expressed an interest happy to be in the dormitory accommodation or would you wish "special" arrangements? I hasten to add I've never stayed in a youth hostel in my life so have no idea if they seperate smelly, noisy boys from dainty ladies but if they don't is that a problem???

Also if someone feels they can't commit at this time there is nothing to stop them booking into the same YH's at a later date and joining us! Assuming you can get a booking....

 

[Telemark]

Dainty ...
As far as I know, SYHA don't mind groups of people sharing as they please, regardless of boy/girl/etc status, but they would normally put individual ladies booking together with other ladies...
Most hostels these days also have family (or even double/twin) rooms, but that would cost more (£25 or so per person per night for a 2 -person room as far as I remember). So in theory light sleepers could book their own, not sure when the wee rooms run out ... Lochranza still had twin rooms when I was looking recently for just @Pat "5mph" and moi, and the rest of you were planning to take the 7am ferry ..

Personally, I'm still in 2 minds about the Jura night (as opposed to a day trip), great if the weather & ferries play nicely, but could be really tough if it's horizontal rain all day ... Much as I'd love to stay on Jura and try out @GlasgowFinn's mate's lovely new barn, the 'safer' option would be an extra night on Islay, with time to pootle or go to Jura for a daytrip, and then at least be on the island where we need to catch the 'critical' ferry back to Kennacraig ... Only my 2p since you were asking, @Fubar

We'll need to book our summer holidays very soon (next week), then should be able to commit, but not this week. Thanks again for all your planning etc, @Fubar

T

 

[GBC]

I really shouldn't have gone window-shopping for jerseys tonight, cos I'm tempted by this one.... can't think why....

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/endura/jura-whiskey-short-sleeve-jersey-ec044631

Planning the trip in my head already. I'll know if I'm really in as soon as a date is chosen

Whiskey????????

 

[Fubar]

Dainty ...
As far as I know, SYHA don't mind groups of people sharing as they please, regardless of boy/girl/etc status, but they would normally put individual ladies booking together with other ladies...
Most hostels these days also have family (or even double/twin) rooms, but that would cost more (£25 or so per person per night for a 2 -person room as far as I remember). So in theory light sleepers could book their own, not sure when the wee rooms run out ... Lochranza still had twin rooms when I was looking recently for just @Pat "5mph" and moi, and the rest of you were planning to take the 7am ferry ..

Personally, I'm still in 2 minds about the Jura night (as opposed to a day trip), great if the weather & ferries play nicely, but could be really tough if it's horizontal rain all day ... Much as I'd love to stay on Jura and try out @GlasgowFinn's mate's lovely new barn, the 'safer' option would be an extra night on Islay, with time to pootle or go to Jura for a daytrip, and then at least be on the island where we need to catch the 'critical' ferry back to Kennacraig ... Only my 2p since you were asking, @Fubar

We'll need to book our summer holidays very soon (next week), then should be able to commit, but not this week. Thanks again for all your planning etc, @Fubar

T

That's exactly what I was thinking (without actually saying it out loud), unless I am reading the ferries wrong there is only 4 departures from Islay on a Monday - 3 from Port Ellen at 07:00, 09:45 and 18:00 and one from Port Askaig at 15:30 - so an early start required to get off the island and coming down from Jura will make that MUCH tougher.

Pootling round Islay (my original intention) with the option of Jura sounds best, unless anyone has any strong objections? And perhaps we keep @GlasgowFinn 's barn for another day?? Or those that want to proceed to Jura for an overnighter do so at their own risk.....

So in the meantime if the ladies can let me know their preferences for accommodation, and I'm sure we could hold off to next week for your summer vacation plans by which time I'll have done a bit more planning and got responses from everyone - does that all sound reasonable?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@Fubar if @Telemark goes for her summer hols instead of going with us I will pay the necessary extra for keeping a lady's mistique
If this turns out to be impossible (never been in a youth hostel myself either) I shall just suffer in silence, go with the flow

 

[Louch]

16-18 look clear on my holiday schedule.

I'd also prefer a solo room, as im a rubbish sleeper. Happy to book that myself to take pressure off mark

 

[Fubar]

@Fubar if @Telemark goes for her summer hols instead of going with us I will pay the necessary extra for keeping a lady's mistique
If this turns out to be impossible (never been in a youth hostel myself either) I shall just suffer in silence, go with the flow

So would the ladies be ok sharing or prefer individual rooms? It's not clear from the website how many individual rooms they have so it might be another email to them, or as @Louch says you contact them yourselves.

Does anyone else have an issue sharing? If so declare it now!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

So would the ladies be ok sharing or prefer individual rooms? It's not clear from the website how many individual rooms they have so it might be another email to them, or as @Louch says you contact them yourselves.

Does anyone else have an issue sharing? If so declare it now!

Will share with T or other lady, if no lady available will pay for extra.
If no room available will sleep in the manger ...

 

[Fubar]

Another thought for those with a burning desire to visit Jura - if we move Jura to day 2 it would work:

Day1: Ardrossan - Lochranza (overnight at SYHA)
Day2: Lochranza - Kennacraig - Port Askaig - Jura
Day3: Jura - Port Askaig - Port Charlotte
Day4: Port Charlotte - Port Ellen - Kennacraig - Lochranza - Ardrossan

Doable?!?

 

[MikeW-71]

If the Jura leg may cause issues with ferries, it might be wiser to leave it this time. Given that I plotted a good 50 miles route on Islay that we would have all day to pootle round, we'll still have a good day there.

EDIT: heading to Jura on day 2 would be doable.

 

[Fubar]

16-18 look clear on my holiday schedule.

I'd also prefer a solo room, as im a rubbish sleeper. Happy to book that myself to take pressure off mark

You would need Friday 15th as well.

 

[Fubar]

If the Jura leg may cause issues with ferries, it might be wiser to leave it this time. Given that I plotted a good 50 miles route on Islay that we would have all day to pootle round, we'll still have a good day there.

EDIT: heading to Jura on day 2 would be doable.

Getting to Jura from Islay is fine, it's getting off Islay that's the issue - don't fancy being responsible for everyone being stuck there for the night with no accommodation....

 

[MikeW-71]

Good point.

I think we need to err on the side of caution. We mustn't be in a situation where one puncture means a missed ferry.

 

[Fubar]

Good point.

I think we need to err on the side of caution. We mustn't be in a situation where one puncture means a missed ferry.

And judging by almost every CC ride I've been on, expect the unexpected! Personally I was always happy just to make Islay