Hello, my husband and I will be leaving Edinburgh and staying in West Kilbride mid next week. He has some Murdoch ancestry from that area and wants to drive through Cummock and Ayr. We are in our mid 60’s and looking to do a bike ride for half a day before we head to Luss for the night. We will stop in Stirling for our final night of the short road trip. I thought a ferry and a couple of hour bike ride might be fun activity. I’ve read about biking on many of the western islands but think it will be best to stay close so as to not cram too much in on one day. Can anyone suggest one island over another for beauty or convenience? Thanks so much!
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10202 posts
Well, I’m a little confused by the order of the places you’re visiting. But it looks like you want to do a bike ride for a half a day and then sleep in Luss that night. Is that correct?
If so, I think I would probably just head to the Isle of Bute. Arran is very lovely and I really enjoyed my time there, but it would definitely be a bit out of your way to go for just a half day bike ride. You would have to make your way from Edinburgh to Ardrossan to catch the ferry over, then later take the ferry back over to Ardrossan and then drive up to Luss. It would be a very long day.
Bute would be easier to get to. I would also suggest taking the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and then picking up a car there unless there is some reason you need it for the trip between the two cities.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1103 posts
Gt. C umbrae would be perfect for a short bike ride. It has a nice fairly flat coastal loop that takes about 1-1.5 hours. The weather may be an issue, I’ve been to the area many times in September and it has been beautiful but it is changeable and you need to be prepared for rain and wind. Arran is lovely but needs more than a couple of hours (I think).
Posted by
Lake District, England
10359 posts
Agree, Great Cumbrae is your island. Ideal for a bike ride at 10 miles round. Turn right off the ferry when all the cars turn left.
Fits your itinerary like a glove.
The big monument you see is to two officers of the HMS Shearwater lost in a squall.
Continuing round the quiet road you eventually come across the poignant garden of memories (at Sherrifs Port), then into Millport village, a lovely little harbour village. Several places for refreshments, and don't miss the little Millport Cathedral (yes, really) and former Theological College.
On the way look out for the Indian Rock, then the Crocodile rock in Millport harbour.
You have a choice whether to come back via Keppel steamer pier, the Tattie Pier (used to export potatoes) then the Lion Rock on the coast, or have a bit of a workout by following most of the cars over the hill back to the ferry.
I've done that circuit a fair few times on foot, a great half day out which is never the same twice.
There are a series of 19 historical plaques as you go round- from the Battle of Largs (King Haakon of Norway) through the Scottish Antarctica Expedition, famous residents, the lemonade factory at Fintry Bay tearooms, and the WW2 anti submarine detection base, also prehistoric remains).
Writing this makes me yearn to be there right now.
Park up in Large and go over as foot passengers.
And in Largs you can't leave without visiting Nardini's Italian cafe.
The port for Arran, for next week only is Ardrossan, most of the time it is now Troon. Ardrossan port is now normally closed for traffic, pending rebuilding.
Next week Troon's linkspan is being worked on
Posted by
London
1928 posts
Hiring a bike in Millport, Great Cumbrae, is something even casual cyclists do on a visit. I've never done it, but it's relatively easy cycling all the way round the island as far as I know. It's something of a tradition and many people from the west of Scotland have done it.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10359 posts
From Edinburgh to Cumnock you wouldn't be routing via Glasgow anyway, but either on the A71, or better on the A70 with a recommended extra stop at the New Lanark World Heritage site.
The further west you go on the A70 the more scenic it becomes.
You could also divert off the A70 a bit south to Leadhills and Wanlockhead- the highest villages in Scotland with their lead and gold mining heritage.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Oh this is wonderful advice, just what I needed. Thank you so much to all of you!
Ins31c, thank you for the highway suggestion, I’ll look at those two villages and the New Lanark Heritage site! Also the thorough details on which way to go on G. Cumbre and what to watch for. And especially the Nardini’s recommendation! My husband loves ice cream.
Lesley, thank you for the reminder of changeable weather on the island, we will come prepared!
Posted by
Glasgow
117 posts
I spent many a happy year as a child cycling round Millport/Cumbrae and we still visit a couple of times each year, remembering wonderful family holidays.
It's an easier and more realistic half day cycle option than Arran though that is certainly a more beautiful island overall with its impressive mountain range.If you get the bus into Millport itself, Mapes on the shore front at the far end of the small town, hires bikes, a very popular activity.Mostly flat, as said!
Ice cream - don't miss a carry out cone from the Ritz Cafe(like a step back into the 1950s, going in there) - get their own ice cream and not any of the multiple flavours they also offer.It comes with raspberry sauce and is gorgeous stuff.