Scotland’s Isle of Arran Bike Tour
A wonderful way to vacation. Best way to view the sights. Love the physical exertion.Both guides and other participants are fun and great folks to get to know. Food and beverages are always awesome.
FUN! Challenging rides, beautiful scenery, nice cycling companions, well-trained guides and great food!
Scotland – a land of myths, legends and majestic landscapes! Ride through rolling farmland and deep forest. Stop to visit ancient castles and hear stories of epic battles. Sample the craft beers and delicacies of Dumfries and Galloway. Board a ferry to cross the Firth of Clyde to Scotland’s 7th largest island, the Isle of Arran. Bicycle Arran’s wilderness and discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of this amazing place. Recharge at the island’s own whisky distillery. Ride the Mull of Kintyre and enjoy a final night of celebration before heading back to Glasgow.
COMBINING TOURS: We schedule our United Kingdom tour dates to make longer adventures possible. You can combine our Scotland tour with Ireland or England for the ultimate U.K. cycling experience!
Itinerary
Day 01
Meet in Glasgow. Begin at a castle, and ride to the birthplace of the bicycle!
Meals
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Ernespie House Hotel
Mileage
32 miles
Elevation
+1,909 ft / -1,996 ft
Meet in Glasgow. Transfer southwards out of the city (about 1.5hrs) to the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle. After a short briefing, we take a tour of the 17th century “pink palace” which is one of the country’s finest examples of Renaissance architecture and makes a fitting place to commence your journey. After lunch, enjoy a virtually traffic-free shakedown ride on the estate roads. Head south through quiet and scenic countryside, passing Keir Mill where the modern-day pedal bicycle was invented in 1839 by local blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillian. Stay the next two nights at the Ernespie House Hotel, a historic 18th century country house.
Day 02
Explore the countryside of Dumfries and Galloway and a "Sweetheart" of an Abbey.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Ernespie House Hotel
Distance
59 miles
Elevation
+3,231 ft / -3,231 ft
Dumfries and Galloway is a cycling revelation, sporting over 700 km/450 miles of marked routes on quiet roads through beautiful scenery. Starting just outside the ‘food town’ of Castle Douglas (with its fantastic range of cafes, bakers, butchers and fishmongers), todays’ ride is pure countryside where there are likely to be more sheep than cars. Bicycle onward to the quaint village of New Abbey, where a visit to the 13th-century Sweetheart Abbey is a must. Enjoy a delightful café lunch before the ride back to the hotel.
Day 03
Watch for red deer and wild goats while you cycle through Galloway Forest Park and along Loch Ken.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Creebridge House Hotel
Distance
55 miles
Elevation
+2,722 ft / -2,903 ft
Today, cross the region from east to west, from Castle Douglas we turn north heading for Galloway Forest Park. Follow the shores of Loch Ken, then climb out of New Galloway into the heart of the Park. Watch for Red Deer and wild goats on this stretch of road with a brief stop at Murray’s Monument before leading to the final part of the day – a superb cruise on a gentle downhill gradient to the village of Newton Stewart. Stay at Creebridge House Hotel.
Day 04
After a morning ride to the village of Straiton, hop a ferry and cross the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Dinner
Lodging
Auchrannie Resort
Distance
31 miles
Elevation
+2053 ft / -1745 ft
After an early, hearty Scottish breakfast, ride to the charming village of Straiton, then hop in the van for a shuttle north to reach the small ferry port of Ardrossan. Board the ferry and cross the Firth of Clyde to the fantastic Isle of Arran. Affectionately known as “Scotland in Miniature,” the island is a perfect mix of coast, moorland, and mountains. Want to explore the town or relax at the resort in the afternoon? No problem. We can drop you off to get a massage or other spa treatments at the resort’s ASpa, or go for a swim in one of the hotel’s two indoor pools. Lunch is on your own today, Stay at the Auchrannie Resort for the next 3 nights.
Day 05
Do the Scotland Mull of Kintyre Whisky Ride. Finish with a dram!
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
Lodging
Auchrannie Resort
Distance
47 miles
Elevation
+3,369 ft / -3,401 ft
Today’s ride is a true adventure involving two short ferry crossings and up to 60 miles of amazing roads and views of Arran from a totally different perspective. Bicycle north past Goat Fell, Arran’s highest peak at 874 meters (2,866 ft), to an ancient castle in the village of Lochranza, then take a short ferry ride to the mainland and the Kintyre Peninsula. Ride to lunch near the scenic working fishing village of Carradale, a small, peaceful harbor with stunning views across the Sound of Arran. At the nearby Carradale Point, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has a nature reserve with feral goats, and a good example of a vitrified fort built more than 2000 years ago on a small tidal island off the headland. Our guide, Jeff Barth, has put today’s route in his “Top 10 Rides” he’s ever done! After lunch, cycle back to the ferry enjoying new perspectives of this beautiful land. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
Day 06
Bicycle the Isle of Arran loop, one of the country's classic day rides.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Auchrannie Resort
Distance
56 miles
Elevation
+3408 ft / -3413 ft
The complete loop of the Island offers 56 miles of fantastic riding. With plenty of hills it’s a challenge, but the reward is one of the country’s classic day rides. Head south from Brodick to tackle the loop clockwise, passing by Holy Isle with its Buddhist monastery. Rounding the southern end of the island, views to the Mull of Kintyre open up with Ireland just visible in the distance. Heading up the west coast, the reward in the north is a visit to the Arran distillery in Lochranza. Enjoy a wee tonic of malt whisky before tackling the climb near Glen Sannox. On the other side you’ll find one of the best descents anywhere on a brand-new road surface. Then it’s a mostly flat cruise back to Brodick and a final celebration dinner.
Day 07
After a relaxing morning - or a very early bike ride - we head back to Glasgow.
Meals
– Breakfast
Go for a (optional) very early ride with the guides. Get back in plenty of time to shower and enjoy one more yummy breakfast spread before our ferry back to the “mainland” and our shuttle back to Glasgow.
