Here's the third route of my Scotland trip. The Kintyre peninsula can be reached entirely on the mainland, but its a long way down and back on the same roads, so to avoid doubling back I decided to take a couple of ferries. There are a few choices: if your starting near Glasgow you can take the ferry from Gourock to Dunoon, then road to Portavadie then ferry to Tarbert (the one on Kintyre). I started in Irvine, so headed to Ardrossan for the Ferry to Brodick in Arran. While waiting for the ferry at Ardrossan, I found out from a couple of local bikers that there was a classic bike show on Arran that day and that we were lucky to have a place on the ferry (bikes are strapped down for the crossing and there are only 6 places). From Brodick I headed to Lochranza for ferry to Claonaig (if you have an hour or so you can take the long way round the Island and see Lamlash & Whiting Bay). I ended up spending an hour or so at the bike show in Brodick).
From Claonaig I took B8001 to Kennacraig then A83 to Campbeltown. The A83 is a fast road the follows the coast with some nice sweeping bends. The day I did it there was a very heavy police presence with speed traps (not sure whether that was because of the Arran bike show, or whether it was typical for a Sunday). Fellow road users gave advance warning of these with friendly flashes. Headed down to Campbeltown which was pretty quiet (Sunday closing). Then headed west to Machrihanish for a view of Islay and Jura. Then returned to Campbeltown and down to Southend on the tip of peninsula. There is a single track road to the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse, but you have to walk the final part. As it was getting late in the afternoon I decided not to go to the lighthouse.
Returned to Campbeltown the back up the A83 (more police speed traps!) to Tarbert where I got caught in a torrential hail storm. Stopped under a tree in a lay-by for 10 minutes until it died down. Then headed up to Ardrishaig & Lochgilphead and along Loch Fyne. This is a very scenic bit of road worth a few stops if the weather is good. Rain had stopped but all was rather grey so I pushed on, stopping for petrol in Inveraray (another pretty spot with a castle and great views of the loch. From Inveraray I continued on the A83 towards Ardgartan. About half way along is the viewpoint known as "Rest and be thankfull" with a carpark with view of lake and mountains in the background - well worth stopping for even on a dull day. There are usually a few food vans there during the day. From Ardgartan I headed to Tarbert (the one at hand of Loch Lomond - Scotland has too many places called Tarbert!). From Tarbert I headed down Loch Lomondside on the A82. After crossing Erskine Bridge I took the short route back to Irvine. If I had more time, a more scenic route is to take the A78 coast road from Greenock, through Gourock, Largs & West Kilbride.
S1000RR strapped down in berth #5 on the Brodick ferry.
Ferry approaching Arran:
Goat Fell (mountain) in Arran from ferry
From Brodick ferry terminal headed to the Heritage Centre where the bike show was being held:
A few interesting bikes on show
From Claonaig I took B8001 to Kennacraig then A83 to Campbeltown. The A83 is a fast road the follows the coast with some nice sweeping bends. The day I did it there was a very heavy police presence with speed traps (not sure whether that was because of the Arran bike show, or whether it was typical for a Sunday). Fellow road users gave advance warning of these with friendly flashes. Headed down to Campbeltown which was pretty quiet (Sunday closing). Then headed west to Machrihanish for a view of Islay and Jura. Then returned to Campbeltown and down to Southend on the tip of peninsula. There is a single track road to the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse, but you have to walk the final part. As it was getting late in the afternoon I decided not to go to the lighthouse.
Returned to Campbeltown the back up the A83 (more police speed traps!) to Tarbert where I got caught in a torrential hail storm. Stopped under a tree in a lay-by for 10 minutes until it died down. Then headed up to Ardrishaig & Lochgilphead and along Loch Fyne. This is a very scenic bit of road worth a few stops if the weather is good. Rain had stopped but all was rather grey so I pushed on, stopping for petrol in Inveraray (another pretty spot with a castle and great views of the loch. From Inveraray I continued on the A83 towards Ardgartan. About half way along is the viewpoint known as "Rest and be thankfull" with a carpark with view of lake and mountains in the background - well worth stopping for even on a dull day. There are usually a few food vans there during the day. From Ardgartan I headed to Tarbert (the one at hand of Loch Lomond - Scotland has too many places called Tarbert!). From Tarbert I headed down Loch Lomondside on the A82. After crossing Erskine Bridge I took the short route back to Irvine. If I had more time, a more scenic route is to take the A78 coast road from Greenock, through Gourock, Largs & West Kilbride.
S1000RR strapped down in berth #5 on the Brodick ferry.
Ferry approaching Arran:
Goat Fell (mountain) in Arran from ferry
From Brodick ferry terminal headed to the Heritage Centre where the bike show was being held:
A few interesting bikes on show
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