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Scotland's newest ferry route opens up new cycling adventures

23/7/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
This is the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway on the island of Lewis
There is nothing quite like it. Boarding a Cal Mac (Caledonian MacBrayne) ferry with your bicycle is one of the best things about cycling in Scotland. There is excitement about the quiet roads on a far-flung or not so far-flung island. There is a sense of escape that the separation of the island from the mainland provides.

Now there is a new ferry route that opens up new possibilities of discovery. The summer only sailing from Ardrossan to Campbeltown was inaugurated this year. It is a three year pilot service so we should all try to make use of it so that the trial is a success and it keeps running.

A short BBC report recorded the first day of the ferry’s operation.

There are plenty of reasons to take your bike on this ferry. It gives direct access to the southern roads of the Kintyre Peninsula. Before this ferry service the most direct way to reach this area involved two ferry crossings, a 14 mile cycle on the island of Arran and then a 38 mile cycle south to Campbeltown. Then you have to come back the way you came. This, of course, is a great route if you have the time. But if you are short on time and only want to explore the south of the Kintyre Peninsula then the new ferry is ideal.

The route also gives another option to reach the island of Islay.  From Campbeltown to Kennacraig where the Islay ferry departs is a 33 mile cycle.

For me, the excitement of this new ferry is that it will make it easier for me to reach the island of Gigha. This tiny island is only 6 miles long and 1.6 miles wide and has a population of about 110 people. There are not many roads to cycle on, but this is a place to combine cycling with other attractions. There are beaches, standing stones and walks. There are seals, otters and seabirds to watch. Achamore Gardens has over 50 acres of unusual plants and there is even a golf course.
Picture
Island of Gigha. Photo from www.calmac.co.uk
To get to Gigha from Campbeltown involves a 20 mile cycle to Tayinloan from where the island ferry departs. The ferry crossing takes 20 minutes.

Looking at the Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry timetable there are early evening departures on Thursday and Friday. These arrive in Campbeltown for 9.20pm, meaning staying overnight in the town will be necessary. The next morning I could cycle up to Tayinloan to catch the ferry across to Gigha and spend one or two nights on the island. On Sunday there is a ferry from Campbeltown back to Ardrossan at 5.55pm. From Ardrossan there are regular trains to Glasgow.

This sounds like a perfect weekend of cycling. Why not give it a try? I will be.

Gigha website
Calmac website and ferry timetables

3 Comments
Richard link
23/7/2013 08:26:54 am

Three years sounds generous for a pilot route. Any idea how popular it has turned out to be? Gigha looks amazing in that pic too.

Reply
Colin
23/7/2013 04:53:49 pm

Hi Richard, not sure how successful it has been so far. I found various news stories about the launch where opinion varied from positive to negative about the limited timetable. Hopefully it will be popular because Campbeltown is quite a challenge to get to the long way round

Reply
Alasdair link
2/8/2013 02:07:06 am

I can't wait to try the route either. Looks good. Campbeltown is Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain in Gaelic. A seriouslybcool name! Timings of the ferry are a bit strange though.

Reply



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    My name is Colin Baird and I want to see all of Scotland by bicycle. Follow my blog on Facebook:

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  • Home
  • About
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  • Where to go in Scotland
    • Aberdeenshire
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    • Sutherland and Caithness
  • Advice About Cycling in Scotland
    • What kind of bicycle?
    • What gear to buy
    • Taking your bike on the train
    • Coping with traffic
    • Best cycling guide books
    • Best novels about cycling in Scotland
    • Jobs in Scotland
  • Travel Writing Projects/Working with Me
  • Beyond Edinburgh Bike Tour
  • Best Cycling Books