Cycling the Shore Road, Kames

The Shore Road in Kames, Argyll, overlooks the shore of the Kyles of Bute. It's only about 4 miles long, but every inch of it is cycling perfection. It's one of those roads that captures just how beautiful cycling in Scotland can be.  

Getting there

Kames is about 55 miles from Glasgow. You can get there using National Cycle Network Route 75. It's the route that links Dunoon to Portavadie.  The Shore Road starts near the Kames Hotel.

Coastal views

The start of the road features a sweeping view over the Kyles of Bute towards the Isle of Bute. Sometimes the view is hidden by trees, but these forested sections are a delight.

The Kyles of Bute

It's a narrow single-track road that does not get a lot of traffic. I cycled it early evening and had it all to myself. When you have a road with beautiful scenery and no vehicles to worry about you'll enter the 'zone'. It's a sweet spot of being immersed in your surroundings with nothing to distract you.

Forest of dreams

As lovely as the shoreline views are it was the forest sections I loved the most. They look so inviting with their ferns, wildflowers and moss covered bark. Like a picture of a forest in a children's book, a place you want to explore. There was a sign by the road telling me that the owner had given their agreement for people to walk in these woods.

Parking my bike to go for a walk in the woodland

I've always loved parking my bike and having an explore in the woods, but these woods are the best of the best. I don't remember being in another forest that was as beautiful as this one. 

A path led me alongside a stream that had a waterfall dropping into a gorge.​

Waterfall in the woods

The sound of the water, the bird song, the colours of the wildflowers. All these things made this place wonderful. I felt very lucky to have experienced this.

I continued cycling and came across a phone box that looked like it was being reclaimed by nature. It was a struggle to get the door open because of the grass and bushes growing around it. Amazingly the phone was working. This was a few years ago and I am not sure this box is still here. British Telecom can remove unprofitable phone boxes.

Phone box on the Shore Road

You can do a loop back to Kames by taking the road via Millhouse. I decided to return via the Shore Road so that I could enjoy the coastal views a second time.

I did this cycle when staying at the Kames Hotel. 

My review of the Kames Hotel