Road · United Kingdom
Ardgartan Peninsula Circuit
A mountainous 33 km gravel loop from Carrick Castle, Argyll and Bute through Lochgoilhead, with 654 m of climbing. The first 26 km has no café, shop or water. Mostly unpaved: 83% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 17% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 32.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 654 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 44 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 26 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Carrick Castle
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 654 m
- 33 km
Route description
- Carrick Castle
- Lochgoilhead
- Carrick Castle
The Ardgartan Peninsula Circuit starts at Carrick Castle and covers 32.8 km in a loop. The route includes 654 m of elevation gain spread evenly with 53% of the climbing in the first half. It traverses a mix of roads: 67% on tracks, 16% on paths, 10% on minor roads, 5% on main roads, and 2% on quiet streets. The main roads total 1.5 km and have no cycle lanes, also classified as fast roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
There are two significant climbs: the first begins at 10.6 km, lasting 6.4 km with an average gradient of 4% and reaches 299 m. The second starts around 24.8 km, going 6.2 km climbing 304 m at an average 4.9% gradient to 320 m, the highest point on the route. The longest descent follows from 17.3 km for 5 km.
Facilities are sparse en route, with no café, shop, or water source for 25.6 km from the start. Lochgoilhead at 25.6 km offers a pub (Goil Inn), drinking water, toilets, and a convenience store all within 300 m off-route. Toilets are also available at 10.9 km off-route near the first climb. Peaks near the road include The Saddle (521 m), Tom Molach (368 m), and Clach Bheinn (437 m) near the final sections of the loop.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 320 m, 31.1 km in.
- A 5 km descent dropping 267 m.
Highlights
- Two climbs with max gradients over 10%
- Peaks near road: The Saddle, Tom Molach, Clach Bheinn
- Longest descent of 5 km dropping 267 m
- Lochgoilhead facilities at 25.6 km
- 654 m total climbing over 32.8 km loop
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 10.6 km | 6.4 km · 254 m · 4 % · max 10.7 % | 299 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24.8 km | 6.2 km · 304 m · 4.9 % · max 12.5 % | 320 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.5 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 67% track · 16% path · 10% minor road · 5% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 83% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 17% as paved.
- Gradient
- 40% climbing · 40% descending · 20% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.2 km over 5% · 1.8 km over 8% · 0.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 12% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 5 km from 17.3 km, dropping 267 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 26 km, from the start. Along the route: 1 café or restaurant, 1 shop, 1 water point and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 10.9 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 25.3 kmLochgoilhead Medical Centre · clinic · 220 m off route
- 25.6 kmGoil Inn · pub · 290 m off route
- 25.6 kmDrinking water · 250 m off route
- 25.6 kmToilets · 170 m off route
- 25.8 kmVillage shop · convenience store · 190 m off route
Know before you go
- Longest stretch with no café, shop or water for 25.6 km
- 1.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane at 80 km/h speed limit
- 83% of route on gravel or unpaved surface
