Cyclists.com

Brodick to Corrie via the String Road

Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, United KingdomRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Friday 18th August 2023

60 km
Distance
562 m
Elevation gain
Moderate
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Brodick to Corrie via the String Road

Elevation profile

Total ascent
562 m
Distance
60 km
050100150200250m0 km204060 km228 m · highest, at 5.6 kmStartFinish

Route overview

This ride suits cyclists prepared for a medium distance with moderate climbing.

59.5 km point-to-point cycle on Isle of Arran from Brodick to Corrie with 596 m climbing.

This 59.5 km route on the Isle of Arran runs from Brodick to Corrie. It starts near Brodick Ferry Terminal and heads through places including Cladach and Ballymichael. The initial major climb begins around 1.5 km, rising 224 m over 3.9 km at an average gradient of 5.7%, reaching 229 m at 5.4 km near peaks Cnoc Dubh and An Tunna. The route is predominantly paved (99%) and uses a mixture of main roads (50%) and minor roads (46%), with 29.5 km on main roads all without cycle lanes. It also includes 40.7 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.

Highlights

  • Climb rising 224 m over 3.9 km averaging 5.7%
  • Peaks near route: Cnoc Dubh (425 m) and An Tunna (361 m)
  • Longest descent 3 km dropping 158 m from 51.8 km
  • Passes Lochranza at 45.9 km with castle nearby

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Cladach 2.1 km
  2. Ballymichael 13.2 km
  3. Pien 14.6 km
  4. Shedog 15 km
  5. Shiskine 15.3 km
  6. Feorline 17.5 km
  7. Kilpatrick 17.7 km
  8. Blackwaterfoot 18 km
  9. Torbeg 19.4 km
  10. Balnagore 23 km
  11. Machrie 23.9 km
  12. Cnocan Cuallaich 25.2 km
  13. Auchagallon 25.2 km
  14. Dunedin 25.3 km
  15. Druid 26.6 km
  16. Auchencar 27 km
  17. Stepping 27.6 km
  18. Dougarie 27.9 km
  19. Balliekine 30.9 km
  20. Imachar 31.9 km
  21. Whitefarland 33.7 km
  22. Learig 34.7 km
  23. Seafield 34.8 km
  24. Ashgrove 35 km
  25. Bayview 35.1 km
  26. Pirnmill 35.9 km
  27. Birchwood 36 km
  28. Auchamore or South Thundergay 37.5 km
  29. Mid Thundergay 38.5 km
  30. Lennimore or North Thundergay 39.1 km
  31. Fairhaven 42.4 km
  32. Catacol 43.2 km
  33. Lochranza 45.9 km
  34. Butt 46.8 km
  35. Millhill 47.1 km
  36. Sunnymead 47.2 km
  37. Narachan 47.7 km
  38. Sannox 57.1 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—1.5 km3.9 km224 m5.7 %10.7 %229 m
—31 km1.4 km42 m3.1 %5.2 %48 m
Clachan47 km4.3 km193 m4.5 %7.5 %200 m

High point 229 m at 5.4 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Cnoc Dubh, An Tunna, Choc Leacainn Duibhe.

Clachan · starts at 47 km

4.6 km at 4.3% · 195 m
50100150200m4.4%6.7%1.9%0 km12344.7 km199 msteepest 6.7%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
50% main road · 46% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% path
Main roads
29.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
40.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
A841 (15 km), B880 (15 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
19% climbing · 21% descending · 60% flat
Steep sections
4.7 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.3% at 4.5 km
Longest descent
3 km from 51.8 km, dropping 158 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 16 km, from 2 km to 18 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 80 m off route
  2. 0.2 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 60 m off route
  3. 0.5 kmArran Bike Hire · bike rental · 50 m off route
  4. 1.9 kmToilets · on the route
  5. 2 kmCafé Rosaburn · café · 50 m off route
  6. 18 kmBlackwater Bakehouse · bakery · on the route
  7. 18 kmBlackwaterfoot Community Toilets · toilets · on the route
  8. 24.5 kmMachrie Tearoom · café · 60 m off route
  9. 35.7 kmThe Lighthouse · restaurant · 50 m off route
  10. 35.7 kmPirnmill Village Store & Post Office · convenience store · 40 m off route
  11. 35.7 kmWater tap · 30 m off route
  12. 45.3 kmLochranza Loos · toilets · 40 m off route
  13. 45.5 kmWater tap · 60 m off route
  14. 45.5 kmRepair stand · 50 m off route
  15. 47.5 kmIsle of Arran Distillery Visitor Centre · café · 30 m off route
  16. 56.5 kmThe Tearoom · café · on the route
  17. 56.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Brodick Ferry Terminal (ferry), 40 m off route
  • 45.5 km — Lochranza Ferry Terminal (ferry), on the route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 1.9 km — Cheese Press (attraction)
  • 14.5 km — Clachan Church (ruins)
  • 46.3 km — Lochranza Castle (castle)
  • 55.9 km — An Cnap (peak, 53 m)

At the start

  • Brodick Ferry Terminal · ferry · 40 m
  • Co-op Food · supermarket · 290 m
  • Little Rock Cafe · café · 420 m
  • Top Up Tap · drinking water · 270 m
  • Arran Bike Hire · bike rental · 480 m

At the finish

  • Mara Fish Bar & Deli · fast food · 90 m

Stay after this ride

  • The Corrie Hotel · hotel · 20 m from the finish
  • Sannox Bay Hotel · hotel · 2.1 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
2½–4 hours riding
Season
Aug
Best months
Jun to Aug — daily highs of 16–17 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water 16 km from km 2 to 18
  • 29.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 40.7 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
  • Steepest 500 m at 10.3% gradient around km 4.5

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

11 photographs from the road

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