Cyclists.com

Around Isle of Arran

90 km road cycling loop827 m climbing4–5½ hoursGPX

Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, United Kingdom · Road

A hilly 90 km road cycling loop from Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire through Cladach, Cordon and Corriecravie, with 827 m of climbing over Clachan.

Route contributed by Marcus and Stefan · Last ridden Sunday 11th August 2024

Download GPXMap

At a glance

Best for
Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
Distance
90.1 km
Loop
Elevation gain
827 m
9 m per km
Riding time
4–5½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
98% paved · 2% unpaved
Traffic
Some main roads
33.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 38.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 1.8 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
38 cafés and restaurants · 7 shops · 4 water points · 2 petrol stations · 13 public toilets · 3 bike shops
Best months
Jun to Aug
Isle of Arran climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Isle of Arran

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Around Isle of Arran, Isle of Arran

Elevation profile

Total ascent
827 m
Distance
90 km
050100150200250m0 km2040608090 km200 m · highest, at 82.2 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Isle of Arran
  2. Cladachkm 7
  3. Cordonkm 17
  4. Corriecraviekm 40
  5. Balnagorekm 52
  6. Dougariekm 57
  7. Bayviewkm 64
  8. Catacolkm 72
  9. Clachankm 75
  10. Isle of Arrankm 90

This 90.1 km loop on the Isle of Arran starts and finishes near Cladach. It passes through numerous settlements including Brodick, Lamlash, Whiting Bay, Kilmory, Blackwaterfoot and Lochranza, cycling mostly on minor roads (54%) and main roads (38%). There is a 34.7 km section on the A841 road, with 38.3 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more, all without cycle lanes. Cycle lanes and paths cover 1.8 km total.

The route features six climbs, the longest is 4.6 km with an average gradient of 4.2% and a maximum of 7.4%, reaching 200 m at about 80 km. The steepest 500 m section has a 7.2% gradient. Elevation varies from 2 m to 200 m. The ascent is mostly in the first half, which accounts for 58% of climbing. Surface is 98% paved with 2% gravel or unpaved.

Food and drink options are available mainly near the start, Brodick, and at various points such as Machrie (53.3 km) and Pirnmill (64.7 km). The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 11.4 km between 53.3 km and 64.7 km. Toilets are present at 13 locations including Brodick and Blackwaterfoot. Bike hire and repair stands can be found at three points. Mountain peaks near the road include Cnocan Donn at 42.3 km and Tòrr na Làir Brice at 82.5 km.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Clachan (4.6 km at 4.3 %).

Highlights

  • Climbs up to 200 m elevation
  • Longest climb 4.6 km at 4.2% average gradient
  • Peak Cnocan Donn near 42 km
  • Route passes near Lochranza Castle

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Cladach 6.8 km
  2. Brodick 9 km
  3. North Corriegills 10.6 km
  4. Prospecthill 14.7 km
  5. Lamlash 15.6 km
  6. Glenkiln 16.6 km
  7. Sanyu 16.7 km
  8. Cordon 17.2 km
  9. Whiting Bay 21.9 km
  10. South Kiscadale 22.4 km
  11. Kildonan 27.4 km
  12. Kilmory 35.3 km
  13. Lagg 35.8 km
  14. Sliddery 38.8 km
  15. Corriecravie 40 km
  16. Kilpatrick 44.7 km
  17. Feorline 46 km
  18. Blackwaterfoot 46.8 km
  19. Torbeg 48.1 km
  20. Shiskine 48.9 km
  21. Shedog 49.1 km
  22. Balnagore 51.9 km
  23. Machrie 52.6 km
  24. Cnocan Cuallaich 53.9 km
  25. Auchagallon 53.9 km
  26. Dunedin 54 km
  27. Druid 55.3 km
  28. Auchencar 55.7 km
  29. Stepping 56.4 km
  30. Dougarie 57 km
  31. Balliekine 59.8 km
  32. Imachar 60.8 km
  33. Whitefarland 62.6 km
  34. Learig 63.6 km
  35. Ashgrove 63.7 km
  36. Seafield 63.7 km
  37. Bayview 63.9 km
  38. Pirnmill 64.8 km
  39. Birchwood 64.8 km
  40. Auchamore or South Thundergay 66.4 km
  41. Mid Thundergay 67.3 km
  42. Lennimore or North Thundergay 68 km
  43. Fairhaven 71.1 km
  44. Catacol 72.1 km
  45. Lochranza 74.8 km
  46. Butt 75.8 km
  47. Millhill 75.9 km
  48. Sunnymead 76.1 km
  49. Narachan 76.6 km
  50. Sannox 85.9 km
  51. Corrie 87.6 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb9.1 km3.2 km · 112 m · 3.5 % · max 6.3 %—116 m
Unnamed climb15.8 km2.5 km · 72 m · 2.9 % · max 4.1 %—78 m
Unnamed climb23.1 km4.2 km · 129 m · 3.1 % · max 5.7 %—132 m
Unnamed climb37.5 km1.5 km · 47 m · 3.2 % · max 5.9 %—82 m
Unnamed climb59.4 km1.6 km · 43 m · 2.7 % · max 5.2 %—48 m
Clachan75.4 km4.6 km · 195 m · 4.2 % · max 7.4 %4.6 km · 195 m · 4.3 %200 m

High point 200 m at 80 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Cnocan Donn, Choc Leacainn Duibhe, Torr Nead an Eoin.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Clachan · full ascent, starts at 75.4 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%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (33.5 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
54% minor road · 38% main road · 3% quiet street · 1% road with cycle lane · 4% other roads and tracks
Main roads
33.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
38.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
1.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
A841 (35 km)
Surface
Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
Gradient
23% climbing · 22% descending · 55% flat
Steep sections
3.2 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.2% at 80.5 km
Longest descent
3.1 km from 82.2 km, dropping 157 m

Food, water and services

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

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 38 cafés and restaurants, 7 shops, 4 water points, 2 petrol stations, 13 public toilets and 3 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 8 kmCafé Rosaburn · café · on the route
  2. 8 kmToilets · 40 m off route
  3. 9.5 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 70 m off route
  4. 9.5 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 30 m off route
  5. 15.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route
  6. 15.6 kmThe Co-operative Food · convenience store · 40 m off route
  7. 21 kmThe Bay · convenience store · on the route
  8. 21.9 kmCoast · café · on the route
  9. 21.9 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  10. 21.9 kmRepair stand · on the route
  11. 35.6 kmA Wee Bite Cafe Kilmory Haven · café · 60 m off route
  12. 46.8 kmBlackwater Bakehouse · bakery · 30 m off route
  13. 53.3 kmMachrie Tearoom · café · 40 m off route
  14. 64.7 kmThe Lighthouse · restaurant · on the route
  15. 64.7 kmWater tap · 30 m off route
  16. 74.4 kmThe Sandwich Station · café · 60 m off route
  17. 74.4 kmWater tap · 60 m off route
  18. 85.4 kmThe Tearoom · café · 50 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 9.8 km — Brodick Ferry Terminal (ferry), 90 m off route
  • 74.4 km — Lochranza Ferry Terminal (ferry), on the route

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

Worth a stop

  • 8 km — Cheese Press (attraction)
  • 15.4 km — Duchess Ann's Harbour (ruins)
  • 36.6 km — Lagg Distillery (attraction)
  • 75.1 km — Lochranza Castle (castle)
  • 84.9 km — An Cnap (peak, 53 m)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Isle of Arran. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Mara Fish Bar & Deli (90 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 11.4 km (53.3-64.7 km)
  • 33.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 38.3 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit
  • 2% gravel or unpaved surface

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

23 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus and Stefan
Dates ridden
to · 5 recordings
Route line
Built from 5 GPS recordings of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Isle of Arran (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

See something wrong with this ride?

Also over Clachan