Road · United Kingdom
Lamlash to Isle of Arran
A hilly 66 km road cycling route from Lamlash, North Ayrshire to Isle of Arran through Prospecthill, South Kiscadale and Corriecravie, with 608 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 65.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 608 m
- Riding time
- 3–4 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Lamlash → Isle of Arran
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 608 m
- 66 km
Route description
- Lamlash
- Prospecthill
- South Kiscadale
- Corriecravie
- Shiskine
- Cnocan Cuallaich
- Balliekine
- Seafield
- Mid Thundergay
- Isle of Arran
The route begins near Brodick and passes close to Lamlash before heading northwest through various small places including Whiting Bay, Kilmory, and Blackwaterfoot. It crosses minor and main roads and has a mixture of climbing and descending, reaching its highest point of 146 m at 22.6 km. Steepest climbs are moderate, with the longest and toughest climb near the start covering 2.5 km at an average of 4%. The route is mostly paved with 99% surfaced roads and mainly minor roads (75%). Around 13.3 km on the A841 is on main roads with no cycle lane and includes lengths with posted speed limits above 80 km/h.
Highlights
- Climbs near Brodick and Kilmory
- Passes beneath Cnocan Donn (219 m) at 32.4 km
- Longest descent is 2.8 km starting at 23.3 km
- Ends near Choc Leacainn Duibhe (230 m) at 62.7 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.5 km · 101 m · 4 % · max 5.7 % | 115 m |
| Unnamed climb | 6 km | 2.5 km · 72 m · 2.9 % · max 3.8 % | 78 m |
| Unnamed climb | 13.2 km | 4.1 km · 129 m · 3.1 % · max 6 % | 132 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.6 km | 1.7 km · 42 m · 2.4 % · max 4 % | 127 m |
| Unnamed climb | 27.9 km | 1.3 km · 56 m · 4.2 % · max 5.8 % | 82 m |
| Unnamed climb | 49.8 km | 1.5 km · 42 m · 2.8 % · max 5.4 % | 48 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (13.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 75% minor road · 21% main road · 3% quiet street · 1% track
- Main roads
- 13.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 22.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A841 (13 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 23% descending · 53% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.9 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 2.8 km from 23.3 km, dropping 108 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 20 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 4 water points, 2 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.1 kmCafé · 80 m off route
- 0.1 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 0.1 kmArran Bike Hire · bike rental · 360 m off route
- 5.3 kmThe Old Pier Cafe · café · on the route
- 5.4 kmRedhouse Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 5.7 kmThe Co-operative Food · convenience store · 60 m off route
- 11.1 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 12.1 kmCoast · café · 50 m off route
- 12.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 19.1 kmThe Forest Of The Falls Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 19.1 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 25.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 37 kmBlackwater Bakehouse · bakery · on the route
- 43.6 kmMachrie Tearoom · café · 30 m off route
- 54.8 kmThe Lighthouse · restaurant · 50 m off route
- 54.8 kmWater tap · 60 m off route
- 64.4 kmThe Sandwich Station · café · on the route
- 64.4 kmLochranza Loos · toilets · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.1 km — Brodick Ferry Terminal (ferry), 170 m off route
- 64.5 km — Lochranza Ferry Terminal (ferry), 50 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.5 km — Group of stones (archaeological site)
- 5.5 km — Duchess Ann's Harbour (ruins)
- 26.9 km — Lagg Distillery (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Lochranza Youth Hostel · hostel · 960 m from the finish
- Butt Lodge · guest house · 1.6 km from the finish
- Lochranza Caravan and Campsite · campsite · 1.7 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Brodick Ferry Terminal (210 m)
- Water
- Top Up Tap (190 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Arran Bike Hire (370 m)
- Food and coffee
- Little Rock Cafe (310 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (170 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Lochranza Ferry Terminal (50 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Sandwich Station (100 m), Lochranza Country Inn (320 m)
Know before you go
- 11.2 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 25.8 to 37 km
- 13.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 22.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 1.9 km climbing over 5% gradient
