Road · United Kingdom
Five Ferries Route
A hilly 48 km road cycling route from Portavadie, Argyll and Bute through Millhouse, Tighnabruaich and Auchnagarron, with 593 m of climbing. Most of it (41.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 14.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 33 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 8–41).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 47.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 593 m
- Riding time
- 3 h 24 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 33 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Portavadie
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 593 m
- 48 km
Route description
- Portavadie
- Millhouse
- Tighnabruaich
- Auchnagarron
- Lochhead
- Ballochyle
- Sandhaven
- Ardnadam
- Kirn
The ride begins at Portavadie and initially climbs 2.1 km gaining 52 m to 57 m height. It heads through Millhouse, Kames, and Tighnabruaich by 7.1 km, beginning a longer 6 km climb from 6.8 km altitude gain 181 m to 187 m over varied gradients up to 8.2%. Past Auchnagarron and Auchenbreck at about 21-22 km, another climb of 2.9 km starts at 21.6 km climbing 124 m to 147 m. After Lochhead and Ardtaraig, there is a further 3.7 km climb from 27.3 km gaining 132 m to reach 140 m. The route descends towards Dunoon finishing at 1 m height.
Nearly all of the 47.5 km runs mainly on paved roads, predominantly main roads (41.3 km, all without cycle lanes), including 16.6 km on the B836, 12.3 km on the A8003, and 7.8 km on the A815. The surface is 98% paved with a short 1% gravel or unpaved section. Notable peaks near the road include Barr Lolaich at 2.4 km, Dun Mor at 8.4 km, and A' Chruach at 26.1 km. There is a long 33 km stretch without café, shop or water from 7.9 km to 40.9 km. Cafés and shops can be found at the start around 5.7 km and near the finish in Dunoon, including the Wild Kitchen café and Cowal Cottage Bakery.
Highlights
- Climb to 187 m at 12.8 km
- Peaks Barr Lolaich and Dun Mor nearby
- Longest uninterrupted stretch without facilities 33 km
- Ends at Dunoon with several cafés and shops
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.1 km · 52 m · 2.5 % · max 4.5 % | 57 m |
| Unnamed climb | 6.8 km | 6 km · 181 m · 3 % · max 8.2 % | 187 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.6 km | 2.9 km · 124 m · 4.4 % · max 6.1 % | 147 m |
| Unnamed climb | 27.3 km | 3.7 km · 132 m · 3.6 % · max 5.9 % | 140 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 87% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 14.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 87% main road · 8% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% track · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 41.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 14.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B836 (17 km), A8003 (12 km), A815 (8 km), UC26 (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 29% climbing · 25% descending · 46% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.1 km over 5% · 0.3 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8% at 8.1 km
- Longest descent
- 4.3 km from 13 km, dropping 177 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 33 km, from km 8 to 41. Along the route: 35 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station and 7 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · on the route
- 5.7 kmWild Kitchen · café · 40 m off route
- 6 kmDuncan's Village Store · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 6 kmToilets · 160 m off route
- 40.9 kmGeneral Store · convenience store · 40 m off route
- 41 kmToilets · on the route
- 41.2 kmThe Holy Loch Coffee Shop · café · 60 m off route
- 45.4 kmCowal Cottage Bakery · bakery · on the route
- 46.4 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 46.8 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 46.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 47.1 kmrightmedicine Pharmacy · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 47.2 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 30 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 44.3 km — Ferry, 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.4 km — Barr Lolaich (peak, 116 m)
- 8.4 km — Dun Mor (peak, 164 m)
- 13.4 km — Tighnabruaich Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 16.5 km — Torr Buidhe (peak, 114 m)
- 39.6 km — Bird Hide (viewpoint)
- 44.8 km — Viewpoint (viewpoint)
Stay after this ride
- The Argyll Hotel · hotel · 270 m from the finish
- The Cedars · guest house · 570 m from the finish
- Craigieburn Guest House · guest house · 770 m from the finish
- Esplanade Hotel · hotel · 410 m from the finish
- Milton Tower Hotel · hotel · 430 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Rock Cafe (190 m), Cowal Cottage Bakery (470 m), Akam Palace (300 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- rightmedicine Pharmacy (300 m)
Know before you go
- 33 km with no café, shop or water from 7.9 km to 40.9 km
- 41.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 14.7 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- Short gravel or unpaved section
