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Arran circular
| ganzo | 15 May 06:30 |
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Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3 Bike: | Hi Iam thinking about cycling the circular route round Arran, 57 miles roughly. Is it best to head north or south? I would welcome any advice from folks that have cycled this route. Thanks. Andy |
happy 
| 15 May 08:53 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Hi Ganzo, I think Murray has been round Arran a few times, I may be wrong, but I'll ping him and see if he can help. In the meantime, here is a route at the south of the island : Arran Cycle Route Happy |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
| ganzo | 16 May 05:55 |
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Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3 Bike: | Thanks for your help. |
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Murray Barnes
| 16 May 10:37 |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Bike: My Profile | Hi Ganzo, Sadly, I've never done Arran, except for once on a bus, and the driver terrified me. I've done Barra, which could be where Happy's getting confused, and for Barra I'd recommend clockwise. However, in Bike Scotland Book One, Fergal MacErlean includes a page about cycling on Arran. He doesn't go for a complete circle around Arran, instead opting for the northern half, then taking the String Road back to Brodick. For that, he did clockwise, heading north from Brodick. Sorry I couldn't be more help, Murray |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Great Glen Cycleway | |
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happy
| 16 May 10:38 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Much more help than me though Murray Cheers :D |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
| pennyfarthing | 18 May 14:00 |
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Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: | Hello, I went round Arran clockwise from Brodick last week and did it anti-clockwise last year. Can't really say that one was easier or harder than the other. If I did it again though I would do it anti-clockwise only because the food at the Light House, Pirnmill is great and if you anticlockwise it's only 17 miles from Brodick but 37 miles if you go the oher way round. If you go south from Brodick, then the Lagg Hotel at Lagg is nice too. |
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Murray Barnes
| 18 May 17:57 |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Bike: My Profile | Now, that's the kind of answer we're looking for. Excellent |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Great Glen Cycleway | |
| ganzo | 19 May 09:07 |
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Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3 Bike: | Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated. I dont know about stopping at that lighthouse though, that might be as far as i get. Doing it for cancer research in June, will post a note with any advice after that. PS You didnt do it on a Penny Farthing did you. ha ha |
| pennyfarthing | 19 May 15:37 |
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Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: | No. but it did feel like it at times! Have fun! |
| allykirkwood | 22 Aug 09:09 |
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Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Bike: | I've done Arran before on numerous occasions and it's a superbly scenic island, I would recommend heading left after leaving the ferry towards Whiting Bay and Blackwaterfoot as it would be best to get the hilliest section out of the way first then you can relax round the western side of the island as there's only one serious climb after Blackwaterfoot (just past Lochranza). |
| highlandfrank | 18 Sep 07:42 |
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Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Bike: | I did it anti-clockwise some years ago and ran into some strong headwinds down the west of the island - the prevailing winds are generally south-westerly! It's a great trip but next time I'm doing it clockwise. |
| scotian65 | 31 Aug 15:13 |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 2 Bike: | I agree with above if south westerley wind go clockwise, if wind from north go anti-clockwise. Some would argue that on a circular route wind direction is irrelevant but the east coast (Ardrossan side) is less exposed than the west. If time and speed are important on your run then consider there is close on 17 miles of relevant flat on the west coast between Blackwaterfoot and Lochranza and this section is easier with a tailwind. |
| scotscyclist | 09 Mar 11:21 |
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Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | There is a description of cycling around Arran in two parts starting here http://kimharding.net/blog/?p=87 |
| Bell4 | 08 May 05:58 |
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Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi Did this route a few weeks ago- fantastic. Agree get the hilly section out of the way first, turn left off the ferry head for Lamlash, Whiting Bay to Blackwaterfoot stop at (Shiskine Golf Club has great new club house for lunch) then either head back over string road or head round coast back to Brodick. Great trip! Enjoy. |
| bb | 12 May 07:14 |
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Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi, I cycled around Arran a couple of weeks ago for the first time - as a novice cyclist who has put in a few months training to get fit enough. We went anticlockwise because of the wind direction but it meant that the section between Blackwaterfoot and Brodick wasa a real challenge as it has some difficult ( for me) hilly sections at a time when I was getting tired over the last 20 miles or so. If I was to do it again , I would go clockwise. I loved it , now hooked on cycling and looking to invest in a better road bike . Hope it helps. |
