Monday, November 3, 2008

Cycling around the Isle of Arran

It started out with a bit of a public transport mission by taking our bikes on trains from Edinburgh - Glasgow - Adrossan Habour, followed by a 50 minute ferry ride. Then we were off on our bikes! We toured around the road that's in red on the map to the right, starting from Brodrick and going clockwise. With a total of 100km it only took about 2 hours cycling the first day and 3.5 the second. We also got incredible weather (including a fantastic tail wind up the west coast) and it was a fantastic trip.

We particuarly enjoyed our B&B in Blackwaterfoot, including a delicious pub meal and a beautiful sunset. We also did two walks: the first a coastal one to a cave that Robert the Bruce apparently hid in and the second to the Bronze Age standing stones on Machrie Moor. We thought these were just as impressive as Stonehedge, particularly since they are so remote and relatively unknown.

Since Mark was the only one with panniers he got to carry all our stuff. Holy Island in the background.

Beer from the Arran brewery and an Arran sunset

The highest point on the ride. We could hear (and see) stags roaring all around us as we biked up this road.

Some of the stones on Machrie Moor