Event 4: The Five Ferries Classic - 12 September 2015

On 12 September, weather permitting, the Carbon Social Cycle Club will make its annual pilgrimage to the west coast to take on The Five Ferries.

If you would like to attend, please get in touch with Richard or Stephen, even if you have already let us know that you intend to come along. We will send confirmation emails in the week or two leading up to the ride.

Please also note that, due to ferry times, we need to ride at a reasonable pace, at least on the stage to Colintraive. For this reason, and the fact that there are a couple of big hills (please click on the links below, and then the hills icon to get an idea), we recommend that only those who have a bit of experience cycling consider The Five Ferries trip.

The Plan

The following is the intended plan for the day, included here to give you an idea of what’s involved in the trip:

Meet at the exit from the ferry terminal, beside the train station. There is parking at the station, and there is also a train from Glasgow Central at 6.30 which arrives at Wemyss Bay at 7.30.

2. Cycle down the coast to Ardrossan (18.5 miles). View map here.
Flat all the way, and good views off the coast for the first half.

3. Catch the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick at 0945, arrive 1040.
Doors close 10 minutes before departure and tickets to be bought before (can be busy).

4. Cycle from Brodick to Lochranza (15 miles, with a big hill – ‘The Bogle’ – towards the top of the island). View map here.
This starts off as a lovely, gentle cruise around the coast, but after a few miles there is a short, steep section which brings you out of the trees and in the distance the road goes up and up. Once over the top it’s a long cruise down to Lochranza for lunch. Plenty of time to cycle this section.

5. Catch the ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig at 1315, arrive 1345.

6. Cycle from Claonaig to Tarbert (12 miles). View map here.
This is uphill from the ferry for the first few miles, after which it’s a long cruise down to Tarbert.

7. Catch the ferry from Tarbert (Loch Fyne) to Portavadie at 1515 (ferries ever hour), arrive 1540.

8. Cycle from Portavadie to Colintraive (19 miles of rolling terrain). View map here.
Probably the hardest section, it climbs up from Portavadie before a long downhill to Tighnabruaich, at which point it goes up, very steeply initially, taking you high above the Kyles of Bute, before a long cruise back down to the coast and along a rolling coast road.

9. Catch the ferry from Colintraive to Rhubodach at 1730, arrive 1735 (ferries every half hour, and the latest probably being the 1830).

10. Cycle from Rhubodach to Rothesay (9 miles). View map here.
Pan flat along the coast.

11. Catch the ferry from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay at 1900 arrive 1935.
(Departure times: 1815, 1900 and finally 1945).

12. Fall into the cars/onto the train and home…

For a summary of last year’s trip click here.

Accomodation

Those travelling from further afield may wish to stay near Wemyss Bay the night before. There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in and around Wemyss Bay, and Largs just down the coast, as well as a Premier Inn up the road on the waterfront at Greenock.

Please let us know if you would like to come along.

Richard and Stephen

Past Events

Event 3 Recap: Perthshire Loop