UKC

I did the 5 ferries over 5 days ( including Jura ) a few years ago . We are thinking of doing it over a weekend and staying somewhere on Saturday night . Ideally close to a good pub with food. Any recommendations?pub  Doesn’t have to be half way happpy to do a big day followed by a shortish one or even short followed by long to stay sonwwhere with good food and beer 

edit; if tut are not familiar with this , it’s a great route with , you guessed it , 5 ferries for the princely  sun of £18.40 . Was £14 when I last did it and is a bargain 

In reply to mike123:

Does it cross the sound at the north of Bute? If so the Colintraive Hotel fits the bill. Really good food as well, we stayed there on an Argyll/Islands cycle tour and were impressed.

In reply to 65:

yes . Looks good .

https://www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk/2020/06/five-ferries-cycle-tour-on-scotland...

In reply to 65:

Serves Fyne ales. Sold to the little fat man. 

In reply to mike123:

Are you planning the Jura diversion again? What way did you go, out and back through Islay or did you take the passenger ferry to or from Tayvallich for a wee diversion that way? 

In reply to mike123:

Thank you for this. I was not aware of it. I will have to make sure that I do more cycling soon, to get more cycling fit. Then consider this for next year, unless I give it a go in worse weather, with less daylight hours....

In reply to veteye:

I “failed” on this ride recently. Due to the early start I was banking on picking up breakfast en-route, either at Central Station in Glasgow or on the ferry to Arran. The queues at the food places in the station were longer than time allowed. Then the ferry to Arran was one that didn’t have a restaurant. This forced a cafe stop in Broadick before we’d even begun. Stage 1 was completed just in time to watch ferry 2 sail off without us, costing a one hour delay which compounded further down the line, In the end we got to the point where there was the possibility that we’d not make it in time to catch the last ferry off Bute. To avoid the possibility of becoming stranded, we bailed towards Hunter’s Quay near Dunoon as this has ferries running late into the evening.

Lessons learned for my next attempt: Have breakfast before setting off, and don’t assume there is no time pressure. Best to make a plan of which ferries you are going to catch and stick with it. Coffee stops not carefully coordinated with ferry timetables can derail the mission.

In reply to JLS:

We reckoned that as long as we got the first Lochranza ferry, the rest was pretty relaxed time wise. I think it took us about 12 hours all in. We aren't "proper" roadies though, so we had rucksacks with our food and drink (and spare layers for the ferries), so didn't need to try and match up with any eating places. Maybe that made it more relaxed?

In reply to girlymonkey:

Yeah, I was just a bit too casual in my approach, assuming that because the actual cycling legs of the journey aren’t too onerous everything would work out just fine. It does appear to be critical that you catch the second ferry without incurring a delay. As you say, carrying your own food would save a lot of time but chilling with a coffee at a cafe is very pleasant.

In reply to mike123:

The Syrian bakery in Rothesay is a must as well.

In reply to girlymonkey: We weren’t planning on Jura this time but trying to get a couple of days extra . Last time I did it anti clockwise . Parked the van in the long stay at ardrossan then got the train to Largs ( I think somebody has told me the road was busy ) then pedalled to wymis (?). I was carrying tent , stove etc and camped the whole way . I got the ferry over to the top of islay and then the hop across to Jura . Pedalled to almost the top of the island on a rough track that passes  George Orwell’s house ( went and had a nose about ) and camped in an idyllic spot . Walked up to the top of the island to look down at the Corrie vrechan . Reversed this and carried on with 5 ferries . Went the long  way around arran , camped at the very bottom. Ferry back to ardrossan . Camping gear and plenty of time meant I was never in a rush for a ferry . 

In reply to mike123:

I’m sure you’ve already been but in case not, next time try to fit in a trip to Islay. My first time was only last year and I loved it. I’d never been drawn to it as I’m not a whisky enthusiast but there’s so much more to the island than distilleries, especially from a bike.