GMBC Goes to Arran

Getting There

As Friday clocking out time neared around Glasgow a mad dash to Ardrossan began. The 1800 ferry was the prize – miss it and a long wait in Ardrossan loomed. In reversal of form Barry made it first, followed quickly myself, Ieva, Elizabeth and Eilidh. It was just Graham and Robin to come – strange as they both had the afternoon off. In the nick of time they turned up (apparently following coast from Greenock isn’t a good way to go) just in time to get tickets and roll on with the stragglers. The biking weekend to Arran was on.

The hostel was a couple of miles away from the ferry. Spirits were high as we cycled along the waterfront and through the golfcourse. As we’d left the cars behind kit was cut to a minimum, except Robin who had taken his worldly possessions. The accommodation at the National Trust lodge turned out to be pretty good, save the midges which obviously hadn’t realised their season was over.

Follow the Yellow Dots

The plan for the Saturday was to do the “Arran Classic” loop – this is a route that used to be on the Arran Bike Club website but has since disappeared. It takes in some of the best singletrack riding on the south of the island. The weather forecast for Saturday was abysmal – a clean sweep of black heavy rain clouds on the met office app. Despite this it was a brilliant ride with far too many highlights to recount. From the singletrack through the dense green woodland at Glenashdale Falls to the slip-sliding toboggan run into Lamlash there was some great riding. I had heard of a trail that headed off into the woods above Whiting Bay, apparently all you had to do was find and follow the yellow dots. We did manage to find them and we weren’t disappointed. Barry had a comedy fall and got trapped by his bike, we decided to help him up after a bit otherwise he might still be there.

GMBC Come Dine With Me?

The menfolk were tasked with buying dinner after the big ride on Saturday, which we did after a pub stop. It was a true team effort with Ieva, Elizabeth and Eilidh cooking up a top chicken casserole with, hitherto unheard-of on a GMBC trip, three different kinds of vegetables. Ieva does what Ieva does best and went off to forage for wild berries for the apple and plum crumble.

More of the Same Please

So my plan for hike-a-bike misery round the Cock of Arran was off on Sunday. Instead we did the Clauchlands Loop with an extra extension to do the yellow dot trail again, it was that good. The Clauchland Loop is a bit of classic, with a great mix of testing climbs and brilliant singletrack. It was a another big day out and it rained a fair bit so we were happy but content to roll back into Brodick. The sun came out at this point so we enjoyed lounging about for the ferry for a bit. Arran does this – rains on you for two days and then offers a glimpse of what can be so you’ll definitely come back for more.

For anyone who hasn’t been biking to Arran I’d highly recommend it. There’s a lot to do in a small area and the variety is incredible. I’ve been a few times in the last couple of years and can’t wait to go back.

Some pictures from the weekend…