SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH THE ISLES OF ARRAN, ISLAY & JURA SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH CYCLING HOLIDAY SUMMARY Rich peaty whiskies, rugged coasts, prolific wildlife and romantic island hideaways. Discover the Scotland of your dreams on an island hopping cycling holiday on the Islands of Arran, Islay and Jura. Embarking on the ferry to Arran marks the beginning of your Scottish Island adventure. Well known for it’s stunning scenery Arran is often referred to as Scotland in miniature because it packs such a punch. Arran has it all: jagged mountain peaks, rolling hills, quiet coves , soaring sea eagles, local crafts, breweries and ruined castles. From Arran you catch the ferry to Kintyre and then after a short pedal across the peninsula to the Isle of Islay. Your base for the next five days. Small whitewashed villages , peaty whiskies, vast empty beaches and rugged coastal scenery make the Isle of Islay a very special place. Home to eight world renowned distilleries Islay is a whisky lovers paradise and as you can imagine the pubs aren’t half bad either. Port Askaig, your arrival point on Islay, is the jumping off point for Jura. A remote and wild island where red deer outnumber people by 25 to 1. Spend a day meeting the people and drinking in the unique Tour: Scottish Island Hopscotch atmosphere before heading south to Port Charlotte. Code: CSSSIH Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday Port Charlotte is the gateway to the wild Atlantic Coast of Islay. Huge cliffs pierced by golden sandy Price: See Website beaches are the perfect habitat for millions of breeding birds and birdwatchers will be in their element. Dates: March—Oct Days: 8 (7 Cycling Days) The pretty Port Ellen is your final stop on Islay and the hopping off point for a magical day of cycling and Nights: 7 whisky on the island’s beautiful south coast. Start: Ardrossan Before you know it your journey will be finishing with a hop, skip and a jump back to Ardrossan where your Finish: Ardrossan adventure began. Grade: Moderate IS IT FOR ME? HIGHLIGHTS If you want to see a different side of one of the most gorgeous parts of Scotland, like Cycling deserted roads on the wild west coast of Islay nothing better than the wind in your hair and A glut of world class distilleries for whisky lovers to enjoy appreciate the finer things in life then this cycling holiday is hard to beat. Feeling like a kid again as you hop on and off local ferries The romantic landscape of the Scottish Islands Tucking into great local food and drink at drink at the end of your cycle WHAT’S INCLUDED? THE MACS ADVENTURE DIFFERENCE Accommodation: 7 nights hand-picked B&B’s, small hotels, country inns and guesthouses. At Macs Adventure we are totally dedicated to adventure excellence. What this means is that we put Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and together holidays where every last little detail is taken care of. From searching out the best locally owned dinner not included but always available at accom- modation or nearby. and operated accommodation to making sure you know the perfect place to stop for lunch nothing is too Baggage Transfer: Baggage transfer. much trouble. This means is that you can really get to know the people and places of our wonderful home. Ferries: All ferries included except ferry to Jura. Information Pack: Comprehensive Map and info Your cycling holiday includes hand picked accommodation, baggage transfer, a detailed information pack pack and emergency support. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local destination specialist who knows Scotland intimately. So if there is anything we can do to make your holiday in Scotland even better please don’t hesitate to ask. SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH THE ISLES OF ARRAN, ISLAY & JURA simply. Take the time to explore the Museum of Islay DETAILED ITINERARY Life, the Islay Natural Heritage Information Keep your camera handy on the two hour ferry to Centre and just stroll around this charming Port Askaig as the views are splendid and village before you head off to Bowmore. Day 1: Arrive dolphins, whales and basking sharks are all regular visitors to the Sound of Jura and Islay. Bowmore is the island capital and home to Ardrossan is the departure point for the Arran almost a 1000 people, the well known Bowmore ferry. It is easily reached from Glasgow by train Overnight: Port Askaig - 2* Small Hotel Distillery and idyllically situated Round Church. (50 minutes) and has secure parking. You will The tiny settlement of Port Askaig is dominated It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch collect rental bikes from here if required and then by the white buildings of the port and Port Askaig before continuing to Port Ellen. (18—30 miles) jump on the one hour ferry to Arran to begin your Hotel. Once the ferry traffic has left it is a quiet adventure. and peaceful place. Overnight: Port Ellen - 4* B&B Overnight: Brodick—3* Guesthouse Day 4: Cycling on The Isle of Jura Port Ellen is a delightful town which curves Goatfell dominates Brodick Bay and the town of around the white sandy beaches of Leodamas Brodick stretches along the sea front. After Jura is the wildest and most remote of Scotland’s Bay. depositing your bags and bike at your inhabited islands. It has no direct ferry to the accommodation you should have time to visit mainland its 200 inhabitants and vastly Day 7: Islay’s Whisky Coast Brodick Castle, Arran Aromatics, or one of the outnumbered by the island’s 5500 deer. You are in for a real treat today! Islay’s southern many other attractions in this busy little town. There is no getting lost on Jura, the island’s only coast is littered with islands, shipwrecks and road runs up the eastern side of the island and three of the best distilleries in Scotland. Cycle Day 2: Cycling on the Isle of Arran the maximum round trip is 62 miles. The 21 mile west from Port Ellen for ten miles until you reach Cycling on the Isle of Arran is a delight. Often round trip to Craighouse Village and the Jura the golden sands of Aros Bay, the perfect spot described as Scotland in miniature it is just Distillery is a great day out. for a picnic. packed full of things to see and do as you pedal the quiet coastal roads which ring the island. You Keen walkers may also wish to pack their boots On your return you can visit Ardbeg, Lagavulin have a choice of routes ranging from 14 to 42 as a climb of the Pap’s of Jura rewards with and Ardbeg Distilleries for a complete whisky miles. Machrie standing stones are just my panoramic views and red deer sightings are all experience. but guaranteed. absolute favourite place on Arran so don’t miss Alternatively you may prefer to visit the Oa them. Overnight: Port Askaig—2* Small Hotel Peninsula to the South West of Port Ellen. This Overnight: Lochranza - 3* Guesthouse sometimes bleak landscape is nothing if not Day 5: Wildlife & Whisky on Islay The ruins of Lochranza Castle dominate the dramatic. Golden Eagles and corncrakes cab be narrow string of houses which make up the A few white sandy bays pierce the steep cliffs of seen at the RSPB reserve and the sea cliffs are village of Lochranza. Red deer have right of way the Atlantic Coast of Islay. Relentlessly pounded home to Fulmars, Kittiwakes and razorbills in the in this tranquil village and the local Distillery is by the Atlantic surf this wild coastline is a haven summer. (6—20 Miles or more) one of the newest in Scotland. for bird and wildlife and exploring this countryside Overnight: Port Ellen - 4* B&B on quiet singletrack roads is enchanting. The Day 3: Cycling and Island Hopping choice of routes is endless and you can cycle for Day 8: Island Hopscotch back to to Port Askaig, Isle of Islay anything between 18 and 60 miles. Ardrossan The morning ferry from Lochranza takes you Overnight: Port Charlotte—4* Small Hotel An exciting Island Hopscotch via Kennacraig, back to the mainland island of Kintyre and it is Claonaig, Lochranza and Brodick brings you Port Charlotte is an attractive village and nearby just a short five mile cycle over to Kennacraig for back to Ardrossan at about 18:00 where you can Bruichladdich Distillery is a must for whisky the 13:00 ferry to Port Askaig on Islay. I would hand your rental bikes back and head home. (20 connoisseurs. strongly recommend a diversion to the Seafood Miles) Cabin at Skipness Castle for an early lunch. You Day 6: Port Charlotte to Port Ellen, just can’t beat fresh locally caught seafood done Overnight: Not included Islay SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH THE ISLES OF ARRAN, JURA & ISLAY free to choose from the available options. Most of RECOMMENDATIONS your accommodations will more than happy to TRAVEL INFORMATION provide a packed lunch on request and this can Time of Year be booked on arrival. Dinner is always available Getting to/from Ardrossan either at your accommodation or nearby pubs. This holiday is available from the end of March to Ardrossan is 32 miles south west of Glasgow and the end of October. Spring and Autumn can be Solo Cyclists 18 miles north of Prestwick Airport. From cold and the weather wild but roads are quiet. This holiday is available to solo cyclists but there Glasgow trains (50 minutes) and buses (1h15) May through August is the best time of year to is a solo supplement payable to cover the run regularly.