Five Ferries Challenge

Five ferries, a few friends, fabulous weather, fantastic scenery, fun, fun, fun!

What a stunning day to do the Five Ferries Challenge on the West Coast of Scotland. 118km cycled in beautiful sunshine from early morning until late into the evening. The most spectacular views. Fabulous company and another great challenge completed.

Starting in Portavadie, the first ferry took us to Tarbert, where we completed a fast paced 18km cycle to Claonaig for the ferry to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. The climb over the first few kilometres was rewarded by a long downhill stretch to the ferry with spectacular views of the water all the way.

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Cycling from Lochranza to Brodick, we covered 24km around the beautiful Isle of Arran and in plenty of time for the ferry from Brodick to Ardrossan back on the mainland.

From Ardrossan we tackled the route to Wemyss Bay, a 34km cycle along the coast, stopping briefly for an ice cream in the sunshine and then only just making it to the ferry to Rothesay in time where we enjoyed a brief rest before cycling 14km to Rubadoch. Some of us, just in time, once again, for the final ferry of the challenge to Colintrave.

A hilly 28km cycle back to Portavadie including a climb which seemed to go on forever but where we were rewarding with this view at the top. Almost all downhill from here back to Portavadie, we kept convincing ourselves, but there were definitely a few more hills before we reached our final destination.

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A tiring but immensely satisfying day. Great company, great challenge and a great achievement with a few glasses of Prosecco to celebrate when we returned home.