NCN 75 - Anyone ridden it?

[tyred]

I'm planning a few days around the Mull of Kintyre as it's easy to get to from here. I'd like to visit Gigha and also spend a couple of days pottering around the Crinan canal. I spent a night in Lochgilphead when I rode NCN 78 a few years ago and always fancied going back to explore there a wee bit more.

I was considering other options after that, maybe go on to the Hebrides, go to Islay or Arran. I also see I can get a ferry to Portavadie and join the NCN 75, which would eventually take me to Edinburgh, although I probably wouldn't go that far. From Glasgow, I could easily get to Stranraer.

What is it like? The sustrans website doesn't seem to give much information on that one.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The routes in the Glasgow area/central belt are generally quite good. I cannot really comment on the rest, sorry.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

There are some nice back roads out of Greenock, but the climbs are fairly brutal.
Quarriers Village is lovely to look at and a great place for a cafe stop. All old railway from Kilmacolm to Paisley; pleasant, easy cycling.
At Linwood/ Johnstone you get the option of turning south - again it is a lot of old railway until you get to around Glengarnock but then its pleasant backroads, a bit fiddly around Kilwinning.

Have a google for the "5 Ferries" for a nice trip around the islands and Cowal Peninsula. You can lengthen it by going the long way round the Arran leg.

The train to Oban is really well equipped for bikes. I have been thinking about using it to get out to the islands and then find a ferry route back through Islay - Tarbet - back onto 5 ferries route.

Not sure I've been much help, but hope you have a good trip

 

[Pat "5mph"]

spend a couple of days pottering around the Crinan canal.

Quite scenic if you get good weather, but gets boring after a few miles.
The surface is gravel.

go to Islay or Arran

Both are hilly.
Islay was blowing a tornado at us, the police pulled the boys for stopping in a non stop area - they were lost, missed a turn because the sign was hidden by a tree, we were heading for port Charlotte, the only uphill port I'm aware of When we got there, there was nowhere to eat at 6/7 pm, you need to book in advance, there are only 2 restaurants, no shops.
If you go, go to the Port Ellen side, more expensive but much nicer.
The roads were in good conditions, hardly any cars.

ferry to Portavadie and join the NCN 75,

If I remember correctly, from the ferry to Dunoon it's 20 miles uphill, no other way to come out of Portavadie. The surface is good because it's a main road, some scarce traffic, quite twisty.

The train to Oban is really well equipped for bikes.

We cycled from can't remember where to Oban ferry, on the main road.
Not very pleasant near te town, loads of traffic.

@tyred I found an old ride report of mine, covers the isles, but there is another one on CC where we rode more of the NCN 75, have a wee search in the travelogues.

We (CC Ecosse on tour ) did Glasgow-Arran-Cloaineg-Kennaigraig- Islay (in 3 days) and back in a day Sorry about the spellings, one day we will tour in places I can actually pronounce
Read all about it here and here and here. Oh, and here too!

Charlotte is up a BIG hill from port Askit, where the ferry from Lochranza lands, Arran is a total gigantic alpine like hill, the bit between Clonaig and Kennagraig is a never ending hill, Port Charlotte only has one shop (that closes at 6pm), it rains a lot, Port Ellen is stunning but pricey.
We had a fantastic time!

 

[tyred]

I've settled on a return via Arran. Part of me feels I've made the boring predictable choice, but I've been there twice before and really love the island, so couldn't resist. It's hilly, but I've seen worse. I've circumnavigated it twice on a three speed Brompton. The inland route is tougher, I had to walk a little bit of it. This time I will have lots of gears.

I've been to Islay in the past too and I love it too. I may make a weekend trip there in September again, ride around a bit a sample the single malts! I've stayed at the Port Charlotte youth hostel both times, the only affordable place on the island. Not a bad hostel, but a bit micromanaged. I liked Port Charlotte, the public bar in the Port Charlotte hotel is one of the friendliest pubs I've ever been in. Eating out is a problem if you don't plan, but staying in the hostel, I have a kitchen so stick up on some groceries in Bowmore (the shop in Port Charlotte seems to open and close whenever they feel like it). The ride from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven is lovely.

I live in a hilly area so hills don't particularly bother me.