Looking at riding from Craignure to Tobermory and am after suggestions for a long (50-85km) day ride taking in as much of the 'good stuff' on the island as possible.
Any suggestions?
Have heard the cliff path from Carsaig to Bunessan is good but could you do that and then get up to the north of the island within a day (all on bike no car with us and not too keen to ride miles and miles on road... as much dirt as possible please! :-))
Any routes from Craignure to Tobermory or even just good sections of trail would be appriciated so i can piece together a route.
Thanks!
there used to be a guy who posted on STW ver 0.5 called Bryan or Brian I think who worked at http://www.brownstobermory.co.uk/ which stocks bike parts as well as lots of other random hardware (very craggy island 🙂 ). Maybe give them a call for some pointers too.
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And humour me, have you really snapped your banjo string? 😮
Thanks, i think that sounds familiar as was looking the mull cycling club website and the guy seemed to organise a lot of the stuff was called Bryan...
As for the Banjo.... old war wound...! LOL!
Does anyone know if the path from Kilninian up to near Calgary/Dervaig ridable?
Snappedbanjostring - My in-laws live near Bunnessan and so I'm on Mull a lot and I've done a fair bit of exploring. Last year I did a fantastic hikey-bikey from Glen More to Uisken via Lochbuie and Carsaig. It did involve a "fair" amount of carrying and a lot of hard work - but it was a stunning day out. On Mull in general - there are lots of good tracks - but they are typically very difficult to link up without some hard work....
Some Pics from my route to give you an idea:
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Start at Glen More
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On Top of Carsaig Cliffs
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Clearance township of Shiaba
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En Route to Uisken
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The In-laws Place
Track north from Kilninian Church isn't rideable - very boggy, almost non existant in places and some twastard has put a deer fence straight across the trail.
Dervaig back road (to Tobs) is very do-able via Glen Gorm Castle.
Fire road from Aros to Mish Lochs isn't that interesting itself but is a good link.
The old road down the south end (starts somewhere near Lochdon) is amusing.
There are other bits that I've done but not managed to link them all together yet - looking at getting from Tobs via back road, down Loch Fresia, across from Salan, down Loch Ba, cutting through and picking up the old road. Looks vaigly do able.
Browns has changed hands an no longer does bike bits in the shop (replaced by guitars!) but I'm sure Bryan is still around.
Oh, and nice pics 🙂
Thanks guys, most useful.
Those Pics are pretty darn ace!! 🙂 Can't wait to get up there in May... just hope we are blessed with good weather!!
I'll be back up in May for a week (23rd to 30th) too.
Mull is a fantastic place & you should get to see some wildlife too - seals at Salen is almost guaranteed & The fire road along from Aros is very close to where some golden eagles live 🙂
Have a good trip.
and calgary beach is the most beautiful in the country IMO 🙂
I'll be up in May too - I never miss being there during the last Midge-free month 🙂 I've got biking plans on the other side of the fishnish-lochaline ferry though.....
Stoner - Calgary is really nice - but if you haven't already, try the beach at Knockvologan, near Fionnphort - I prefer it personally 🙂 Oh - and in the entire country? I've never seen anything to compare to Sandwood Bay - I'm sure lots of people have their favourite "remote Scottish beach" though as there are so many.
Swello, I've heard good things about the bit at the back of Lochaline and along that side of The Sound towards Tobs.
Have you done it before? I've always wondered how intense it is and not got round to being anti-social enough to go across to explore (would be on my own unless it was easy going).
Wiksey - I've had a wee scout around that area already and I'm planning to ride some longer sections this year with a view to getting a "mostly-rideable" all-dayer sorted for later on in the year or for next year. The track over from Bunavulin to Loch Teacuis is a very old one and should be an interesting one on the bike. I had a wander up there last year on the way back from some biking/walking in Glenfinnan. I think it should be easily possible to link back to Lochaline using the "cycle trails" shown on the OS 1:50k....The track from Drimmin to Doirlinn has the potential to be a fantastic short out-and-back coastal route.....I'll report back later in the year 🙂
This chap - Davie Graham - lives on Mull and is a cyclo-X obsessive.
http://www.scottishcyclocross.com/SCX/Who.html
He'll be more than happy to put you all in touch with the local mtbers.
(He also drives the Ardnamurchan ferry which must count as one of the coolest jobs out there!)
how did you get on mr banjostring? iam heading there soon, and any advice or routes would be appreciated.
cheers
Ooops!sorry only just saw your question mate!
The trip went well, although we were pretty goosed on mull and stuck mainly to a combinaion of roads and fairly well way marked forest tracks / cycle paths so nothing too adventurous. I'd recommend checking out the mull cycling clubs website and the chaps on the forum are v helpful!
Beer on Mull was absolutely g-reat though! ; )
