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How "unpleasant" will the traffic be going up the A77/A78? I'm particularly thinking about ferry traffic and whether I can plan to be "snacking" at the busier times (if there is such a thing).
You don't wanna hang around in Greenock druidh 😉
It can be quite busy and fast with big trucks belting past.
It will add on a few miles (probably 15 - 20) but going across country a bit and joining up with NCN7 (goes past Glentrool) will be a bit more pleasant.
Not sure about the start (from Stranraer?) but I've ridden on the A77 south of Ayr a couple of times and found it fine. If you had time, could you maybe head inland a bit towards Newton Stuart then go up through Glentrool?
From Ayr, I'd stick to the coast up to Irvine, then take the road through Dalry to Largs. From Largs, the Old Largs Road up over the moor to Greenock is a cracking ride.
It will be a minging ride, up the A78 Largs - Wemyss Bay especially. I used to live down there and it's a fairly fast (70mph in places) single carriageway road, but I expect you'll survive and it wouldn't put me off doing a journey if it saved a lot of hassle and cost with taking public transport.
The road from Stranraer to Ayr will be fine as it has been improved in many places and is generally quite wide, other than the run-in to Girvan.
You can probably cycle-lane from Ayr to Largs, though I'm not 100% sure.
Coming from Gourock and traveling to Belfast Ive used this road on numerous occasions and to be honest I dont like it in a car never mind cycling :(, you have the lorries coming off the ferries which are an absolute nightmare....good luck 😉
As 2tyred says, the old largs road to Greenock is a cracking wee route 🙂
Will be busy with trucks most of the time.
Better to try and get onto NCN 7 and then cut across to stranraer on NCN 73
Do you have to start in Greenock?
non dual carriageway parts of the A77 would be pretty horrendous particularly if you get caught in ferry traffic. A lot of lorries and impatient drivers, though the average speed cameras have helped.
Going Irvine-Dalry-Largs-Noddlesburn Rd/Loch Thom etc is very hilly and will add a LOT of effort and time to the run as opposed to sticking to the shore.
Assuming I wanted to stick to the coast, is there any advantage in travelling at the weekend?
Good luck with that trip, wouldn't be me, as others have indicated the road is fast and narrow in places with big trucks.
It just doesn't sound like a nice route to ride. Many years ago I used to ride down the a77 to Troon from Glasgow, I was young and stupid, and even 20+ years ago it felt unsafe and fast.
Train from Stranraer to Kilwinning (no need to book) then over to dalry-kilbirnie-Largs ten old road a suggested earlier. The worst section would be Largs to wemyss bay, unquestionably. Or even train to maybole, then the high road over to Ayr, and cycle path all the way to Largs.
If your determined to ride it all, drop me an email and I'll put together the most direct quiet route I can. GregbowieATgmailDOTcom
As other have said...
That section from Largs to Wemyss Bay is horrendous. Especially going Northbound, your bail out option at points is to fall over the fence onto the rocks on the beach. People do ride it, but it wouldn't be me...
If the energy can be summoned and you get a nice day the back road going to Loch Thom is great.
I reckon you'd be fairly safe if you did it at 4am on Monday morning... with masses of lights and a beaconed escort.
What beacon for......
Going up past Loch Thom is a bit shorter so it wont take that much longer despite it being more difficult. From the Largs end it isn't that bad a climb either - no scary gradients and often a tail wind.
Plenty of lesser used, safer and more scenic roads run broadly up the route of the A77. Up through New Luce to Barrhill, then A714 to Girvan. A77 to Turnberry, up the A719, then a host of minor roads to West Kilbride. A78 to Largs and up the Brisbane Glen Road to Loch Thom and Greenock. Got to be better than sticking to the trunk road.
Infinitely better.
Largs to Wemyss bay isn't that bad! I regularly cycle it, though the old road is nicer. I can also help with a few divesions that won't add too much to the journey.
Go with the Barrhill road route to start, it's normally fairly quiet. The section North of Girvan is best either done via the coast road past Culzean or by heading inland towards the Nick Of The Balloch.
Once your past Kilwinning you can do the Dalry Moor road with a screaming descent to Fence Bay at Fairlie. There is a bike route from there to Largs, though i'm unsure if it is continuous through Fairlie.
The Brisbane Glen out of Largs is much better than the coast road to Skelmorlie/Weymss Bay. You can however use the minor road that parallels the Largs to Skelmorlie Main road but really why bother when Brisbane Glen is much nicer.
Oh and Hi GlasgowDan, long time no fish.
No fish indeed Stuart, still got the boat? 🙂