Mountain Biking

Here's some new and updated route guides to download, with more on the way, watch this space!:

Easy - Trail achievable by most people

Moderate - Trail / Technical previous experience required

Castle Route • Glencloy Route

Hard - Technical proficient mountain bikers only

Clauchlands Route • Laggan Route

Extreme - Technical / Enduro proficient & fit

Arran Classic Route

Cycling with young children

Unfortunately at the moment, kids under about 10 years old will find most of Arran's trails and roads quite hard.

Some suggestions would be the short 4 mile loop around Blackwaterfoot and shiskine or extend that to a 13 mile loop further inland and back across Machrie moor to Machrie golf club and back to Blackwaterfoot. The Coast road from Machrie north is nearly all flat and quiet to Lochranza. It's worth catching the Lochranza ferry with bikes and cycling down to Skipness castle and seafood shack.

Not much in the way of easy offroad trails but parking at North Sannox picnic site and riding on past the Fallen Rocks is lovely, flat and manageable. Into Glen Rosa past the camp site and following the undulating rough track is good, just turn around when it gets too rough! There's a nice forest road going east to 'Dun Fion' from the top of the hill between Brodick and Lamlash, quite undulating but amazing views.

If you need any more information regarding Cycling on Arran please contact Gerard .


Below are some more suggested sections/routes, on existing tracks and paths. Use this info with the map opposite along with your OS map of Arran to plan your own rides. Cyclists ride these at their own risk and are liable for their own actions. The general advice is to walk and push the cycle if in any doubt about riding a particular section of route.

Key to off-road terrain conditions:
(1) - Easy, achievable by most people.
(2) - Moderate, previous experience required.
(3) - Hard, proficient mountain bikers only.

1. Brodick Castle Route & Trailquest (1) (as Download)
Mainly off-road circular route from Cladach. Route and Trailquest maps available from Arran Adventure Co. 6 miles, 1 to 2 hours.

2. Laggan (3) (as Download)
From North Sannox picnic site take the A841 to Lochranza, turn right through the Golf course, right again on to track then left up singletrack over hill to Laggan. Follow coast path south, back to picnic site. 15 miles, 2 to 3 hours.

3. Newton Shore (2/3)
From Lochranza Golf course, take the Newton Shore road then right up the track through North Newton. Follow path to Fairy Dell, down tricky descent onto technical coast path back to Newton Shore. 4 miles, 1 hour.

4. Clauchan Link (3)
From Shiskine Cemy take forest trails across Clauchan water up to forest boundary. Follow faint trail across moorland to meet Ross road at Glenree. 5 miles, 1 to 2 hours.

5. Kilmory Loop (1)
Start at the Creamery. Follow road East to pick up forest cycle trail on left. Continue up this past Auchareoch House. Take next left track through Aucheleffan and Cloined to finish. 7 miles, 1 to 2 hours.

6. The Forest Road (1)
Signed route from Kilmory to Lamlash along forest road. Although this is easy terrain the route is very hilly and requires reasonable fitness. 10 miles, 1 to 2 hours.

7. Glenashdale Link (1)
A link up hill to the Forest road - route 6 - from Whiting Bay. 2 miles.

8. Knockenkelly (2)
A link up hill to the forest road - route 6 - from Whiting Bay and Knockenkelly. 2 miles.

9. The Letter (3)
Fork south from Cnoc Na Dial Forest Car Park along forest road, for approx 1 mile to go left down a rock ramp to meet edge of establihed forest. Head straight down hill on narrow and muddy faint path to eventually meet tarmac road at Lamlash reservoir. Follow this down to Lamlash village. 2 miles.

10. Clauchlands Forest (3)
Head east on forest road from Cnoc Na Dial Forest car park, to eventually bear right down steep path and turn left before Fort down to Corriegills. 3 miles.

11. Fairy Glen (2)
Leave Brodick on Mayish Road, this turns to track and climbs to meet forest boundary. Descend singletrack into Fairy Glen and continue up to meet Cnoc Na Dial Forest car park. 2 miles.

12. Glen Cloy (1) (as Download)
Climb north west from Cnoc Na Dial Forest Car Park along the forest road, this then descends into the head of Glen Cloy. 2 miles. Singletrack continues through the forest, through some fields and into Brodick along the river bank.

13. North Sannox (1)
From picnic site go through gate and cycle north along forest track to Fallen Rocks, return same route. Ideal for children. 2.5 miles in total.

14. Sannox Glen (2)
A short 1 mile stretch of track up Glen Sannox, well worth it for the views. Ideal for older children.

15. Glen Rosa (2)
From Glen Rosa camp site continue along track, through deer fence to finish at foot bridge over Garbh Allt waterfalls, return same route. Ideal for older children. 2.5 miles in total.

By mixing some of these routes and roads together it is possible to make many more and varied longer routes depending on your own abilities and fitness.

Road Cycling

1. Arran North Circular - A B C D A
A stunning route around Arran's high mountains. Flat coast roads, plus 2 big inland hills. Achievable by
most people with good fitness. 32 miles. 3 to 5 hours.

2. Machrie Moor - E D C E
An easy circuit in the Shiskine valley, ideal for families. 13 miles, 1 to 2 hours.

3. Ross and String - A J H F E D A
A tough route with spectacular views, climbing over the 2 highest roads on the island, a good level of
fitness required. 28 miles, 3 to 5 hours.

4. South End Loop - H F G H
A loop around Arran's picturesque South East corner. Including the Ross hill and undulating coast road,
achievable with basic fitness. 25 miles, 2 to 4 hours.

5. Lamlash Shore - J K J
A short 2 mile stretch of quiet flat coast road from Lamlash to Clauchlands, perfect for young families.
4 miles, easy.

6. Arran South Circular - A D E F G H J A
This is a harder ride than its Northern counterpart yet just as rewarding, on typically undulating coast road, a good level of fitness is required. 36 miles, 3 to 5 hours.

7. Arran Circular - A B C E F G H J A
The famous ‘Round the Island' route, a tough combination of both North and South circulars, an
excellent days challenge requiring a good level of fitness. 57 miles, 5 to 8 hours.

8. Sustrans Route 73- A B
The ‘Sustrans' National Cycle Network (Route 73). The coast road link between Brodick and Lochranza
ferry terminals. 14 miles, 1 to 2 hours.