Whisky ride - Islay next spring/early summer

Brian and I have been nattering about this via email today.

He is a lovely chap, and has been v helpful.

This is mostly going to be about logistics, getting approximate numbers and working out costings. Getting up to scotland is going to be the biggest problem (hire a coach possibly?). Then we have to sort out accomodation...

From the experience of my trip there, I think it's a matter of getting to Glasgow and renting a car/van(s) to go take a ferry to Islay. The flight to Islay is on a teeny weeny little plane and I doubt they could accomodate bikes.

As far as accomodation goes, I would think somewhere central like Bowmore. However while this is central it's also surprisingly far flung from all the places that people would like to visit. Then again, my experience there was all via a rental car so perhaps it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Oops. I've not been well...

I know.. that's why I was unusually lenient.. ;)

Are you riding from London? If yes. Maybe join you on the way. Sounds like fun.

That WOULD be cool. A proper.. fucking massive.. forum road trip..

The plan would be for days.. it would take months or even years.

There would be no less than 11 ambulance calls, 37 police interventions and 879 p_nct_res.

4890 different pubs would be visited. 7 would welcome cyclists.

Chatting about this with Object and D.Generate last night.
It sounds like a damn good idea.
Riding there doesn't :-)

I might be up for this - always wanted to go to Jura as well (where KLF burned the million)

what we have to do is reduce our costs, at present its a train to glasgow, bus to kennacraig and then the ferry across to Islay there will also be a need for accomodation and whisky funds.

eightball

I love you for the transmat logo and for having an interest in the KLF

^ ah thanks man! Your avatar always reminds me of Keith Haring stuff, remember that?

it is a keith haring picture and then someone animated it for me

That'd be why then! Cool. Once upon a time you couldn't move for clubs being decked out in Keith Haring.

It's a fucking hi-nrg love-in :/

Im in.

yay! And I can have your share of nips!

no I meant the love in baby,
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7BuuLVYDUE&feature=PlayList&p=7991530E679903B4&index=0"]YouTube
- Peech Boys - "Life Is Something Special" (1982)[/ame]

More
Drams
Means
Assuagement

I've been thinking about doing something similar for a while now so think this is a great idea. It would be much more awesome to take mountain bikes...
Fuck yes.

Me and my mate john were wanting to plan another trip to the west coast in the spring / summer. This would make for an interesting trip.

I'd be up for this - James let me know the date.

I've been to Islay on cycling trips for the last two years, and it can't be beaten! Brian from the washing machine post and Jez the Islay wilderness guide are the most welcoming people I've ever met. Most of the distilleries will let you have a dram (or two, or three) without paying for the tours as well...

Islay's not really all that great for mountain bikes - a lot of the off-road routes are through estates where the gamekeepers aren't always delighted to see you. Stick to the road bikes and make sure you get to Debbie's cafe in Bruichladdich. There's a cycling shrine in the corner!

Also, if you're on a fixed and arriving at Port Askaig rather than Port Ellen, make sure you're geared for 14% climb...

Islay's not really all that great for mountain bikes - a lot of the off-road routes are through estates where the gamekeepers aren't always delighted to see you.

Even with the scottish access legislation? Think it applies to mountain bikes as well as walkers. That's bummer though!

Accomodation could be tents if people have got tourers - super cheap if you camp on the beach!

Even with the scottish access legislation?

I think it does apply to mountain bikes as well as walkers, but I wouldn't like to be the one to tell a gamekeeper who's carrying a shotgun!!!

I don't want to give the wrong impression here - Islay is perhaps my favourite place in the world (ok - so I don't get out that much ;-) ) and the people are brilliant but my advice is to stick to the roads, or ring ahead to the estates and be prepared to get 'no' as the answer...

sounds fun! could be in

Looks like a long bus ride.. and with bikes??

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=glasgow&daddr=kennacraig+to:islay&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=55.79244,-5.83405&sspn=0.298398,0.891953&ie=UTF8&ll=55.991469,-4.838104&spn=1.187514,3.56781&z=9

Is Kennacraig the only place to get a ferry from?

Alternative?:

Could ride 60k Glasgow to Ardrossan:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Glasgow,+Lanarkshire,+UK&daddr=Ardrossan,+Ayrshire,+United+Kingdom&hl=en&geocode=%3BFb4MUQMdbpO2_w&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=55.802447,-4.448979&sspn=0.596636,1.783905&ie=UTF8&ll=55.746825,-4.55246&spn=0.298747,0.891953&z=11

Ferry to Brodick.

Ride 20k from Brodick to Lochranza:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=brodick&daddr=lochranza&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=55.660158,-5.18898&sspn=0.29941,0.891953&ie=UTF8&z=12

Ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig.

Ride 10k from Claonaig to Kenncraig:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Claonaig&daddr=Kennacraig,+Argyll+and+Bute,+UK&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=55.806491,-5.50106&sspn=0.149145,0.445976&ie=UTF8&z=13

Then ferry to Islay.

Just thinking of avoiding what looks like a long bus ride and getting more riding in.
No idea how much the ferries are.

Also, it's only 700k from London to Glasgow.. HTFU..
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=London,+UK&daddr=Glasgow,+Lanarkshire,+UK&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=ht&doflg=ptk&sll=53.685225,-2.195995&sspn=5.030561,14.27124&ie=UTF8&z=7

How much for the ferries?