Joy ridıng on yon bonnie braes
Arrivée151Spring2021
Not every cycle ride needs to be a bruising, against-the-clock test of strength, with rider and machine taking on the toughest challenges in the worst weather – sometimes it can be just a pleasurable jaunt in the sunshine. Sixty-two year old Audaxer Ian Barber, describes a leisurely tour of Scotland’s historic south-western corner, and the simple joy of cycling…
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IF YOU’RE LOOKING for an account of an extreme cycle ride, of overcoming adversity, whether enjoyable or not, with a climax of relief or achievement – this isn’t it. This is just a report about the joy of cycling. Hats off to those who complete strenuous epics, recording huge efforts, pushing the boundaries of what is humanly possible on a bike. This report of a ride around a less fashionable corner of Scotland is perhaps modest by comparison. My 37 year old son Andrew and I took a tour of the south-west of Scotland based on the SW Coast 300 route devised as an alternative to the established and busy North Coast 500. The SW Coast 300 route is intended to promote the area for visitors using cars or motorbikes and includes some very busy roads. We devised a route to avoid such roads wherever possible. Travelling from our homes in the Oldham area, my son and I, carrying our own luggage, took a clockwise circular route of 360 miles (580km) and 19,000ft (5,790m) climbing spread over six days. Each day started around 9.30am allowing time for breakfast at various venues. Take-away lunches were taken en-route and each day’s ride ended at around 4pm, allowing ample time for refreshments and exploration of the towns and villages passed through and the overnight stop-overs. We were very fortunate with the weather during the six days which was bright and even sunny (no rain, not a drop, yes really) with an easterly breeze and to cap it all no punctures. Day One We started in Girvan with views across the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig, a volcanic plug famous for its dense granite used in the
WORDS & PICTURES IAN BARBER
The deserted island of Ailsa Craig from Girvan
making of the best curling stones, and the Isle of Arran (said to be Scotland in miniature) with Goat Fell standing proud. Girvan has accommodation if needed and plenty of free parking or access via train from Glasgow/Ayr. We headed north and inland through farmland to avoid the busy A77 and returned to the coast at
Turnberry. We passed Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course, a well-regarded employer in that area but alas currently losing money. Mr Trump has apparently invested millions in the golf course, including rebuilding the lighthouse next to the Turnberry Castle ruins (thought to be Robert the Bruce’s birthplace).
