The Isle of Arran Hill Walking on the Isle of Arran

Isle of Cumbrae

Island Views
Ferry
Arran - Official Tourist MapScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet

 Photos of views on a walk around the Isle of Great Cumbrae

in the Firth of Clyde


Largs and Ayrshire coastline from Monument at Tormont End on Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde

Largs and Ayrshire coastline

from
Monument at Tormont End

 on Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde


Sandy Bay at "Indian's Face" on Isle of Cumbrae

Sandy Bay at "Indian's Face"

on Isle of Cumbrae



"Indian's Face" - rock art on Isle of Cumbrae

"Indian's Face"

- rock art on Isle of Cumbrae





"Indian's Face" - rock art on Isle of Cumbrae

"Indian's Face"

- rock art on Isle of Cumbrae






Arran Hills - the "Sleeping Warrior " from Isle of Cumbrae

Hills of Arran

- the " Sleeping Warrior "

 from Isle of Cumbrae


Arran Hills - the "Sleeping Warrior " from Isle of Cumbrae

Hills of Arran

- the " Sleeping Warrior "

from Isle of Cumbrae


Millport Bay on the Isle of Great Cumbrae

 Cathedral and Millport Bay

 on the Isle of Great Cumbrae



Springtime Gorse in bloom on hilltop on the Isle of Great Cumbrae

Springtime Gorse in bloom on hilltop

 on the Isle of Great Cumbrae




Farm House on the Isle of Great Cumbrae

 Firth of Clyde from Farm House

 on the Isle of Great Cumbrae





Ayrshire Coast from Trig Point at Glaid Stone on the Isle of Great Cumbrae

Ayrshire Coast

from Trig Point at Glaid Stone

 on the Isle of Great Cumbrae





Isle of Great Cumbrae from Knock Hill above Largs

Isle of Great Cumbrae

from Knock Hill above Largs





GREAT CUMBRAE WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

The island of Great Cumbrae may measure only 3.5 miles ( it was given the name to distinguish it from its even smaller neighbour Little Cumbrae ) but what
makes it great are the views. Much of the walk is on narrow roads. but they are quiet and you will probably see more cyclists than cars.
Cycling round the 10 mile / 16km coast road is popular with visitors.
My aim though was to go up so I took the old ferry road which used to be the route from the island's only town, Millport, to the ferry slipway.
I then branched off to take another wee road up to the high point on the island.
It is a modest 417ft ( 127m ) but the view is magnificent, looking west to Bute with the hills of Arren beyond it, north to Cowal, east to the Ayrshire
coast and south to Little Cumbrae.
The summit is marked by a view indicator and a large boulder called the Glaid Stone.
The road wanders down to Millport and a diversion to the Cathedral of the Isles. This church dating from 1851 is said to be the smallest cathedral in Britain.
You can end the walk here, or add another loop signed Targets Walk which climbs out of Millport and takes tracks and paths to the west coast.
The paths were pretty overgrown when I visited but you can get through and the effort is rewarded by stunning views.
As you walk back towards Mlllport after a tall navigation post you may see a sign for a further section of off-road path round the coast. Again this
was seriously overgrown, so I stuck to the road.



GREAT CUMBRAE - CYCLE RIDE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: North Ayrshire
Map: OS Landranger 63
Distance: 10 miles / 1 6km
Time: 1.5 hours
Terrain: flat; quiet roads



The island of Cumbrae feels like it was created with easy cycle rides in mind.
A mere 10-minute ferry journey from Largs, the coastal road is perfectly flat and refreshingly quiet.
Cal-Mac runs a regular service to a slip on the north-eastern side of the island and, in common with all the operator’s routes, bicycles go free.
On arrival, Cumbrae’s charm and tranquility is immediately evident, and you can see why the missionaries St Maura and St Beya chose to live
here in the seventh century, spawning the name
by which the island and its smaller counterpart to the south were given long ago — the
Isles of the Virgins.
Turn right at the slip
for an anti-clockwise name by which the circuit. The road soon reaches the northern tip counterpart to the south of Tomont End where
the King Haco of Norway on the eve of the 1263 Battle of Largs.
As you continue there are views to the Cowal Peninsula and Bute to the north and west respectively.
It’s this position of relative shelter which has led some scholars to believe Cumbrae may be derived from an old Gaelic word for refuge, cumbray.
Certainly, when the winds are light, it feels protected.
Pedal on, down the scenic and rocky west coast where you may see seals.
Halfway along, at Fintry Bay, there’s a tearoom.
Further south there are stirring views of craggy Little Cumbrae and Arran’s mountains before the road leads to Millport and the eastern
jaunt back.



Cumbrae Gallery
 Thumbnail Gallery

<< Back :: Arran & Cumbrae Index :: Next >>



Scottish Peaks :: Scotland Index

Glencoe | Ben Nevis | Knoydart | Isle of Skye | Isle of Arran | The West Highland Way

The Eastern Highlands | The Central Highlands | The Southern Highlands | The NW Highlands


Adventure Travel : Worldwide Mountaineering : Site Index

fb icon  google+ icon Linkedin icon  twitter










Travel & Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Arran - Official Tourist MapIsle of Arran OS Explorer MapIsle of Arran OS Landranger Map Iona & Mull MapWestern Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road Map



The Isle of Arran Hill Walking on the Isle of ArranIsland Walks - Southern Hebrides and Arran Ayrshire & Arran - 25 Walks

The Scottish IslandsAn Island Odyssey IslayScotland from the AirScotland's Coast  Exploring the Islands of Scotland

Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandSouthern Highlands - Map Lonely Planet - Walking in BritainScotlands 100 Best Walks

Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonely Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide 50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands The Islands Arrochar, Cowal & Bute - 25 Walks

Oban, Mull & Kintyre - OS Pathfinder Guide Mull & Iona - Pevensey Guide Isle of Bute - Pevensey GuideSkye & the Western IslesThe Isle of Skye Walking in the Hebrides Call of the Corbetts The Corbetts - SMC

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast 100 Walks in ScotlandHillwalker: The MunrosHillwalker: The Corbetts

Weather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders Hillwalkers Manual Hillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering First Aid on Mountains









extremetracking
 eXTReMe Tracker


extremetracking

Google Analytics







Google Analytics
Sitelock caingram.com
SiteLock
Sitelock
Sitelock caingram.info
SiteLock
Sitelock