SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH CYCLING HOLIDAY

Rich peaty whiskies, rugged coasts, prolific wildlife and romantic island hideaways.Discover the Scotland of your dreams on an island hopping cycling holiday on theIslands of Arran, Islay and Jura.

Embarking on the ferry to Arran marks the beginning of your Scottish Island adventure. Well known for it’s

stunning scenery Arran is often referred to as Scotland in miniature because it packs such a punch. Arran

has it all: jagged mountain peaks, rolling hills, quiet coves , soaring sea eagles, local crafts, breweries and

ruined castles.

From Arran you catch the ferry to Kintyre and then after a short pedal across the peninsula to the Isle of

Islay. Your base for the next five days. Small whitewashed villages , peaty whiskies, vast empty beaches

and rugged coastal scenery make the Isle of Islay a very special place. Home to eight world renowned

distilleries Islay is a whisky lovers paradise and as you can imagine the pubs aren’t half bad either.

Port Askaig, your arrival point on Islay, is the jumping off point for Jura. A remote and wild island where

red deer outnumber people by 25 to 1. Spend a day meeting the people and drinking in the unique

atmosphere before heading south to Port Charlotte.

Port Charlotte is the gateway to the wild Atlantic Coast of Islay. Huge cliffs pierced by golden sandy

beaches are the perfect habitat for millions of breeding birds and birdwatchers will be in their element.

The pretty Port Ellen is your final stop on Islay and the hopping off point for a magical day of cycling and

whisky on the island’s beautiful south coast.

Before you know it your journey will be finishing with a hop, skip and a jump back to Ardrossan where your

adventure began.

Cycling deserted roads on the wild west coast of Islay

A glut of world class distilleries for whisky lovers to enjoy

Feeling like a kid again as you hop on and off local ferries

The romantic landscape of the Scottish Islands

Tucking into great local food and drink at drink at the end of your cycle

THE MACS ADVENTURE DIFFERENCE

At Macs Adventure we are totally dedicated to adventure excellence. What this means is that we put

together holidays where every last little detail is taken care of. From searching out the best locally owned

and operated accommodation to making sure you know the perfect place to stop for lunch nothing is too

much trouble. This means is that you can really get to know the people and places of our wonderful home.

Your cycling holiday includes hand picked accommodation, baggage transfer, a detailed information pack

and emergency support. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will deal with a local destination

specialist who knows Scotland intimately. So if there is anything we can do to make your holiday in

Scotland even better please don’t hesitate to ask.

SUMMARY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation: 7 nights hand-picked B&B’s,small hotels, country inns and guesthouses.Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch anddinner not included but always available at accom-modation or nearby.Baggage Transfer: Baggage transfer.Ferries: All ferries included except ferry to Jura.Information Pack: Comprehensive Map and infopack

IS IT FOR ME?

If you want to see a different side of one of

the most gorgeous parts of Scotland, like

nothing better than the wind in your hair and

appreciate the finer things in life then this

cycling holiday is hard to beat.

Tour: Scottish Island HopscotchCode: CSSSIHType: Self-Guided Cycling HolidayPrice: See WebsiteDates: March—OctDays: 8 (7 Cycling Days)Nights: 7Start: ArdrossanFinish: ArdrossanGrade: Moderate

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH

THE ISLES OF ARRAN, ISLAY & JURA

HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1: Arrive

Ardrossan is the departure point for the Arran

ferry. It is easily reached from Glasgow by train

(50 minutes) and has secure parking. You will

collect rental bikes from here if required and then

jump on the one hour ferry to Arran to begin your

adventure.

Overnight: Brodick—3* Guesthouse

Goatfell dominates Brodick Bay and the town of

Brodick stretches along the sea front. After

depositing your bags and bike at your

accommodation you should have time to visit

Brodick Castle, Arran Aromatics, or one of the

many other attractions in this busy little town.

Day 2: Cycling on the Isle of Arran

Cycling on the Isle of Arran is a delight. Often

described as Scotland in miniature it is just

packed full of things to see and do as you pedal

the quiet coastal roads which ring the island. You

have a choice of routes ranging from 14 to 42

miles. Machrie standing stones are just my

absolute favourite place on Arran so don’t miss

them.

Overnight: Lochranza - 3* Guesthouse

The ruins of Lochranza Castle dominate the

narrow string of houses which make up the

village of Lochranza. Red deer have right of way

in this tranquil village and the local Distillery is

one of the newest in Scotland.

Day 3: Cycling and Island Hoppingto Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

The morning ferry from Lochranza takes you

back to the mainland island of Kintyre and it is

just a short five mile cycle over to Kennacraig for

the 13:00 ferry to Port Askaig on Islay. I would

strongly recommend a diversion to the Seafood

Cabin at Skipness Castle for an early lunch. You

just can’t beat fresh locally caught seafood done

simply.

Keep your camera handy on the two hour ferry to

Port Askaig as the views are splendid and

dolphins, whales and basking sharks are all

regular visitors to the Sound of Jura and Islay.

Overnight: Port Askaig - 2* Small Hotel

The tiny settlement of Port Askaig is dominated

by the white buildings of the port and Port Askaig

Hotel. Once the ferry traffic has left it is a quiet

and peaceful place.

Day 4: Cycling on The Isle of Jura

Jura is the wildest and most remote of Scotland’s

inhabited islands. It has no direct ferry to the

mainland its 200 inhabitants and vastly

outnumbered by the island’s 5500 deer.

There is no getting lost on Jura, the island’s only

road runs up the eastern side of the island and

the maximum round trip is 62 miles. The 21 mile

round trip to Craighouse Village and the Jura

Distillery is a great day out.

Keen walkers may also wish to pack their boots

as a climb of the Pap’s of Jura rewards with

panoramic views and red deer sightings are all

but guaranteed.

Overnight: Port Askaig—2* Small Hotel

Day 5: Wildlife & Whisky on Islay

A few white sandy bays pierce the steep cliffs of

the Atlantic Coast of Islay. Relentlessly pounded

by the Atlantic surf this wild coastline is a haven

for bird and wildlife and exploring this countryside

on quiet singletrack roads is enchanting. The

choice of routes is endless and you can cycle for

anything between 18 and 60 miles.

Overnight: Port Charlotte—4* Small Hotel

Port Charlotte is an attractive village and nearby

Bruichladdich Distillery is a must for whisky

connoisseurs.

Day 6: Port Charlotte to Port Ellen,Islay

Take the time to explore the Museum of Islay

Life, the Islay Natural Heritage Information

Centre and just stroll around this charming

village before you head off to Bowmore.

Bowmore is the island capital and home to

almost a 1000 people, the well known Bowmore

Distillery and idyllically situated Round Church.

It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch

before continuing to Port Ellen. (18—30 miles)

Overnight: Port Ellen - 4* B&B

Port Ellen is a delightful town which curves

around the white sandy beaches of Leodamas

Bay.

Day 7: Islay’s Whisky Coast

You are in for a real treat today! Islay’s southern

coast is littered with islands, shipwrecks and

three of the best distilleries in Scotland. Cycle

west from Port Ellen for ten miles until you reach

the golden sands of Aros Bay, the perfect spot

for a picnic.

On your return you can visit Ardbeg, Lagavulin

and Ardbeg Distilleries for a complete whisky

experience.

Alternatively you may prefer to visit the Oa

Peninsula to the South West of Port Ellen. This

sometimes bleak landscape is nothing if not

dramatic. Golden Eagles and corncrakes cab be

seen at the RSPB reserve and the sea cliffs are

home to Fulmars, Kittiwakes and razorbills in the

summer. (6—20 Miles or more)

Overnight: Port Ellen - 4* B&B

Day 8: Island Hopscotch back toArdrossan

An exciting Island Hopscotch via Kennacraig,

Claonaig, Lochranza and Brodick brings you

back to Ardrossan at about 18:00 where you can

hand your rental bikes back and head home. (20

Miles)

Overnight: Not included

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH

THE ISLES OF ARRAN, ISLAY & JURA

DETAILED ITINERARY

Time of Year

This holiday is available from the end of March to

the end of October. Spring and Autumn can be

cold and the weather wild but roads are quiet.

May through August is the best time of year to

enjoy this holiday.

Additional Nights

If you have a long way to travel after the trip I

would recommend an extra night in Brodick or

Troon on day 8. Port Charlotte is another great

spot for an extra night so that you have more

time to enjoy the West Coast of Islay.

Fewer Nights

If you wish to reduce the number of nights we

can tailor your trip to your requirements.

Accommodation

We search out accommodation of character so

that you can enjoy a genuinely warm welcome

and authentic Scottish experience.

This tour includes a mix of small family run B&B’s

and hotels as well as some charming island

hotels. All offer a warm welcome to cyclists,

have secure bike storage, offer traditional

hospitality and delicious local food.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms in your party we will

of course try to accommodate your request,

subject to availability. There will be a single

supplement payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning.

Lunch and dinner are not included so you are

free to choose from the available options. Most of

your accommodations will more than happy to

provide a packed lunch on request and this can

be booked on arrival. Dinner is always available

either at your accommodation or nearby pubs.

Solo Cyclists

This holiday is available to solo cyclists but there

is a solo supplement payable to cover the

additional costs of baggage transfer and a single

supplement to cover the cost of single occupancy

rooms.

Baggage Transfer

When you are cycling between accommodation

your main bag will be moved by our local crew.

You will have to take your own bag on and off

ferries and from your accommodation to the ferry

terminal. With this in mind I would suggest you

limit your bag to 15kg and personal experience

suggest a backpack or pull along is the best

option.

Bikes & Equipment

Either a road bike, touring bike, hybrid or

mountain bike with semi slick tyres would be fine.

The whole route is on tarmac.

You will need a helmet, cycling clothes,

waterproofs and warm clothes as well as casual

clothes for the evenings. Your info pack will have

a detailed equipment list.

Bike Hire

We offer bike hire for this holiday and you can

collect and drop off your bikes at the ferry

terminal in Ardrossan. We use excellent quality

mountain bikes with slick tyres or hybrid bikes

equipped with a rear pannier rack, repair kit,

pump and lock.

Getting to/from Ardrossan

Ardrossan is 32 miles south west of Glasgow and

18 miles north of Prestwick Airport. From

Glasgow trains (50 minutes) and buses (1h15)

run regularly. From Prestwick a taxi is the best

option and takes about 20 minutes.

For detailed public transport information see

www.travelinescotland.com

Ferries

All your ferry crossings (apart from Jura) are

included in the cost of your holiday. These are

operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and you can

find full details of services and timetables here:

www.calmac.co.uk

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend taking out travel

insurance to cover cancellation or curtailment of

your holiday.

Availability

This cycling holiday is available on any start date

from late March to late October. Find up to date

availability on our website.

Price

Detailed up to date prices for all our Skye Cycling

Holidays are available on our website.

Included

Seven nights bed and breakfastaccommodation in handpicked 3 or 4 starB&B’s, guesthouses and small hotels inensuite rooms.

Baggage transfer as required

All ferry crossings apart from Jura Ferry.

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH

THE ISLES OF ARRAN, JURA & ISLAY

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

RECOMMENDATIONS

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

TRAVEL INFORMATION

A detailed info pack, route notes and map forthe group leader.

Emergency telephone support from our officein the event of a problem.

Excluded Travel to or from Ardrossan.

Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Personal Equipment.

Taxi transfers or public transport should youneed to skip a stage.

Optional Extras

Solo traveller supplement

Single room supplement

Bike Hire

Extra Nights

Accommodation upgrades

Once you have read all the information in this

factsheet or on our website and decided on your

preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a

call to confirm availability. You can then book by

any of the following methods:

Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886

Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form

and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf,

Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845

527 5688

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on

+44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email:

info@macsadventure.com if you have any

queries and one of our expert team will be happy

to help.

Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit

Our operating policies, office policies, holidays

and tours are all designed to minimise impact

and maximise benefit to the environment and

local communities.

Action & Advocacy

We believe that by engaging our team and

clients in environmental and community projects

we can make a real difference.

Carbon & Communities

Travel and our business activity does of course

contribute to carbon output and climate change.

We have put several policies in place to minimise

our carbon footprint.

Sensitive & Sustainable

Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that

our holidays are sensitive to the community you

are visiting and sustainable over the long term.

Financial Security

In order to provide clients with peace of mind

Macs Adventure Ltd has effected a policy with

IGI Insurance Company Ltd through travel

insurance specialists Milsom Howard Limited to

ensure that all passengers booking with Macs

Adventure Limited are fully protected for the

initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all

monies paid to Macs Adventure Ltd, arising from

cancellation or curtailment of your travel

arrangements due to the insolvency of Macs

Adventure Limited.

AITO Quality Statement

Macs Adventure is a member of

the Association of Independent

Tour Operators. The Association

represents Britain’s leading independent tour

operators and encourages high standards of

quality and service.

Macs Adventure abides by the Association’s

Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO

Quality Charter which can be viewed on

www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more

about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

ABTA Member Statement

Macs Adventure Holidays

is a Member of ABTA.

ABTA and ABTA

Members help

holidaymakers to get the most from their travel

and assist when things don’t go according to

plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard

of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.

For more information on ABTA, the Code of

Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to

you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30

Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117

0581 www.abta.com

ActivityScotland Codeof Conduct

Macs Adventure is a

member of the Activity

Scotland Association, the trade association

which supports and promotes activity providers in

Scotland. Macs Adventure abides by the Activity

Scotland Code of Practice, which ensures that

your activities are safely and professionally

organised, comply with the law and are

financially protected.

SCOTTISH ISLAND HOPSCOTCH

THE ISLES OF ARRAN, JURA & ISLAY

HOW TO BOOK

M.A.C.S. RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE