Isle of Kerrera | A Gravel Ride to Remember

Isle of Kerrera Gravel Ride | The Highlands and Islands of Scotland The West Highlands of Scotland are great for gravel cycling, mountain biking and bikepacking. This gravel ride on the Isle of Kerrera in Argyll is one I absolutely loved. The Isle of Kerrera is part of the Inner Hebrides island group. It is a pristine, almost car-free island just a 5-minute ferry ride from Oban on Scotland's west coast. The ferry slipway is at Gallanach, about 2 miles south of Oban. Cars are not permitted on the boat, and there is not a lot of parking available at the slipway, so you might want to arrive early. If you're staying in Oban, you're probably better off cycling to the ferry. The scenic single track coastal road to the jetty would make a nice extension to the route. The following is from the CalMac website: 'Advance purchase your ticket online before you travel. All passengers must have a valid ticket prior to travel. Please note, if you are unable to purchase tickets online before travel, please purchase tickets from the Oban Ferry Terminal before travelling to Gallanach.' The route is relatively short, but there really is something very special about cycling around this small and lush emerald-green island with its amazing panoramic views. It's often described as 'the Jewel of the Firth of Lorn', a title it fully deserves. The award-winning Craggy Island Triathlon also takes place here. The ride starts with a challenging climb. On the way up you'll pass Balliemore Farm Shop, selling locally raised meat as well as crafts, sweets and ice creams. The route passes the shop again just before returning to the ferry. Once you reach the top of the climb, you'll be rewarded with sweeping vistas looking out toward the Isle of Mull. Next you'll be following the trails southwards to the ruins of Gylen Castle. Perched dramatically on a rocky cliff edge overlooking the sea, this 16th-century tower house is worth exploring and is just a short walk off the track. Before or after visiting the castle, you can relax and enjoy the delicious treats being served up at Kerrera Tea Garden. Back on the bike, the route makes its way along the east coast to the northern end of the island. With great views across the Sound of Kerrera to the mainland, it goes by the Little Horse Shoe and The Horse Shoe (two picturesque U-shaped bays), Kerrera Marina and Ardentrive Farm Shop and small gallery. At the end it is a short walk up to Hutcheson's Monument, a striking 19th-century granite obelisk. From here you'll get a breathtaking, near-360-degree vantage point overlooking Oban Bay and stunning, wide-ranging views of the Inner Hebrides. Retracing your way back for about 1 1/2 km, a right turn is taken to the rugged northwest side of the island for more unbroken coastal views across the Firth of Lorn. You'll go by Oitir Mhòr Bay, a scenic, pebbly bay with expansive views of the Morven mountains and the Isle of Lismore. The trails on the route can get a bit muddy after spells of rain. This is the section where you're most likely to encounter some large puddles after wet weather, but it is quite easy to walk around them. And after one more small climb it's time for a lovely downhill back to the ferry. As they say, good things come in small packages, and the peaceful, tiny Isle of Kerrera sure delivers a gravel ride to remember. 📺 Best viewed in HD or 4K. 👍 Enjoy the ride? Like and subscribe for more gravel cycling in the Scottish Highlands. 🔗    / pjd66   🚴‍♂️ Route Details 📏 Distance: 22 km / 13.5 miles 🚴 Strava:   / strava   📍 Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/3129879974 🛥️ Gallanach - Kerrera Ferry https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/route-... 🍰 Café Stop Kerrera Tea Garden & Bunkhouse https://kerrerabunkhouse.co.uk/tea-ga... 🚴‍♂️ Bike Hire Oban Cycles https://www.obancyclescotland.com/hir... 🗺️ Where I stayed I stayed at the Lantern in Oban, less than 1 km away from the ferry, and a perfect base for a cycling break. 🔗 https://thelanternoban.co.uk/ 🎥 Discover more gravel cycling routes in Scotland on my YouTube Channel: Cycling in the Scottish Highlands 🔗    / pjd66   ▶️ All Videos    • All 'Cycling in the Scottish Highlands' Vi...   ▶️ Bike Rides Outwith the Cairngorms National Park    • Bike Rides outside the Cairngorms National...   ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 — To Gylen Castle and Kerrera Tea Garden 7:47 — To Hutcheson's Monument 11:57 — Back to the ferry 🎵 Music 'Inside My Mind (Blue Skies)' by Groove Armada 'Wishful Thinking' by China Crisis 'Robinson Crusoe' by Art Of Noise #IsleofKerrera #Oban #gravelride #ScottishHighlands #GravelCycling #gravelroutes #Scotland