Best of Arran brings together ten of my favourite Arran bikepacking routes, from short local loops and classic road climbs to longer gravel and mixed-terrain routes through some of Arran’s most dramatic landscapes. Covering everything from beginner-friendly rides to tougher off-road adventures, the guide is designed to help you choose the routes that best suit your time, fitness and bike while making the most of one of Scotland’s best cycling destinations.
Route Overview
Arran packs an unusually wide range of riding into a small island. The routes in this guide move between quiet coast roads, forest gravel, estate tracks, open moorland and steeper inland climbs, with the character changing noticeably between the mountainous north and the softer, greener south.
That variety means no two rides feel quite the same. Some are short and straightforward, others are rougher, steeper or more exposed, and several can be linked together into longer days. The guide is intended to work as a menu rather than a fixed itinerary, allowing riders to pick and combine routes depending on weather, time, fitness and how adventurous they want the day to be.
Preview the guide
A look inside the full downloadable guide.
Download the Best of Arran Guide Free
The complete Best of Arran guide brings together ten of my favourite rides on the island, including detailed route information, maps, difficulty, terrain, practical notes and GPX downloads for each route.
It’s designed to help you choose the rides that suit your time, fitness and bike, whether you’re looking for an easy local loop, a classic climb or a tougher mixed-terrain day out.
55 pages · 10 routes
· Free download
Download the Best of Arran GPX Files
Download the latest GPX files for all ten routes in the Best of Arran guide. Save them to your preferred navigation app or GPS device before setting off. The routes vary significantly in length, terrain and difficulty, so check the guide notes for each ride before choosing your route.
