A long weekend exploring islands and peninsulas on Scotland's west coast.

As the name says on the tin, we'll be using five different ferries to island-hop across Bute and the Cowal Peninsula, with a full day to explore the quiet and spectacular roads of the Island of Arran.

The full route starts and finishes in Glasgow, but there are options use the train to join the trip at Wemyss Bay and/or take the train from Ardrossan back to Glasgow at the end of the trip to cut the trip short if needed.

Planned routes for each day: -

Friday 26th May: Glasgow to Rothesay 34 miles/55km using NCN routes 7, 75 and minor roads to Wemyss Bay.  Some short off-road sections.  Ferry to Rothesay.  Overnight in Bute Backpackers Hotel

Saturday 27th May: Rothesay to Lochranza 37 miles/63km.  A short ride across Bute to Rhubodach and the ferry to Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula.  Ride across the peninsula to Portavadie (c20miles).  Ferry from Portavadie to Tarbert.  Ride across the Kintyre Peninsula to Claonaig (c12 miles) for the ferry to Arran.  It's a short ride from the ferry to the SYHA hostel at Lochranza.

Sunday 28th May: Tour of Arran - this is optional, the route we've plotted is 60miles/100km and is a loop of the southern half of the island using The String Road.  Second night at Lochranza.

Monday 29th May: Lochranza to Glasgow A 14 mile/22km ride to join the Arran ferry at Brodick.  Ferry to Ardrossan.  Cycle from Ardrossan to Glasgow (optional) 38miles/61km.

The cost of the event is £82.00 per person and includes overnight accommodation in the Bute Backpackers Hotel (Friday 26th) and two nights at Lochranza Youth Hostel (Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th). Breakfast is included at the Bute Backpacker's Hotel but no meals are included at Lochranza.

Photo credits: -

The main photo is from a cycling trip in the Outer Hebrides (the last time we did an island/ferry trip).

MV Bute in Rothesay Bay
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Thomas Nugent - geograph.org.uk/p/471297

Loch Thom Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Webb - geograph.org.uk/p/3424135

Colintraive Ferry
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Donald Thomas - geograph.org.uk/p/229513

Portavadie Ferry
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen clark - geograph.org.uk/p/3796780

Lochranza to Claonaig Ferry
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rob Farrow - geograph.org.uk/p/2968622

Photo of Loch Ruel and the Kyles of Bute is the leader's own photo.