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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
 Posted - 11 April 2009 : 13:39:52
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Hullo!
I am visiting Mull this July with my son after we do a tour of University of Edinburgh. I have been in contact with the sister of a friend from Oz who got married in Glengorm Castle. Ruth mentioned Jean (daily cyclist) and Graham (now motor cyclist) were "wicked mean cyclists." Since I stumbled across Graham's name here, I figured this is a real, active forum.
Anyway, I have a bunch of questions I am hoping someone will answer, but I'll try to ask them one at a time so I don't get confused 
The first is what type of bike to hire? I have been looking at your forum, and the Ordnance Survey maps, and I am beginning to think that mountain bikes will be better than hybrids.
Our basic plan is to come over on CalMac on Friday night, and spend the night in Craignure. We'll ride down to Loch Buie (Stone Circle) and/or Carsaig (Arches hike) early before we head to Glengorm Castle via Loch Frisa. (more details later).
Chris Kardish
Future Isle of Mull Cyclist
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weec
Administrator
418 Posts |
Posted - 11 April 2009 : 21:10:33
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Hello Chris .
Yes we are real ;-)) Yes Jean and Graham are cyclists but the wicked and mean probably refers to Graham ;-))
Will you have Panniers? After you have danced naked round the stone circle at Loch Buie the Carsaig arches is a hike and not much riding but stunning scenery so yes its worth doing ..But the whole lot in one day to Glengorm from Craignure is a mean Task .But if you are going light then should be ok if you are fit .
ps Graham will probably meet you off the boat as he now works at Craignure Ferry Terminal .
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 11 April 2009 : 21:42:58
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Hey Jim-
Yes, we will have panniers, which will carry our clothes for 4 days and perhaps a wee dram or two .
Right now our plan is:
Saturday: Craignure - Glengorm via Loch Buie and Loch Frisa
Sunday: Glengorm - Ulva Ferry, nature cruise and return
Monday: Glengorm - Craignure via Carsaig Arches. Ferry to Lismore via Oban
Tuesday: Lismore, and maybe some Oban-ish areas if you have any suggestions.
The first big question I am trying to figure out is what kind of bikes to hire Hybrids or Mountains. My son is leaning mountain since there seem to be some good off-road sections, like along Loch Frisa.
Thanks!
Chris! |
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weec
Administrator
418 Posts |
Posted - 12 April 2009 : 21:49:48
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Sat Craignure - Glengorm via Loch Buie and Carsaig but not Arches?
Mon Craignure via Carsaig arches? how do you plan this one ?
jim
Mountain bikes especialy if you are gooing to ulva and maybe Gometra but Hybrids would be fine also and maybe better on the Road sections which you will have alot of Frisa is a good forestry track .Glengorm is a bit rougher and the track through Ardnhore is goos surface also
jim |
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 14 April 2009 : 19:33:37
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Well, I was initially thinking of trying to go along the water from Loch Buie to Carsaig on the first morning, but I figured your response would be I'm crazy  . Part of me figures we'll have about 18 hours to go from Craignure to Glengorm, so it shouldn't be too nasty. Yes, I know its about 65 miles or so, but even if we make 8 MPH we'll still have a good 10 hours for goofing off!
Probably this leads into my next question though, which is I want to get some Ordnance Survey Maps. Should I (a) get the laminated maps, and (b) should I order them from O/S or another source?
Thanks for the advice about mountain bikes. We'll update our reservation accordingly.
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weec
Administrator
418 Posts |
Posted - 14 April 2009 : 23:11:31
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Maybe its me that is getting confused Carsaig with bike then Hike to arches ? this will add on at least 2 hours to your journey .if you want to se the arches then fine i afraid I am ashamed i have never seen them But the cliff ride above is fantastic if you head up the Carsaig road to the top of the hill its on the web site ,
give me your name and addresss i will send you maps you can leave them somewhere in tobermory for me to pick up when you leave ...probably out of date but will check
jim |
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 18 April 2009 : 14:13:14
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Jim-
You do know I'm in the states, which could be a bit more postage? I'd be glad to take you up on the offer, but I'd have to return them in person over a pint or a wee dram (or two).
The first thing I'm trying to figure out is if the laminated OS maps are worth it. The OS website prices the normal explorer maps at £7.99, and the laminated at £13.99. I'm partly trying to figure out if its going to rain so much in July to make the laminated maps worth the added expense.
My "other sources" question was more oriented toward finding out if I buy direct from Ordnance Survey at £13.99 each, or should suck it up to spending £14.99 each at Nicholsons, since they do sponsor your website. I guess if I were buying the unlaminated maps, I'd use Nicholson's as they are the same price as OS.
The last thing on my mind with maps is if I even need the Ross of Mull map, or if the Craignure and Tobermory maps fit my needs, and I can just print out the Carsaig-to-Carsaig Arches from the online mapping and stick them in a ziploc.
Yeah, I know the Arches hike is a 2-hour ordeal, but the point of this trip is the journey, not (just) the destination. I'd think (more seriously) about doing them on the same day as Loch Buie if I thought there was a good track East along the coast or up toward Pennyghael from Lochbuie. Not sure the dotted lines on the OS maps are bike-able, or walkable pushing the bikes.
Cheers!
Chris! |
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weec
Administrator
418 Posts |
Posted - 20 April 2009 : 21:54:11
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Hello Chris
Im sure i can get maps to meet you at Craignure and they are old but thats not a plroblem as nothing has changed .I would not bother with laminated , But if you realy want to buy them then get them from nicolson maps and mention you seen them on our website ;-)) yuo dont need a map from carsaig return .
Trust me im an gibbohole .
The route from Lochbuie to carsaig is ridable to GenByre but carry all the way from there if you have any paniers at all and very little ridable if you dont but again its worth doing .
jim
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handsome
Starting Member
Afghanistan
20 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2009 : 20:08:51
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| hello across the pond |
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2009 : 20:18:25
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Hello back at you, handsome!
And to you Jim! I gave in and bought some maps, but I'd love to get together for a drink or something while we're out if you have a chance.
Anyway, my son has really gotten into the idea of mountain biking, so after the Lochbuie-Carsaig trip, with or without the arches depending on how we feel. Then we're thinking of hiking the mile or 2 to the saddle between Ben More and Cruachan Dearg, and then taking the trail down through Glen Clacharg, and along Loch Ba.
From there its the forestry trails past Lettermore along Loch Frisa, and straight up to Glengorm Castle. I know its a lot for a single day, but we plan to get up early, and have lots of choices for changing our minds. The cheapest bailout I see is the phone booth up the hill from Carsaig!
Anyway, my next decision is a naturalist cruise to Staffa and Treshnish. Are there multiple services? Is one better than the others? Will one be especially good for a 44-1/2 year old suffering from a 40-50 mile mountain bike trek from the day before :)
TTFN! |
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weec
Administrator
418 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2009 : 21:32:54
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If the weather is good then it should not be a problem if you have all day . 1 pint after this should see you gibbering like a local .
Im sure we could manage one .You will be hiking to nearly the lochside before you can cycle at Ba .
go into Loch Frisa from Aros Mains .Watch for the Sea Eagles at the start of the loch they are realy hungry at this time of the year ..
44 years old you are just a young whippersnapper your gibbo will be so sore you will not be able to sit down
for a week , You can stand in the boat its easier to be sick over the side that way ;-))
Staffa you cab go with Iain Morrison from Ulva Ferry they do a pick up from Craignure you can get the bus down there .Or bus it to Fionnphort and go with Davie Kilparrick and see Iona as well .If oyu want any more info let us know
jim |
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 18 July 2009 : 09:00:22
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Jim-
Just got to Mull on the last ferry. Asked around for you, but nobody knew a 'Jim' who cycles. Forgot your last name :] Just looked it up. Heard about Sunday's ride. Have fun! maybe we'll see you around Ulva Ferry as the boat comes in/out.
Chris Kardish
Future Isle of Mull Cyclist |
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ckardish
Starting Member
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 26 July 2009 : 13:43:04
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OK, I'm home now after a wonderful trip to Scotland, and especially Mull. If anybody ever asks, you have to Cycle Mull! That being said, there are a few caveats I need to put out there. First, If anybody ever dreams of taking a pushbike along a trail marked on the Ordnance Survey maps as a footpath, they should have their head examined - seriously examined.
Our first day on Mull was planned to go Craignure->Lochbuie->Carsaig (via footpath)->Glengorm via Forestry trail along Loch Frisa. We left a little later than I had planned, and were on the road after getting lunch from the Spar market in Craignure. On the way to Lochbuie, we met another dad, Paul, riding from Craignure to Iona with his two sons. We split off at Strathcoil, and hit the first of the "hills."
Being newbies to the area, we learned two things quickly:
(1) Scotland is a volcanic playground, so hills are rapid transitions from flatness to steep grades. I believe the steepest grade I saw marked was 16%, though I know I saw steeper grades, and
(2)Ordnance Survey maps label everything, so places like "Strathcoil" may be a farm, rather than a town.
There weather was awesome! 60sF temps, and a steady cloudy mix. There were gorgeous views everywhere on the way to Lochbuie. The word "brilliant" comes to mind, although it seems a bit trite as it echoes the exclamation of praise through Scotland and the British Isles, because the colours were so crisp, and green, and dazzling.
We entered the pastures by Moy Castle, and found the stone circle in the grove of trees. The scale of it was a bit underwhelming, and it was daylight, and we had passed two people on the farm, so dancing was called off. After stumbling about a bit trying to get out, we discovered that we should have followed the road, because there was a sign at the gate, and the path to the stone circle, via the standing stone, was clearly marked with white-painted rocks to guide midnight dancers to the circle. Everything was going according to my time estimates - about 2 hours to Lochbuie.
We headed out along the track to the old farmstead at Glenbyre, and all was good. But this is where the track on the OS Map goes from two-dashed-lines to one-dashed-line - the footpath. I wouldn't miss the path for anything in the world, as it combined mountain biking with the best of mountain climbing, Jungle adventures in 1.7m fern fields, and battling fierce mountain rams butting heads is a way that I was concerned to get between the rams and ewes. Unfortunately, the time schedule was a bit mixed up - the 3-mile(?) hike took about 5 hours to complete.
Then we got to Carsaig. We threw the Arches hike out the window and prepared to cycle to Pennyghael. Ha! There is a reason there are all those waterfalls around - it is a very steep climb out of Carsaig Bay. I was surprised when I turned around and saw how high we had climbed so fast. Actually we pushed our bikes much of the way.
We got to a pub and finished up some dinner around 7PM.
Then we started to ride the B8035 to Salen in hopes of picking up a cab to Glengorm.
We pedaled relentlessly. Through the daylight, up the mountainside - my son's bike chain came off between the sprocket and spokes 4 times and probably took a combined hour to get fixed. Along Loch Scridain, and watched as the farm houses put out their lights as we rolled past the Macquarie Mausoleum.
I had picked up a mobile phone to call ahead with our ETA, but Virgin Mobile only sends text and pic messages on Mull. Further, all the pay phones along the way were card only, or broken so we got properly chewed out when we called from the Salen Hotel, where Roland the motocross riding Langoustine Fisherman saved us by giving us a ride up past Tobermory and into Glengorm.
Our second day it rained.
And rained.
And rained. (This was Sunday, the day of the big Isle of Mull circuit ride).
Fortunately we had an "easy" day planned, which started too late and effectively got cancelled. We hiked around the Glengorm estate and recovered watching the Open, Tour de France and Top Gear.
After breakfast on Monday we packed up and rode the forestry trails down to Loch Frisa, fording the torrential streams coming out of waterfalls with no visible source, other than yesterday's rain. Along Loch Frisa, one wild Northbound cyclist greeted us as we pedaled our way south. We saw a helicopter fish farming, Sea Eagle and lots more waterfalls.
We pushed through Salen too early for a beer, but we tipped our (sun) glasses in appreciation of Roland, and continued along the A849, now a two-lane road, to Craignure.
As luck had it, we made it with an hour to spare for the ferry back to Oban, to meet up with the last Ferry for Lismore! The folks on the ferry knew Jim this time, but he was off for the day.
I am really looking forward to coming back! |
Edited by - ckardish on 26 July 2009 13:46:26 |
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2009 Summer Visit
