Loch Doon to Lochranza via Troon

You can get a good idea of the site from the collection of images available on clicking obvious links here, making it a great place to wake up to. It had been a cold night at altitude 200m, with ice on the tent. Leaving Loch Doon early, the merino mittens inside cycling gloves kept hands almost warm enough. Several were camping wild quite close to the campsite.

Ferries to Arran from Troon save the additional 15 miles to Ardrossan and make Arran comfortably reachable in two days of cycling from Dumfries. The main road is not too busy in the early morning and it is wide. The town of Troon has plenty of cafes, shops and a good bakery and is a relaxing place to spend time waiting for a ferry.

Much of the crossing was spent chatting with Sieglinde, who had stayed in Scotland with her husband despite inheriting a home back in Germany. She was preparing for some trekking and said that she felt happiest when travelling. She felt like a kindred spirit.

Approaching Brodick, smoke from a forest fire was evident above the town. (Yesterday the fire was between Patna and Carmichael and days later there would be evidence of a fire stopping in time to save the Tioram Inn in Acharacle).

Brodick, the landing port in Arran whether sailing from Ardrossan or Troon, has the outdoor shop Arran Active and the bakery Wooleys. Arran Active is privately owned and has a large selection of quality gear, backed up by expert knowledge. Wooleys thoroughly deserves its many regular customers and coffee, wholemeal rolls, tattie scones and vegan sausage roll are a must for me.

Cycling from Brodick to Lochranza entails a tough 200 m climb. If there is a headwind, my heart rate can reach near maximum. The final stretch is enjoyable downhill for miles to the wonderfully situated campsite.

It was great to see Kylie working at the site for another year and we met briefly although she was not on duty at the time. Kylie could not have been more helpful in my hour of greatest need last year and the reason is to be included in a Triggered Memories section of the travelogue.