Cycle routes

Cumbrae's signature ride and the reason the island is on every Scottish cyclist's bucket list. 10.5 miles, almost completely flat, around the coast road with the sea on your left the entire way. Suits anyone from confident kids on a tagalong to roadies wanting an easy spin. Stop at Fintry Bay café halfway (toilets, ice cream, sea views). Allow 1.5 to 2 hours including stops. Bikes — including tandems, three-seaters and child trailers — from Mapes (01475 530 444) or On Your Bike (01475 530 300), both on the seafront, 5 minutes from the ferry.

If you've cycled over on the ferry and just want to get to town quickly, take the inner road south from the Cumbrae Slip. 2.0 miles one way. One real hill near the centre of the island, then a long descent into Millport. Quieter than the coast road, no sea views, but quick. The bus follows roughly this route if you want to compare. (Round trip = 4.0 mi if you ride back to the slip.)

The proper climb. From Millport seafront, ride up College Street past the Cathedral of the Isles, then follow the inland road north over Barbary Hill ridge to the Glaid Stone summit — at 127m the highest point on Cumbrae. Lock the bike at the road and walk the last few metres to the cairn for panoramic views: Arran south, Bute west, Cowal hills beyond, and on a really clear day Ailsa Craig. Return the same way for a fast descent back to town. 3.6 miles each way / 7.2 miles round trip. Real climbing — gears strongly recommended.

The shortest ride on the island and the one to start kids on. Hire bikes on the seafront, head east past Crocodile Rock and Newton Sands to Kames Bay (the sandy one), then turn around and come back. Pavement-smooth tarmac all the way, sea on your left going out, no real traffic. 0.25 mi each way / 0.5 mi round trip. Ice cream at the Ritz on the way home is the rule.

Half the Island Circuit, with a cup of tea in the middle. Head west from Millport, sea on your left, up the gentle west coast to Fintry Bay café — toilets, ice cream, picnic tables, big views to Bute. Turn around and ride the same way back, this time with the sea on your right. 4.1 miles each way / 8.2 miles round trip. The best 'I want a bit of a ride but not the whole circuit' option.

A proper ride for stronger riders or anyone wanting something more interesting than just the flat circuit. Head north-east out of Millport up the inner road (B899/Ferry Road) — one real climb in the middle of the island. Top out at the Cumbrae Slip ferry landing, then swing south down the east coast road past Lion Rock, the Marine Station and Kames Bay all the way back to town. 5.9 mi loop — much quieter than the outer circuit, with a real mix of inland and sea views. Not suitable for very young kids — the climb is real.