‘It’s the views,’ says Ed when I ask him why he has chosen this route for us. ‘It’s amazing to be able to look out over all the lochs and inlets. That and the ferry. Riding onto the ferry to get across to the peninsula adds a real element of adventure, I think.’
Ed Shoote knows a thing or two about gravel riding in Scotland. He spent two years researching and testing gravel routes all around the country for his book, Gravel Rides Scotland, and today we’re planning to tackle one his favourites: a 58km loop around Loch Eck and along the shores of Loch Long and Holy Loch.
It helps that the route is also remarkably easy to get to. The start point is just a few kilometres north of Dunoon, a town that sits on a finger of land that is a short ferry ride from Gourock, which is itself just outside Glasgow. There can’t be many rides that feel so remote, so quiet, and yet are within shouting distance of a major city.
There can’t be many rides that feel so remote, so quiet, and yet are within shouting distance of a major city
‘I really like the solitude of cycling,’ Ed adds. ‘I’m one of those people who likes to get away from it all, and gravel riding has the same buzz as road riding
