Tour # 11.
Oban - Dumbarton via Tyndrum.
130 km.
Approx. total hill climb: 225 meters.
Highest point: The moor 500 meters past Crianlarich 200 meters above sea level.
Traffic: Busy
Severity Rating: **
Fun rating: *

How to get to Oban: Train from Glasgow three times a day.
(This trip is best combined with the Isle Of Mull trip.)

This cycle trip is almost a must-do cycle trip for those who lives in West Of Scotland. It is therefore sad that it is such a boring cycle trip. The traffic is also quite heavy on this road. Please note that I have been driving this road on a very regular basis over the last four years. I know every turn of this road and my familiarity with this road may colour the view on this cycle trip. But I stand by my view that this is a boring cycle trip.

Oban is the most beautiful town in United Kingdom. The view over to Isle Of Mull is brilliant. Oban is also a very important ferry port with daily ferries to The Western Isles, Isle Of Mull and the small islands to the south of Isle Of Mull.
The road from Oban goes over a small hill for the first two kilometres before it follow Loch Etive for the next thirty kilometres. The road is quite flat, with exception from a short hilly section just after the railway bridge at Taynult. Beware of red deer, sheep, drunks, roadkill and rabbits. The road leaves Loch Etive and goes up to Pass of Brander. A small, almost a non existent climb follows for the next five kilometres before you are on the top of Pass Of Brander at Loch Awe. This lake is one of the biggest lakes in Scotland. The road is flat, with exceptions from some steep sections over the railway some kilometres before Dalmally. After leaving Loch Awe, the road is flat again.
An alternative very hilly, 10 km longer route is over Inveraray and Rest and Be Thankful. The small village of Dalmally has some shops, but they are never open. Just after Dalmally, is the climb to the valley leading to Tyndrum. In my view; this is the most uninteresting part of Scotland. The valley up to Tyndrum is without any interesting details. After twenty kilometres of dull cycling, you are in Tyndrum. The shops and newsagents offer a welcome rest. The road down the valley to Crianlarich (shops) is moderate undulating with a short, nasty hill when crossing the railway line. From Crianlarich, take the road (A 82) to the right under the railway bridge up a short, sharp climb to a small moor (the highest point on this cycle trip). From this moor, the road falls down the valley to Loch Lomond. The road along Loch Lomond down to Tarbet is relative flat, with some potholes now and then. Be careful. There is a short climb after the hydro electric station, but that is all. The traffic is normally very busy on this narrow road. Tarbet (hotel and shops) is normally very busy. There is a cycle path from Tarbet to Luss, but it is off a very poor standard. If you can live with the traffic, I recommend the road to Luss. Luss (shops) is one of the most scenic villages in Scotland. The view from the pier to Ben Lomond is world class. From Luss (15 km. from Tarbet), please follow the designated, quite scenic cycle road. The road from Luss to Dumbarton through Balloch and Alexandria is flat and reasonable interesting.
Train from Dumbarton back to Glasgow four times an hour.