Saturday 9th April brought beautiful blue skies, and a dry day, for our long awaited trip to the well-known cycling destination of Millport, the lovely seafront town of the Isle of Great Cumbrae.

The ferry crossing was busy and after a bit of a delay getting into town due to the bus being full (we had to wait for a second run – it was the Easter holidays!!) we arrived at Mapes bike shop where we were hiring tandems for the day. 

The Glasgow Tandem Group were joined by the In Tandem Project’s Strathclyde Park group with a fabulous total of 10 tandems and 9 solo supporters and friends joining in the fun.  The staff were well organised getting the bikes set up for each pilot and stoker.  With a bit of a nippy wind to consider, and after much oohing and scratching of heads about the best direction for any headwinds, we opted to go anti-clockwise round the island and we set off in 2 groups. 

We followed the road round the island as it followed the coastline with our pilots being able to describe wonderful scenery, and the fresh salt air sharpened everyone’s appetites for lunch.  We stopped at Fintry Bay Patio & Restaurant which had plenty of outdoor seating in a sunny sheltered spot.  Some people brought their own picnics and others availed themselves of the coffee and sandwiches not forgetting the massive slabs of cake.  Ice- cream too!!! It was great too that everyone was able to meet up at this point and with the roads being so quiet, we decide to return to Millport in one big group – that did turn a few heads.

Some of the group even managed to go up over the hill route, and that’s definitely one for a return visit.

Bikes were dropped off, the bus was caught and the solo riders made a mad dash back to the ferry terminal.  A final coffee stop in Largs was made whilst waiting for the train back to Glasgow.

All in all, a great day out, and one we can hopefully repeat later in the season with our own bikes (no excuses then for not going round twice or up over the top!!!)