“A bigger, wilder loop than the Three Distilleries route — out from Bridgend through Bruichladdich and up into the hills and moorland around Loch Gorm to Kilchoman, Islay's most westerly distillery, then home past Machir Bay, Saligo Bay and the geese of Loch Gruinart. Expect more climbing and longer stretches of open single-track than a gentle coastal spin, with some of the best all-round scenery on the island for it — sea, moor, and machair by turns. Bruichladdich and Kilchoman both sit right on the route if you fancy a stop, though several of our Pre-Designed Days already build proper tours and tastings around this same stretch of the Rhinns — worth a look on the Days page if you'd rather do it by car with bookings in hand than pedal straight through.”
Quiet single-track roads looping the Rhinns peninsula — some of Islay's most scenic, lightly-trafficked cycling.
- Islay's most scenic cycling loop
- Quiet, lightly-trafficked single-track roads, with some climbing
- Passes Bruichladdich and Kilchoman distilleries
- Skirts Loch Gorm, Machir Bay, Saligo Bay and RSPB Loch Gruinart
- Sea, moor and machair scenery in one loop
The road passes close to Loch Gruinart, where Islay's last major clan battle was fought in August 1598 — Sir James MacDonald's forces defeated Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean's invading army near the shore, in a dispute over land ownership between the two clans. It's a quiet stretch of moor and shoreline today, easy to ride past without knowing what happened there four centuries ago.
The route skirts RSPB Loch Gruinart, one of Scotland's best birdwatching spots — tens of thousands of barnacle and white-fronted geese winter here from October to April, easily seen from the road without needing to stop at the reserve itself.
Single-track throughout with passing places — watch for oncoming traffic on blind bends and hills, especially near the distilleries where cars pull in and out. Weather turns quickly on the exposed western half of the loop, so check the forecast before setting out.