Cycling in Dunoon

Dunoon has been making headlines the past few years as an up-and-coming cycling destination in Scotland. From the news around the Dunoon Project to National Championships being held in the town, what makes Dunoon a great place to cycle?

Top national and international cycling events have been held here, including:

• Scottish Enduro Series
• Loch Lomond Divide
• Glorious Gravel Wild Westie Cycle Race
• Grit of Dunoon Gravel Cycling Championships
• Dirt of Dunoon Bikepacking Event
• Trans Alba Self-Supported Bike Race

Here’s a surface level breakdown of cycling in Dunoon just to whet your appetite.

The hills above Dunoon are criss-crossed with forestry tracks and downhill MTB trails. With Scotland’s right to roam laws, these roads, built for forestry work, are open and accessible to the public. Their gravel surface, of varying grades, makes for good and relatively easy mountain biking.

Kicking off of the forestry tracks and into the woods are locally made and maintained natural enduro/downhill single track trails. These trails have been carved out of the side of the hills over the past decades by local MTB’rs and members of the Cowal Mountain Bike Club. The Cowal Mountain Bike Club and other local volunteers maintain them whenever possible.

Almost all of the trails around here are expert level – graded black to double black – due to their steepness and challenging features. Dunoon is not a bike park so you will not find these trails marked with signposting. This can be a challenge for visitors. Connecting with Lochs, Bens & Glens bike tours, the Cowal Mountain Bike Club, or a local can be essential to finding the trails and enjoying them.

Dunoon is really hitting the gravel scene in Scotland right now. Dunoon is featured in the books Gravel Rides Scotland, Bikepacking Scotland, and Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, making it a destination for self-supported gravel riders and bikepackers from across the world.

Dunoon has also been part of large gravel events such as the Grit of Dunoon Gravel Cycling Championships, the Loch Lomond Divide, the Glorious Gravel Wild Westie Cycle Race, and a recurring host of the Dirt of Dunoon Bikepacking Event.

That alone should tell you that Dunoon is worth checking out on a gravel bike. The forestry tracks are perfect for gravel bikes, although maybe a bit chunkier than “champagne gravel” for the most part. There are routes that are doable in a few hours to a day, or chain together multiple routes to make a multi-day bikepacking adventure.

What I never get tired of are the amazing places you can go on the gravel bike here, and the stunning views across lochs, mountains, and the Firth of Clyde. Dunoon is challenging, though. Our landscape was carved by glaciers so the climbing here is tough and steep, and the descents are fast and bumpy. Our routes are not consistently waymarked so you’ll need to be able to read an OS Map. And don’t beat yourself up if there’s a bit of hike-a-bike. Short single track sections connect some of the longer routes, and unless you’re a gnarly enduro rider, you might want to walk those sections (speaking from experience).

Dunoon is also popular with road cyclists and cycling clubs, whether they’re doing a loop to take in the Cowal hills or passing through the town on a longer journey. Dunoon is part of the Trans Alba Self-Supported Bike Race, and catching the ferry feels like you’re being transported to another world. While Dunoon is not part of the infamous 5 Ferries route, we run our own 3 Ferries & an Island Bike Tour that gives the same vibes but starts and ends in Dunoon.

The roads through the villages are well-maintained and prove to be smooth under skinny tyres. You might run into a bit of an issue if taking on the mountain passes, which are prone to pot holes and gravel.

The drivers are generally courteous and adhere to the Highway Code, and it’s important that we do the same as cyclists. There are many single track roads leaving Dunoon and heading through Argyll, and as cyclists, we use the passing places to allow faster traffic to overtake in these places.

One of the best things about road cycling in Dunoon is that you can choose to take on some tough mountain passes, or choose an easy day and stay on the flat coastal roads. Many of our roads are quiet and you may not see a car for miles!

E-bikes continue to grow in popularity and use, and it’s no different in Dunoon. They are especially popular here as the hills can be a bit of a challenge! You’ll find eMTBs in the hills, and touring e-bikes on our roads.

Dunoon has a local active travel organisation called Dunoon on the Move that does e-bike loans for locals. At Lochs, Bens & Glens, we do e-bike tours for those visiting and wanting to explore the area in a fun, sustainable, and unique way.

Overall, Dunoon is a fantastic destination for cycling, whether you’re a roadie, graveleur, or MTB’er. At Lochs, Bens & Glens, we want to make cycling in Dunoon more accessible and fun for visitors and locals, giving you the confidence to go a bit further or try a route you’ve never done before. Our guides are trained in ride leadership from British Cycling, and we make it our mission to find the best road and offroad routes in the area. No need to route plan or stress about logistics. Let Lochs, Bens and Glens show you the best of what Dunoon has to offer for cyclists.

For route ideas, you can follow Fiona or Lance on Strava.