July 2017| 105
ROUTE 1
Bridgend – Mulindry – Storakaig
Knocklearach – Ballygrant – Bridgend
This first trail is a relatively short -mile
km loop, or
at least it is if you leave from Bridgend. Since this is to
where you will return, it’s a practical place to leave the
car if necessary.
eading out from Bridgend towards Bowmore, turn first
left up towards the piscopal church and effectively
just keep following the road, because, until we get to
Cluanach Cottage at Mulindry, there’s nowhere else to
go. The first part gently takes you uphill for a while and
since it’s all farm country round this way, just keep an
eye out for tractors and the like. Always give way where
practical, because they’re not on holiday like you are.
Continue past the colourfully named ‘Puddle Hole’
cottage up towards The aw pronounced raa , at
which point there’s a slight downhill, followed by an
immediate upward movement past Ballitarsin Farm
oad nd. This part of the route rolls round to the right,
and then gently up and left after a few more wheel
revolutions passing Neriby and Mulindry farms, before
running down into what one of the local riders has
referred to as the ‘village of weak bridge’ (you’ll see why
when you get there . The field entrance to the left, ust
before rolling over the bridge, leads to the unexcavated
Iron Age fort of Dun Nosebridge (don’t ask).
Now, as you approach Cluanach Cottage on the left
corner, follow the road straight on, and not round to the
right. This road will eventually take you up towards the
village of Ballygrant.
At Cattadale Farm, the road starts heading upwards
slightly, levelling out shortly before Barr Farm (on the left)
then rolling down towards a cattle grid. From this point,
it’s all very much uphill. You are also likely to encounter
cattle feeding in the middle of the road on this stretch
– in such a situation, start talking loudly to them well in
advance, asking them kindly to move out of the way. In
most cases this works fine, but don t get too close if you
can avoid it – they’re usually bigger than you are.
At the top of the first climb Storakaig you can often see
numbers of wild deer behind the fence on your right and
you ll probably want to stop at this point anyway puff,
pant). After the next cattle grid, the road heads upwards
again before rolling onwards and downwards towards
Knocklearach Farm and subsequently on down into
Ballygrant village. This is quite a short, but steep downhill,
incorporating a blind bend halfway, so make sure you
check well enough ahead for oncoming traffic.
Pass Ballygrant Hall on your right, then Ballygrant Quarry
on the left, and give way at the junction before turning
left onto the main Port Askaig to Bridgend road. Since
this road gently slopes downhill pretty much all the way
for the next four miles or so, you should have a pleasant
ride all the way home. Unless of course, there’s a
headwind. Total time depends on how good you are at
cycling uphill, but it s do-able in under the hour if need
be, though if you’re on holiday, who cares? In fact, if
you’re on holiday you might care for a brief detour into
Islay House Square, well signposted to the right on the
approach to Bridgend village.
I believe Bridgend Hotel serves a decent espresso or
cappuccino along with perhaps much needed calorific
sustenance. Happy days.