Kames to Tighnabruaich: The Kyles of Bute

Scotland · Argyll & Bute · Kyles of Bute

A short gravel ride along the shore of Loch Riddon, on a camper trip out west from home.

Ridden 10 June 2024, out from Kames along the shore of Loch Riddon and round into Tighnabruaich, looking straight across the Kyles of Bute — the narrow tidal channel that splits the Cowal peninsula from the Isle of Bute. Short by Gravel Health standards, but the kind of ride that's entirely about where it goes rather than how far.

Route data (from Strava): 18.4km, 269m of climbing — a short one, ridden on gravel tracks along the shore.

My own note from the ride log: "Nice short gravel ride along the shores of Loch Riddon and along the Kyles of Bute."

The Route, From My Own GPS Track

Real GPS route map showing the ride from Kames to Tighnabruaich along Loch Riddon — The actual recorded route, plotted from my own Strava GPX/FIT data onto a real OpenStreetMap base.

What It Actually Looks Like

My gravel road bike leaning against a tree beside Loch Riddon — The bike, parked up beside Loch Riddon — proof this one was actually ridden on gravel, not tarmac.

View across the Kyles of Bute from near Kames, with a campervan parked at the water's edge — Looking out across the Kyles of Bute — the tidal channel between Cowal and the Isle of Bute.

The waterfront at Tighnabruaich with boats moored in the bay — Tighnabruaich itself, at the far end of the ride.