Distance 102 miles (164km) Grade Hard. Long distances to cover with some soft ground, big climbs and technical sections. Missing the Mull loop south of Campbeltown section removes 32 miles from the total. Download mapmyride.com/routes/view/1450310224

From the start post at Machrihanish follow the B843 south, where it changes to singletrack road, then track. After Ballygroggan Farm the going gets rocky. Follow the Kintyre Way signs as it takes to the hill, turning to grassy singletrack round the coast. At Amod turn right onto the singletrack road.

Follow this south for about 7km to the coast. Just after the school on the left follow the posts right and follow this singletrack road round to Macharioch Farm.

Stay on it until Campbeltown, where you follow KW posts or look for the A83 for Glasgow. A few hundred metres out of town turn right, signposted Gobagrennan. It turns to track at Gobagrennan, then passes Lussa Loch. At the end of the loch stay right over the bridge then fork left - following KW posts. Take this to Ifferdale.

Two-hundred metres after Ifferdale Cottage take a left up a track that turns to path and climbs into the forest. The KW drops through Torrisdale Estate then onto the B842 where you take a left. Follow the road into Bridgend, ignoring the posts down to the coast above Dippen Bay. Just after the bridge turn right through the coastal trail then up past the Network Tearoom, up some stairs and into the forest. Follow the KW over Cnoc nan Gabhar, turning right when you get back to the B842.

After 1km turn left onto a singletrack road. The KW climbs over hills, by wind turbines, then drops to the A83. Cross the road and go onto the grassy path alongside. Go down to the shore then into Tayinloan before you return to the beach, via singletrack road to the jetty. Pass the tearoom and Inn, then take to the shore. Rejoin the A83 and consider staying on this until Ronachan House 6km ahead.

At Clachan follow the KW through the Allt Mor glen, then onto the track by Loch Ciaran, until the singletrack at Lochan a Chreimh. Follow this round Lochan Fraoich then onto open hill, taking the path down to the B842 where you turn left into Claonaig. Turn right here for the ferry. In Lochranza, at the other side, turn left and take the A841 into Brodick and your final ferry to Ardrossan.