Question about Glasgow - Millport/Isle of Cumbrae

[InkyNight]

We're in Glasgow over the first bit of half term and thinking of going to Millport and biking around the island. Some questions for those in the know!

1 - It's bank holiday Monday. Are we mad? We can either do it Sun or Mon.
2 - We have a car but is it best to leave it and take the ferry as just a passenger? I wondered what the parking is like. I was just aware we have to get a train to the ferry, then the ferry, then possibly a bus to the bike shop for bike rental as it's 4 miles away. Seemed like a 'schlep' or maybe I'm overthinking it.

Any thoughts on the above, recommendations for bike shops and places to eat and anything else on the island very welcome. Thank you.

It’s all pretty easy really. You can park on the seafront in Largs (pay and display)and go on the ferry as foot / bike passengers. This is best if you have your own bikes, just turn right when you arrive on the island and start your ride.

If you need to rent bikes, there is a bus picks up from the ferryport and drop you in Millport seafront, where there is a really obvious bike hire shop. It sounds silly but still best to cycle round anti clockwise (babk towards the ferry) as there is a biggish hill out of town if you go clockwise.

Taking the car across, you might have to wait a while to get on the ferry with a car on bank holiday weekend. Foot or bike passengers will just go straight on. Only take a car if you have elderly/disabled/babies or have luggage with you.

Pack a picnic, or buy picnic stuff from Millport as there is only one cafe halfway round, but lots of pretty beaches and bays to stop. Lots of cafes and ice cream places along the front in Millport town.

Enjoy! It is one of my favourite bike rides.

I would highly recommend you get ice creams from Nardini’s (opposite the pay and display car park on the front at Largs) - they sell the most delicious ice creams.

Is it actually a Bank Holiday in Scotland?

The Monday at the end of May is a bank holiday in Scotland yes. Most schools in the area will be off the Friday and Monday. If you went on the Tuesday instead it'd be much quieter.

It’s a great trip. Don’t take the car, and remember to get fish and chips in Millport at the end.

Ah, OK, thanks. Don't remember that one from my schooldays!

Foot passengers and bus - really easy as the bus meets the ferry. We used to do it as kids with my parents, I love that it's still happening now, haven't thought about it in decades!

It's great fun to say you've cycled round an entire island! Hope the weather is kind to you and DEFINITELY visit Nardini's cafe! Their ice cream sundaes are fab!

This is great, thanks all! I'm looking forward to it.

We can't do the Tuesday. Would Sunday be less of a bun fight? And we won't have bikes, so we will hire them.

But easy to park at the ferry terminal?

I usually eat at the Garrison House. If the weather is fine then yes it will be busy. It’s worth getting there early. I would aim to be at the ferry terminal for around nine to avoid the crowds. It’s not a “schlep” to take the train, at least I don’t think it is as I don’t know what it means. I do usually just end up driving to Largs. No don’t take your car over. The bus will be waiting for the ferry to drop you in Millport where you can pick up the bikes (there is a charge for the bus). I usually just take my own and park in one of the backstreets in Largs and cycle to the ferry terminal. I agree with pp to cycle anti-clockwise. It’s a great day out.

The carpark gets really busy when the weather is nice I usually have to park up a side street whenever I go to Largs. If you get there early enough you should get a space but even if you don't you will get a side street nearby. There's a bus stop right as you get off the ferry I have never gone over in the car.

Usually easy enough to park at the ferry terminal. I think a lot of people tend to park in the streets to avoid the parking charges at the terminal. I suppose you may struggle to get a space if it’s a lovely day but then parking further afield and walking an extra 10/15 minutes to the terminal is no great hardship. Things don’t tend to get busy until late morning so you won’t have any problems if you go early.

Thank you, all!

😂schlep is yiddish for a hassle, a tedious journey

Definitely don’t take the car on the ferry as that will be a hassle - last year they were queuing up along the road to get back across, whereas us foot passengers just walked on to the first ferry that arrived.

Be careful parking in Largs because I think NAC are clamping down massively on dodgy parking and there’s tickets being dished out left, right and centre.

Have a great day OP. I’m sure as long as you get there early you’ll be fine. It’s one of my favourite days out and you can do it every few years as your kids get to different stages with their cycling. So much fun

PS Nardinis isn’t as good as it used to be sadly.

Plenty of parking at the ferry terminal.

Catch a bus on Millport to the town.

Book your bikes in advance to avoid queues.

Ice cream at nardinis

Chippy after your ride.

Did this last summer - it's a fracking day out.

I live in Scotland, it's not a holiday where we are on the Monday, but I think it may be in North Ayrshire. Also, as far as I'm aware, most Scottish schools don't have May half term as we finish for Summer holidays at the end of June.

Millport (meaning the island, no one really calls it Cumbrae) is great when it's sunny but busy. If the weather isn't so good it'll be quieter. As others have said, go as a foot passenger and hire bikes in the town

Another vote for not taking your car across - the regular ferry is in for repairs just now so Cal Mac are using the older, much smaller ones and the queues will be very long. Plus it is notoriously the most expensive crossing per mile if you take the car (£15.20 for the car itself plus £4 per adult and £2 per 5-15 year old for a 10 minute trip)

Depending where you are staying in Glasgow it's almost as quick to take the train as the car, it's only a 5 min walk to the pier from the station

https://www.calmac.co.uk/service-status?route=07

It's not a bank holiday where I am in Scotland either! It's a great day out and I wouldn't take the car if you can avoid it. There's a really good chippy in the car park as you come off the boat at Largs and I had a nice coffee & scone in The Dancing Midge Cafe in Millport. I wasn't blown away by Nardini's.

Local here - most things already been said but...

Under no circumstances take your car over - the ferries have been shambolic in recent months and the smaller current replacements do not have sufficient capacity - queues will be very long, there was one night a few weeks people got stranded both sides.

The wee bus connecting ferry to millport is efficient and regular. I haven't hired bikes as have our own but big place on main front in millport.

If it's sunny any weekend or bank holiday it will be busy, but if you make an early start it's not bad, get much busier by mid-afternoon. Local schools here in North Ayrshire are off on the 26th and it's English half term so I expect it to be busy both days.

Train from Glasgow is nice as you come up the coast (sit on the left leaving central station) but if you drive I recommend avoiding the car park at the front (seems to always have issues with the machines and people getting irate) and driving up into the town a bit - other side of Boyd street/Brisbane road and walk back down - it's really not far. PP is correct they have started ticketing recently (and I am glad as it's unsafe a lot of the time!) but street parking is mainly unrestricted it's just the centre is a free for all parking all over junctions and on double yellows.

Fishworks is the "car park" chippy mentioned - it's award winning and rightly so. Downside is it only has very basic seating outdoors - I'm too scared of the seagulls and it's mating season so they are extra crazy at the moment. Loads of other indoor choices for food from tapas, Italian, Indian, loads of great pub food option. Or there's always Wetherspoons. A lot more choice in Largs than Millport. I agree with Nardinis being overrated but it is still a lovely and iconic building to have a flamboyant icecream inside. They do takeaway too. As does the wee one Nardini at the moorings right across from ferry.

Enjoy your visit.

Agree with what everyone else has said. Highly recommend the Garrison cafe , lovely staff no matter how busy.
Also Fraser’s bar for a decent bar meal. Nothing fancy but v good.