Our second cycle ride of our Ayrshire Alps weekend, and our most challenging, would take us over Nic o’ Balloch.

Sarah has been struggling with a cough, and (wisely) decided to miss this one and recuperate for the day.

Our ride started in the village of Straiton. It was rather windy!

There was a bit of bike fettling before we began.

Then we were on our way up the high street.

Except, it was the wrong direction!

After being mistaken for participants in a local cycle race starting from the village, we were soon on our way in the right direction as we picked up the B741.

I would spend most of the ride just trying to keep up with Neil and Andy …

Soon, we joined NCN Route 7. We have cycled this route before on a previous tour, Lochs and Glens South, but in the opposite direction. Of course, we had already started climbing our first hill of the day.

A bit more bike fettling …

Then on towards the second climb of the day, and one of the two labelled ‘difficult’, Glenalla.

We took a short break at the top.

Then down the other side and on towards Balloch.

The mist was beginning to form now.

Then we began our climb of Nic o’ Balloch.

As we reached the top the view was almost non-existent and it had started to drizzle.

This made the descent somewhat tricky.

Further down the hill we left NCN Route 7 and turned back towards Straiton.

And … another bit of bike fettling.

Followed by a steady climb into the mist.

By now we were extremely wet and the side winds when descending the hill created even tougher cycling conditions.

For the last section, our route followed the valley created by the Water of Girvan.

This brought us back to Straiton.

We had cycled 25 miles today. It had been an ‘adventure’. Challenging hills and challenging weather.

You can view our Ayrshire Alps – Nic o’ Balloch route below: