Look at a map of Scotland and move your gaze west from Glasgow and you will find Mid-Argyll — an area that is far easier to reach than you may imagine. Upon hearing that an exclusively vegan bed and breakfast had opened in the region, I decided to pack my bike and go. Taking the (metaphorical) bull by the horns, I caught the stunning train ride from Glasgow to Loch Awe — it is the first train journey I have taken where all passengers move from one side of the train to the other to take in the views.
A beautiful and easy 25-mile cycle down the Southern side of Loch Awe brings you to Kilmichael Glen, and the Kings Reach Vegan Bed and Breakfast (kingsreachbedandbreakfast.co.uk). The owners of Kings Reach, Sean and Sara, could not have made me feel more welcome, and they have ample secure and covered storage for bikes. They also possess a wealth of knowledge about the region and can be sure to give you recommendations of where best to visit. All the minor details make your stay a vegan delight, from a mini-fridge stocked with every type of plant milk imaginable to the vegan shortbreads in your room. The breakfast was also superb, with guests given several menu choices of cooked or prepared options to accompany fruit, cereal, yoghurts, fresh baked breads and pastries. Sara told me that she bakes something different for guests each day, with this day being cinnamon swirls. I chose to have the tofuscramble, but other options included chia pudding, overnight oats or a fry-up. The cinnamon swirls came in handy to fuel my day out on the bike!