Our Philosophy

Our Aim is to use our experince, contacts and accumulated knowledge of Dumfries and Galloway over many years to ensure that the cycling holiday experiences we offer not only match but hopefully surpass the expectations of our customers.

We provide a personalised service at no extra cost to help you get the best out of your holiday. Unlike larger bike tour companies, we are able to be flexible to deal with any problems as they arise during your tour, - including poor weather.   

We often also help our clients with their arrival and departure transport needs and even assist with city breaks to Glasgow, Edinburgh or even Belfast or to the Scottish Highlands before or after their holiday in Bonny Galloway.

 

Our Commitment

We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to experience the very best holiday Dumfries and Galloway region has to offer. Whether from a cycling holiday listed on one of our Itineraries or a fully tailored experience, we are here to make sure that you have the best experience amidst our glorious countryside surrounded by wildlife, peace and tranquillity.

As can be seen from previous Customer Comments we have an excellent record in achieving our Aim. We have the advantage of being a relatively small business in a beautiful rural area.

 

Our History

Galloway Cycling Holidays started out back in 2004 and was the idea of Robin Hogg who wanted to offer his customers a quality cycling holiday that combined his love of the area where the pedal cycle was invented with the very best experience of the cycling region of Dumfries and Galloway.

Since then we have had cycling vistors looking to experience authentic Scotland from all corners of the world, including Moscow, Hong Kong and Bali in 2011. The several hundred miles of signposted cycle routes, many other quiet country roads we use on our tours and the now popular 7 Stanes mountainbiking trails combine to make the region a truly cycling and biking region . 

2010 also saw the launch of our very own luxurious Bed and Breakfast at our base here in Castle Douglas. Summerhill offers a very high standard of contemporary accommodation that is totally geared up to looking after our active customers with its own exercise spa swimming pool and delicious healthy breakfasts.

Owner and founder of Galloway Holidays, Robin has lived and worked in Galloway for more than 50 years.

As a proud local Robin is absolutely passionate about Dumfries and Galloway and has extensive knowledge on everything there is to see and do in the area including the landscape, places of interest, activities, the people, accommodation and routes. If you need to know something about Galloway, chances are Robin will know the answer and if he doesn’t then he will know someone who will!

Robin uses this local knowledge and his organisational skills to design tailor made activity holidays that deliver superb outdoor activity experiences here in Galloway.  Robin has several assistants who help as and when required. As the mainly seasonal business grows these assistants will become more involved.

 

Our Location - Castle Douglas

Castle Douglas is indeed a 'Cycling Town' with two well appointed bike shops Castle Douglas Cycle Centre and Next Level Bikes as well as our Galloway Cycling Holidays business. The market town has the National Cycle Route No. 7 running through it. With the town's central location in the region, the Solway Coast is 7 miles away to the south, the 10 miles long Loch Ken is just 3 miles north and the edge of the Galloway Forest Park is 7 miles north west.

The market town is also themed as a 'food town', in recognition of the many food related businesses in the town. It is also a popular centre for shopping with many independent shops. The Sulwath real ale brewery or one of the towns tea rooms are ideal places to return to your day's activity.

In and around the town, there are many places of interest. Carlingwark Loch borders the south end of the town and just beyond is the National Trust for Scotland's Threave Garden. The Garden is part of Threave Estate which can be reached from the town by an old railway line walk. The Estate has several other walks, featured in our Galloway Walking Holidays and several bird hides  near the River Dee with one of the best views you can see of an ospreys nest. Also on the Estate but managed by Historic Scotland is the iconic Threave Castle - situated on an island in the River Dee, accessible only by ringing the bell to summon the ferryman from the island.

With three National Scenic Areas, the Galloway Forest Park and over 200 miles of stunning coastline, Galloway has all the natural ingredients for a superb outdoor activity experience. See our Galloway section of this website.

 

How To Get Here

Our region is in the south west corner of Scotland and is surprisingly accessible from central Scotland, northern England, London (daily London bus) and N. Ireland.

By Car
Castle Douglas is by-passed by the A75 road which runs through the region. It is an easy drive from most cities in the north of England, via the M6 and Central Scotland via the A74. We are 1 hour from Carlisle and Stranraer and 2 hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

By Train
Dumfries and Lockerbie railway stations are closest to arrive at our base in Castle Douglas. Dumfries is half an hour away and is on the line between Glasgow and Carlisle. Lockerbie is three quarters of an hour away and on the main west coast UK line between London Euston and Glasgow. Lockerbie is 1 hour from Edinburgh by train and a popular option to reach us. We are able to pick you up at the railway station and bring you to our base in the market town of Castle Douglas.

By Air
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle airports are around a 2 hour drive from Castle Douglas. We suggest after arrival at these airports, take the regular airport bus to the city centre - under 1/2 an hour - and take a train to either Lockerbie or Dumfries from where we can pick you up. Glasgow Prestwick airport is actually closest (just over 1 hour) to Castle Douglas and suitable for flights using low cost airline Ryanair. Due to awkward rail connections (unless wishing to spend time in Glasgow before your cycling tour) a pickup from the airport is advised.

By Bus
Their is a daily overnight bus from London to Belfast and return. Current times are: Depart Victoria coach station at 0900 and 1700 with arrival at Castle Douglas at 1735 and 0215. Return journeys - Depart Castle Douglas at 2110 and 1100 arriving London 0600 and 2020. Stops en route both ways are at Dumfries, Annan, Carlisle, Manchester Central, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Golders Green, London. Price is £35. Suggest confirm the above with National Express before travelling. The regular No.500 bus between Dumfries and Stranraer, which calls in at Castle Douglas, runs every 2 hours and has the facility to carry bikes. www.swestrans.org.uk The journey time is 1 and 3/4 hours.

By Sea
The ferry ports of Stranraer and Cairnyan in the west of our region are an hour from Castle Douglas. The regular ferries sail from and to Belfast and Larne respectively in N. Ireland.