Weekend Cycling breaks
Self-guided Weekend or Short Breaks - based from Castle Douglas.
From easy / short distance reasonably flat routes with plenty of stops at featured places including a lunch stop at tea room or pub lunch to more challenging longer distance routes with some hills, all using quiet country roads passing through beautiful scenery between small towns and villages.
We meet up Helen and Jeannie beside Loch Ken as we transfer their luggageWhat’s included: –
• 2 nights B&B accommodation - at least one night at our B&B with indoor swim spa, Summerhill in Castle Douglas, subject to availabilty. Price assumes 2 sharing a room. The first night's accommodation is usually before the first full cycling day.
• Welcome meeting at your accommodation to go over tour info.
• Tour Information Pack provided including maps, route info and features along your tour route.
• Support service with emergency help.
a stop at the Grey Mares Tail10% discount for groups of 4 or more.
Extras: –
• Cycle Hire – if required, or bring your own, - hybrid cycles provided including helmet, rack bag, mileometer, equipment and repair service - £14 per day.
• Luggage Transfer - optional, if your tour involves staying in different towns. See individual tours info with cost.
• Lunches and Dinners - we can book for you at the busy places.
• Transport - We can advise you with arrival arrangements and can do pickup with our minibus from bus or railway station, also airports for larger groups. Just let us know.
• Entrance fees - to castles, abbeys, visitors centres etc
• Extra nights accommodation - after last day’s cycling.
• Single supplements – depends on accommodation used - usually around £10 - £15 p n. We select most cost effective options.
Arrival Day – If early arrival, option of a free short (5 miles) 'acclimatisation' cycle to Threave Castle and/or Threave Garden just outside Castle Douglas.
Susan and Andy have a break in WigtownCastle Douglas ‘food town’ – a popular market town shopping centre with lots of food and independent shops.
Sulwath brewery – a small brewery and visitor centre with tours – a good place to end the tour in town!
Carlingwark Loch – recreation area at the edge of Castle Douglas.
Threave Garden – one of Scotland’s finest gardens operated by the National Trust for Scotland - just outside Castle Douglas on a signposted cycle route.
Threave Castle – Historic Scotland’s iconic castle on Threave Estate. Ring the bell for the boatman to take you to the castle on the island – at a separate location from the Garden. Also a special opportunity to see an osprey's nest from viewing platform nearby.
List of 2 day Breaks Available
Balcary Bay and Kirkcudbright artists' town - 2AB -
Two short distance day circular tours. Price: £100 p.p.
2A - Balcary Bay - 20 miles – Let your stresses melt away on this peaceful circular tour. You’ll cycle down a magnificent glen to Auchencairn village and the coast. Balcary Bay is a picturesque location popular with walkers with Heston Island off shore. Visit Orchardton Tower, the only 'round tower' in Scotland.
2B - Kirkcudbright Artists' Town - 20 miles – A popular harbour town with a fascinating artistic heritage and lots to enjoy. You’ll follow the National Cycle Route with the option to visit the Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park. Stop off at Threave Gardens, Threave Castle or Sulwath Brewers on the way back.
Balcary Bay and Kirkcudbright artists' town
The Scottish Riviera and Galloway Kite Trail - 2CD -
Two mid-distance tours to the coast and countryside. Price: £110 p.p.
2C - The Scottish Riviera - 25 miles - A countryside route via Dalbeattie and on down the Urr Valley to a National Trust for Scotland National Scenic Area. The Solway Coastline here has been nicknamed the Scottish Riviera for its outstanding scenery, sunny demeanour and tranquil pace of life.
2D - The Galloway Kite Trail - 24 miles – Loch Ken is an 11-mile long ribbon of fresh water renown for its wildlife. You’ll arrive at the peaceful Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve, before following the Galloway KiteTrail. Keep an eye on the skies to try and spot a Red Kite and stop off at the feeding station viewing area.
The Scottish Riviera and Galloway Kite Trail
The Glenkens Loop and The Wee Toon - 2EF
- Two slightly longer interesting countryside routes. Price: £115 p.p.
2E - The Glenkens Loop - 36 miles - Following the line of Loch Ken you’ll visit three Glenkens hillside communities - New Galloway (smallest Royal Burgh in Scotland with an excellent tea room), or pub at Kenbridge Hotel and Blamaclellan village, before returning by the Urr Valley.
2F - The Wee Toon - 38 miles – Take a scenic woodland and peaceful moorland road and travel to The Wee Toon, Gatehouse of Fleet. There is lots to do here – visit Cardoness Castle, a kilt making centre or riverside old mill. Return via several villages, or take the option of a detour to Kirkcudbright Artists' Town.
The Glenkens Loop and The Wee Toon
The Abbey Tours - 2GH -
Two longer distance tours to fascinating places. Price: £125 p.p.
2G - Dundrennan Abbey Tour - 45 miles – Travel through a beautiful glen to the coast, Balcary Bay and onto Dundrennan Abbey - a stunning 12th century Cistercian Abbey. Kirkcudbright is the next stop, a perfect town to spend an hour or two before heading back to Castle Douglas, via a visitor attraction or two.
2H - Sweetheart Abbey Tour - 50 miles – This is a fairly long distance tour, but it is well worth the effort, particularly since most of this tour, including the last half, is fairly flat. As well as Sweetheart Abbey, you’ll find Scotland’s National Museum of Costume, New Abbey Corn Mill and several places for refreshment in New Abbey. Contact us to obtain more information on this tour.
The Cairnsmore to Castle Douglas Jaunt - 2CC -
An easy to moderate paced tour - we start by taking you to the top of a glen to cycle 6 miles down. Price: £140 p.p.
A new tour for 2011. We ran the first part of this tour for an Australian journalist and realised it would make an ideal weekend or 2 day break for cycling holiday novices or those who wanted an easy paced cycling break with lots of features and two interesting towns to have a look around.
After your first night's accommodation, we take you to the top of a hill to Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve, the setting for the Thirty Nine Steps by Robert Buchan. After a look at the imposing viaduct and visior centre, cycle 6 miles downhill to Gatehouse of Fleet, a popular holiday town with several attractions.
Join the National Cycle Route (we have a better detour) visiting the famous Cream o'Galloway ice cream farm and the beautiful Wigtown Bay coastline with detours on the way to Kirkcudbright artists' town, with castle, harbour, art galleries and where we have arranged your next night's accommodation.
The next day takes you again on quiet country road to Twynholm village with David Coulthard's excellent museum and nearby chocolate factory and visitor centre. Another equestrian visitor centre with nearby monument you can climb up if you wish is on the route to the Galloway Kite trail and the red kite feeding station where we advise on the right time to get there to see the spectacular feeding frenzy.
Moving on to a Nature Reserve beside Loch Ken you end your tour back at Castle Douglas with a short detour to visit Threave Castle and Garden if you wish or just end the tour with a visit to Sulwath real ale brewery.
