2CC – The Cairnsmore to Castle Douglas Jaunt
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 25 and 23 miles (40 and 37 km).
Overall Grade – Moderate.
Comments – An excellent tour to experience nature both hills and coast as well as three popular towns, staying in two.
Price – £170 p.p.
Tour Features - Below we briefly list the interesting features you will find on each day of the cycling tour. Full information on where to find these features is provided in the Tour Information Pack - supplied on arrival at the welcome meeting. Route maps and local info leaflets are included in the pack along with our suggestions on the best places to visit and also refreshment stops.
All the cycling routes have of course been selected to provide the best scenery each day between your overnight stops.
Pre - tour accommodation is in Castle Douglas.
Day 1 – Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve to Gatehouse of Fleet
Distance – 25 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – downhill for 6 miles, then fairly flat by the coast.
Summary – Some of the best scenery in the region today.
Features:
Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve - operated by Scottish Natural Heritage, with visitor centre.
Castramon Wood - ancient oak woodland and beginning of National Scenic Area.
Gatehouse of Fleet - a quaint town with several features, Cardoness Castle, Mill on the Fleet and Galloway Lodge we mention in our tour information.
Cally Wood - with Cally Garden .
Sandgreen - with beach.
Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm – a great place to stop for a refreshment. More than ice cream to experience!
Carrick Shore and Knockbrex Hill Viewpoint – a detour option we point out with views over the Isles of Fleet.
Kirkandrews kirk – easily missed.
The Coo’s Palace – an interesting farm tower.
Borgue village – pub with limited opening hours (we provide the details)
Brighouse and Ross Bays – detour options – we outline the merits.
Dhoon Bay – a bay popular with locals.
Twynholm – a detour option with the David Coulthard museum and Cocoa Bean chocolate factory.
Kirkcudbright – Scotland’s artists’ town with castle, fishing port, art galleries and the Stewartry museum. An interesting place to stop and spend time. We provide an info booklet.
B&B accommodation in Kirkcudbright.
Day 2 – Kirkcudbright to Castle Douglas
Distance – 23 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – Some gradual rises.
Summary – a countryside route with several visitor centres and the red kite feeding station as the highlight.
Twynholm village- with David Coulthard museum and Cocoa Bean Children's chocolate favctory and visitor centre
Barstobrick Visitor Centre - equestrian centre with tea room and nearby hilltop monument with spectacular views.
Laurieston village – with S.R. Crockett Memorial
The Gallery, Laurieston – award winning Phil's photography gallery- limited opening hours.
Bellymack Red Kite feeding station – arrive at the right time to see the daily feeding spectacle. Tearoom soon to open!
Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve – with bird hides beside Loch Ken.
Balmaghie Kirk – great views across Loch Ken on this hilltop church.
Threave Garden – one of Scotland’s finest gardens. Several places of interest which we advise about.
Threave Castle – ring the bell for the boatman to take you to the castle on the island.
Carlingwark Loch – beside Castle Douglas.
Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – with independent shops and Sulwath brewery.
B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas if required – not included in tour cost
