3H – Day Circuits from Castle Douglas

Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 30, 36 and 38 plus miles (48, 58, 61 km). Note: - Lesser distance day circuits also available.
Grade – Moderate / Strenuous.
Comments – Save on luggage transfer costs with 3 circular day tours.
Price – £205 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 – Urr Valley and Solway Coast

Distance – 30 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain - A couple of hills with a flat second half.
Summary – Cycle to the coast today to a popular swimming beach, then to a National Scenic Area before climbing Orchardton Tower on your way back. We suggest a good lunch pub stop.

Dalbeattie – pop. 4000 – several features including excellent local museum and ‘7 Stanes’ mountain biking trailhead nearby.
Sandyhills Beach – expansive beach and recreational area - extra miles longer option.
Mersehead Nature Reserve – on a detour route – run by RSPB - on extra miles longer option.
Needle's Eye - a rock formation at an easily missed nature heritage area - worth a quick visit.
Colvend – small visitor centre, shop and nearby craft farm.
Rockliffe – old fashioned village on the coast with excellent tea room, gallery and hotel.
Mote of Mark – former pre 7th century citadel of Celtic Chieftains with commanding views.
The Muckle Hill and Jubilee Path – another viewpoint and popular path. We also point you to an interesting house garden full of driftwood and stone features.
Kippford village – a popular yachting village. We recommend a popular pub food location.
Palnackie – a former busy port beside the River Urr with a visitor attraction nearby.
Orchardton Tower – a 15th century tower house – the only round one in Scotland.
Sulwath brewery – a small brewery and visitor centre with tours – a good place to end the tour in town!
Carlingwark Loch – at the edge of Castle Douglas.
Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – a popular shopping centre with lots of attractive independent shops.

Day 2 – The Glenkens

Distance – 36 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain –  a few short hills making it interesting terrain.
Summary – An excellent cycle following the line of Loch Ken to New Galloway and other Glenkens towns and villages. Return by the Urr Valley. There is also an option for a shorter distance tour.

Features:
Glenlochar barrage – on the River Dee with old Roman fort site nearby.
Balmaghie Kirk – great views across Lock Ken on this hilltop church.
Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve – with bird hides beside Loch Ken.
Red Deer – we know of a secret location detour with a stag and red deer easily seen!
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended tea rooms.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
Balmaclellan – another hillside village with Old Mortality statue and Scotland’s only Clog and Shoe Workshop.
Corsock – village with pub.
Old Bridge of Urr – picturesque village.

Day 3 – The Dee and Fleet Valeys

Distance – 38 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous.
Terrain – undulating in general but nothing very steep.
Summary – A longish day with lots to see and numerous places of interest to choose from.

Features:
Laurieston village – with photographic gallery and red kite feeding station nearby.
Laurieston Forest - cycle through the forest on tarred road.
Knocktinckle Viewing Point – great views over the Fleet valley, a National Scenic Area.
Gatehouse of Fleet – a popular tourist town beside the River Fleet with Cardoness Castle, Mill on the Fleet and Galloway Lodge.
Fleet Valley National Scenic Area – beautiful valley and estuary.
Sandgreen – a beach detour.
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 look around. We provide an info booklet.
Rhonehouse village – former home of Kelton Fair
.……and if not visited previously,
Threave Garden – one of Scotland’s finest gardens. Just outside Castle Douglas and on a cycle route.
Threave Castle – ring the bell for the boatman to take you to the castle on the island – again just outside Castle Douglas.
Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – with lots of attractive independent shops.

B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas if required – not included in tour cost

Tour End