3A – Gatehouse and Kirkcudbright Circuit

Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 20, 20 and 10 plus miles (32, 32, 16 km).
Grade – Easy / Moderate.
Comments – Experience all the different kinds of terrain of Galloway in this excellent tour which visits three popular towns with character. Stay a night in each town.
Price – £220 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 – Castle Douglas to Gatehouse of Fleet

Distance – 20 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – a gradual hill from Laurieston for a few miles.
Summary – A quiet loch side, woodland and moorland route with great scenery – and a gradual hill – all on a tarred road.

Features:
Glenlochar barrage – on the River Dee.
Balmaghie Kirk – great views across Lock Ken on this hilltop church.
Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve – with bird hides beside Loch Ken.
Laurieston village – with SR Crockett Memorial
Bellymack red kite feeding station – arrive at the right time to see the daily feeding spectacle. Tea and biscuits on offer!
The Gallery – stunning photographic gallery. Limited opening, but knock on the door.
Laurieston Forest and Kenick Wood - picnic and walk area.
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 a castle, Mill on the Fleet and a kilt making centre.

B&B accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet.

Day 2 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Kirkcudbright

Distance – 20 miles with extra miles options.    Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Flat to undulating.
Summary – An excellent part coastal route with a beach, shoreline and views over the Islands of Fleet.

Features:
National Scenic Area – coastal part of the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area.
Cally Palace Hotel – pass the front door.
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 Viewpoint – views over the Fleet estuary and Islands 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.

B&B accommodation in Kirkcudbright.

Day 3 – Kirkcudbright to Castle Douglas

Distance – 10 miles with extra miles options if desired. Allows an early departure.  
Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – a gradual rise.
Summary – Follow the line of the River Dee back to Castle Douglas on a countryside road.

Features:
Rhonehouse village – former home of Kelton Fair.
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.
Sulwath brewery – a small brewery and visitor centre – a good place to end the tour!
Carlingwark Loch – beside 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