3B - The Glenkens Tour

Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 25, 18 and 20 plus miles (40, 29, 32 km).
Grade – Moderate.
Comments – Follow Loch Ken towards the Galloway Hills and the three Glenkens communities, returning by the River Urr valley. Stay two nights in New Galloway hotel.
Price – £235 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 New Galloway

Distance – 25 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – reasonably flat with10 miles on a forestry road.
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.
Mossdale village – with shop (see our info for closing days)
The Raiders Road – forestry road and beauty spot.
Clatteringshaws visitor centre – see our info for opening times.
Bruce’s Stone – denotes a King Robert the Bruce battle site.
Red Deer – see a stag and small deer herd.
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended tea rooms.
The Catstrand – interesting community arts centre with restaurant.

Accommodation in New Galloway.

Day 2 – Glenkens Circuit

Distance – 20 miles with extra miles options.    Grade – Moderate / Strenuous.
Summary – A tour of the upland Glenkens region with open views over the Galloway hills and lochs.

Features:

St John’s Town of Dalry – hillside town.
Galloway Hills views – peaceful moorland cycling with spectacular views of hills and lochs.
Balmaclellan – another hillside village with Old Mortality statue and Scotland’s only Clog and Shoe Workshop.

Accommodation in New Galloway again.

Day 3 – New Galloway to Castle Douglas

Distance – 20 miles.
Grade – Moderate.
Summary – Cross over to the Urr Valley and back to Castle Douglas.

Features:

Corsock – village with pub.
Old Bridge of Urr – picturesque village.
Sulwath brewery – a small brewery and visitor centre – a good place to end the tour!
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 lots of attractive independent shops.
Tour End