4A - The Urr and Fleet Valleys Circuit
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 19, 29, 22 and 17 miles (30, 47, 35 and 27 km) with longer options.
Grade – Moderate.
Comments – The overnight stop locations are great to look around with good food options.
Price – £325 per person.
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 Kippford
Distance – 19 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – an occasional hill.
Summary – Initially countryside cycling to and along the Urr Valley to Dalbeattie. A peaceful road takes you to the coast (excellent beach) which you then follow to the popular Scottish Riviera.
Features:
Haugh of Urr village – church detour
Motte of Urr – the remains of a 12th century motte and bailey earthwork castle
Dalbeattie – pop. 4000 – several features including excellent local museum and ‘7 Stanes’ mountain biking trailhead nearby.
Sandyhills Beach – expansive beach and recreational area.
Mersehead Nature Reserve – on a detour route – run by RSPB.
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.
Day 2 – Kippford to Kirkcudbright.
Distance – 29 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – some flat and hill parts.
Summary – Follow the line of coast with our back road recommended route.
Features:
Dalbeattie – another opportunity to visit.
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.
Auchencairn – small village with intersting millennium garden.
Balcary Bay – a detour we recommend.
Viewpoint – a coastal viewpoint across the Solway Firth including The Lake District of England and a marked information board.
Dundrennan Abbey – a ruined 12th century Cistercian monastery.
Kirkcudbright – Scotland’s artists’ town with castle, fishing port, art galleries and the Stewartry museum.
Day 3 – Kirkcudbright to Gatehouse of Fleet.
Distance – 22 miles. Grade – Easy / Moderate.
Terrain – undulating.
Summary – A partly coastal route again with several detours recommended by us.
Features:
Twynholm – a detour option with the David Coulthard museum and Cocoa Bean craft chocolate factory.
Dhoon Bay – a bay popular with locals.
Brighouse and Ross Bays – detour options – we outline the merits.
Borgue village – pub with limited opening hours (we provide the details)
The Coo’s Palace – an interesting farm tower.
Kirkandrews kirk – easily missed.
Carrick Shore and Knockbrex Hill Viewpoint – a detour option we point out with views over the Isles of Fleet.
Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm – a great place to stop for a refreshment. More than ice cream to experience!
Sandgreen – a beach detour.
Cally Palace Hotel – pass the door and call in for afternoon tea!
National Scenic Area – Fleet Valley National Scenic Area and a detour option which we suggest.
Gatehouse of Fleet – an interesting town beside the River Fleet with several attractions which we provide info about.
Day 4 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Castle Douglas.
Distance – 17 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – a hill to begin with then reasonable.
Summary – A peaceful route through moorland and woodland before joining the red kite trail and a nature reserve.
Features:
Knocktinckle Viewpoint – over the beautiful Fleet Valley NSA.
Laurieston Forest and Kenick Wood - picnic and walk area.
Laurieston village – with pub with limited opening hours and food!
The Gallery – stunning photographic gallery.
Bellymack red kite feeding station – arrive at the right time to see the daily feeding spectacle.
Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve – with bird hides beside Loch Ken.
Balmaghie Kirk – great views across Lock Ken on this hilltop church.
Glenlochar barrage – on the River Dee.
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.
Tour End
