All our 5 day tours start from our base in Castle Douglas and include:
Five nights B&B or hotel accommodation – we use our own 5 star Tripadvisor rated B&B, Summerhill, with swim spa, subject to availability and other accommodation in other towns, depending on the tour chosen.
outside the Clachan Inn at DalryLuggage transfer - discount if not required.
Tour Info – provided at welcome meeting on arrival.
Support Service - if any problems.
Free extra - Cycle to Threave Castle and Garden on arrival day afternoon – with Sulwath brewery visit on return!
Below we outline several popular 5 day tours with Easy, Moderate Challenging grades.
The East Stewarty Coast and Fleet Valley National Scenic Areas - 5A
-This tour is similar to 4A above but has an extra day with several cycling and other activity options in the Fleet Valley NSA. Price: £400 p.p.
Two National Scenic Areas are visited on this tour. Begin by following the Urr Valley to the coast to a National Trust for Scotland area known as The Scottish Riveira. Follow a partly coastal route passing Dundrennan Abbey to Kirkcudbright 'artists town'. Several good restaurants in Kirkcudbright.
The National Cycle Route covers much of the next leg with a coast detour we recommend. Gatehouse of Fleet, with Cardoness Castle, has several attractions, good pub / restaurants and an ideal stop for 2 nights. For an extra day in the Fleet Valley NSA you can cycle, walk or swim at a nearby beach. The last day takes a moorland route passing through a forest with two options to get get two Castle Douglas. All reasonable daily cycling distances of, 19,29,22 and 25 miles. Contact us to obtain more information on this tour.
The East Stewarty Coast and Fleet Valley National Scenic Areas
Departing from Summerhill BBNewton Stewart and The Machars - 5B
- a similar tour to 4B but with an extra day to discover the distinctive Machars area.
Price: £400 p.p.
The Machars area is a distinct peninsula to the west of our base in Castle Douglas. Begin by heading for Gatehouse of Fleet, a popular tourist town by a countryside route for your first night's B&B (26mls). Rise up a beautiful glen through the National Scenic Area to an upland Nature Reserve to arrive at Newton Stewart, the 'Gateway to the Galloway Hills' (25mls). You spend two nights here as the next day is a circular route south into the fairly flat Machars. You choose your distance - up to 51 mls, with Wigtown book town, Bladnoch whisky distillery and Isle of Whithorn some of the attractions.
Follow the Queens Way through the Galloway Forest Park to the smallest Royal Burgh in Scotland, New Galloway (26mls) where your accommodation is a small hotel. Your last day follows the line of Loch Ken and the Galloway Kite Trail with options to visit Threave Castle, Threave Garden or Sulwath brewery after your slightly shorter distance last day (24 mls).
Contact us to obtain more information on this tour.
Newton Stewart and The Machars
The Nith Valley Tour - 5C
- Take a circular tour to the coast before exploring the delights of the Nith and Dee Valleys. Price: £425 p.p.
Begin this tour by taking a circular countryside route to the Scottish Riviera in a National Scenic Area. Have a beer in Sulawth brewery at the end of your first day. Your next day passes through peaceful countryside and visits Glenkiln Scupltures before crossing to the River Nith Valley and the small town of Thornhill for your next 2 nights accommodation.
Explore the Nith Valley with several attractions including Drumlanrig Castle and the Scottish Cycle Museum - we suggest a 26 miles route which can be more or less! The National Byways Cycle Route is used in some parts for the next day with again some dramatic upland scenery.
Visit Moniaive, a pleasant hillside village, before following the National Byways Cycle Route to stay in a charming hotel in New Galloway area (29 mls). On the last day cycle back to Castle Douglas via Loch Ken and the Galloway Kite Trail.
Contact us to obtain more information on this tour.
Solway to the River Dee - 5D
- a similar tour to 4D but extending to Kirkcudbright artists town beside the River Dee estuary.
Price: £410 p.p.
Cycle via the Glenkiln Scuptures via the Cairn Valley and downstream to Dumfries (26 mls), the main town of the region with several Robert Burns attractions featured in Homecoming Scotland 2009. The next day explores both sides of the River Nith estuary, one side to Caerlaverock Castle and Nature Reserve and the other via Mabie 7 Stanes Mountainbiking Centre and on to stay the night in old fashioned New Abbey (26 mls).
Tomorrow visit the birthplace visitor centre of John Paul Jones founder of the US Navy, a nature reserve and excellent beach to finish at Kippford with an excellent pub in a National Scenic Area (24 mls). Cycle both sides of the Urr estuary through several villages and coastal detour to Kirkcudbright artists town (29mls). Head back to Castle Douglas via the David Coulthard museum, the Cocoa Bean Chocolate Factory and Galloway Kite Trail feeding station (26 mls) or short route if desired (10 mls).
Contact us to obtain more information on this tour.
