5B - Newton Stewart and The Machars
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 26, 25, 26, 20 to 51, and 24 miles (42, 40, 32 to 80, 42 and 39 km) with longer options.
Grade – Moderate.
Comments – A fine tour to the Machars peninsula.
Price – £385 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 Gatehouse of Fleet
Distance – 26 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – undulating but nothing too steep.
Summary – Although the National Cycle Route goes the same way, we start you on a better route to Kirkcudbright and suggest various detours to the coast after that.
Features:
Rhonehouse village – former home of Kelton Fair.
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.
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 2 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Newton Stewart
Distance – 25 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous
Terrain – cycle up the glen to begin with then a steep hill near the end.
Summary – Two types of terrain today – start by cycling up a glen to spectacular upland scenery then follow an old railway line towards a forestry mountain biking and recreation area with a tea room.
Features:
Castramon Wood – an ancient oak woodland in a National Scenic Area.
Gatehouse Station – disused railway station – a significant place in the novels ‘The Thirty Nine Steps’ and ‘Five Red Herrings’.
Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve - with visitor centre and viaduct.
Creetown – old ‘ferry toon’ with ‘The Wickerman’ featured hotel, Gem Rock Museum.
Kirroughtree Forestry Visitor Centre – mountain biking, walking and recreation area.
We suggest a detour route through the glen to avoid a steep hill!
Newton Stewart ‘Gateway to the Galloway Hills’ - an interesting market town beside the River Cree with a cinema and several attractions – see leaflet we provide.
Wigtown ‘Scotland’s book town’ – with nearby Bladnoch whisky distillery – an extra miles detour for this tour - we can extend the tour by one day if desired.
Day 3 – The Machars Circuit
Distance – 20 to 51 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Reasonably flat.
Summary – A fairly flat circular route with different distance options to Wigtown, Garlieston or Isle of Whithorn.
Features:
Wigtown ‘Scotland’s book town’ – with nearby Bladnoch whisky distillery – tours.
Garlieston – small harbour with activity options – see our info.
Whithorn – with Cradle of Christianity visitor centre and good deli.
Isle of Whithorn – picturesque fishing port.
St Ninians Cave – religious haven.
Several Machars hamlets – with places of interest depending on route taken – see our map options.
Day 4 – Newton Stewart to The Glenkens
Distance – 26 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous parts depending if extra miles options chosen.
Terrain – gradual ascent to Clatteringshaws then some hills.
Summary – A beautiful route through the Galloway Forest Park.
Features:
Old Edinburgh Road – an old cattle driving route
Glen of Bar Viewpoint – views over a deep glen
Murray’s monument and Grey Mare’s Tail – a good stop place - with a dramatic waterfall.
Wild Goat Park – viewing area beside the road.
Red Deer Range – guided tours – see our info.
The Raiders Road and Loch detour options – see our info
Clatteringshaws loch – forestry visitor centre – see our info for opening times.
Glenlee hydro power station – on detour route
St John’s Town of Dalry – hillside town.
Balmaclellan – village with Clog and Shoe Workshop – limited opening – see our info.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended pubs and restaurants.
Day 5 – The Glenkens to Castle Douglas
Distance – 24 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Reasonably level.
Summary – Cycle beside Loch Ken on the Galloway Kite Trail back to Castle Douglas.
Features:
Loch Ken – nearly 10 miles long.
Bennan Viewpoint – we don’t really recommend the detour effort!
Mossdale village – with shop – a short detour option to see some red deer.
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
