6D – The South Stewartry Circuit
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 26, 26, 24, 29, 24 and 18 miles (42, 42, 39, 47, 39 and 29 km) with longer options.
Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – An occasional hill.
Comments – Some panoramic coastal views.
Price – £485 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.
B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas.
Day 1 – Castle Douglas to Dumfries
Distance – 26 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – Undulating.
Summary – A pleasant countryside route through several villages.
Features:
Clarebrand – small village.
Old Bridge of Urr – picturesque village.
Kirkpatrick Durham – A 1783 village which used to have a racecourse!
Glenkiln Reservoir - a loch in a beautiful location with several hillside sculptures by Epstein, Moore and others.
We have designed a detour cycle and short walk trail route.
Routin Bridge – beauty spot.
Irongray – with old church beside Cluden Water. A Covenanting area in 1678.
Dumfries – largest town of the region. Use Cycle Route into town to the River Nith. See our info on places of interest.
Day 2 – Caerlaverock Circuit then on to New Abbey.
Distance – 26 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – An occasional hill.
Summary – A circuit to Caerlaverock Castle and Nature Reserve using part of the No. 7 Cycle Route before leaving Dumfries to head west to New Abbey.
Features:
Tow Path – by riverside.
Kingholm Quay – hamlet.
Glencaple – old port from where locals emigrated to America. A Robert Burns haunt.
Caerlaverock Nature Reserve – wildfowl and other nature.
Caerlaverock Castle – 13th century 3 cornered castle.
Dumfries – pass through town again – refreshment place recommended.
Mabie Forest – forestry mountain biking and walking centre.
Mabie Farm Park – worth a stop for families.
Kirkconnel Tower – see on passing.
New Abbey – with Sweetheart Abbey, Old Corn Mill and Shambellie Costume Museum – see our info.
Stay in village tonight.
Day 3 – New Abbey to Kippford
Distance – 24 miles. Grade – Easy/Moderate.
Terrain – Reasonably flat until the end.
Summary – Flat for the first half then a few hills.
Features:
Kirkbean – village with attractive church
Carsethorn – old port with pub. See our info. for opening days/hours.
John Paul Jones museum – founder of the US Navy.
Southerness – holiday area with lighthouse and championship golf course.
Mersehead Nature Reserve – RSPB (wildfowl area)
Sandyhills – excellent beach.
Colvend – village with shop and nearby craft centre.
Rockliffe – old fashioned village by the coast with tea room, hotel and art gallery.
National Scenic Area – this area also known as The Scottish Riviera with part run by the National Trust for Scotland.
Kippford – yachting village.
Day 4 – Kippford to Kirkcudbright.
Distance – 29 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Reasonably flat then hills near Kirkcudbright.
Summary – Follow the line of coast with our back road recommended route.
Features:
Dalbeattie – pop. 4,000 see our info.
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 5 – Kirkcudbright to Gatehouse of Fleet.
Distance – 24 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 6 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Castle Douglas.
Distance – 18 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
