7F - Budget Cycling Holiday
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 22, 24, 20, 20, 15, 25 and 20 miles (35, 38, 32, 32, 24, 40 and 32 km) with longer options.
Grade – Easy / Moderate.
Comments – Some popular circular routes with lots of places of interest. Some shortcuts and extra miles options if you need them.
Price – £450 p.p.
exploring at Fleet BayAll 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 – Urr Valley Circuit
Distance – 22 miles with longer options.
Grade – moderate.
Terrain – undulating with flat end.
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 with National scenic Area.
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 tea room.
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.
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.
and available to visit today or any of the other days ending in Castle Douglas,
Sulwath brewery – a small brewery and visitor centre with tours – a good place to end the tour in town!
Carlingwark Loch – at the edge of Castle Douglas.
……and if not visited on arrival day,
Threave Garden – one of Scotland’s finest gardens. Just outside Castle Douglas and on a cycle route.
Threave Castle – ring the bell for the boatman to take you to the castle on the island – again just outside Castle Douglas.
Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – a popular shopping centre with lots of attractive independent shops.
B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas.
Day 2 – The Red Kite and Loch Ken Loop
Distance – 24 miles with longer options. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – a reasonably flat route.
Summary – Lots of nature places to see including red deer and red kites.
Features:
Glenlochar barrage – on the River Dee with old Roman fort site nearby.
Balmaghie Kirk – great views across Lock Ken on this hilltop church.
Ken Dee Marshes Nature Reserve – with bird hides beside Loch Ken.
With longer options,
Mossdale - village with shop (limited opening times - see our info)
The Raiders Road - forestry drive and cycle circuit
Red Deer – we know of a secret location detour with a stag and red deer easily seen!
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended tea rooms.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
main route -
Laurieston village, with The Gallery photogrpahy studio.
Threave Castle - on slightly longer option
Threave Garden - on slighly longer option
Sulwath brewery - back in Castle Douglas.
B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas.
Day 3 – Balcary Bay Circuit
Distance – 20 miles with longer options. Grade – Easy.
Terrain – downhill then fairly flat.
Summary – Cycle down a glen with an option for a hill walk. A pub and hotel option for lunch with again popular walks at Balcary Bay. Climb a tower on the way back with another village pub and craft shop option. Brewery tour on return to Castle Douglas!
Features:
Carlingwark Loch – beside Castle Douglas.
Douglas Mausoleum – pagoda style burial chamber beside the route.
Kelton Kirk – a red brick Scottish kirk beside the road.
Mid Kelton – an example of new building in an old hamlet with nearby churchyard.
Gelston village – with nearby Gelston castle.
Screel Hill – popular hill walk.
Aucherncairn – an old smugglers haunt. See out info. for a nice circuit option.
Balcary Bay – a great 2 miles flat seaside cul de sac route with other attractions – see our info.
Orchardton Tower – a 15th century tower house – the only circular one in Scotland. Climb up!
Palnackie village – old harbour village with facilities and nearby attractions. See our tour info.
Threave Garden, Threave Castle and Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – as above.
B&B accommodation in Castle Douglas.
Day 4 – Castle Douglas to Gatehouse of Fleet
three families from Australia at Kirkcudbright BayTerrain – a gradual hill from Laurieston for a few miles.
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.
Bellymack red kite feeding station – arrive at the right time to see the daily feeding spectacle.
Laurieston village – with SR Crockett Memorial
The Gallery – stunning photographic gallery. Limited opening, but knock on the door, Phil may be around.
Laurieston Forest and Kenick Wood - picnic and walk area.
Knocktinckle Viewing Point – great views over the Fleet valley, a National Scenic Area.
Gatehouse of Fleet – a popular tourist town beside the River Fleet with a Cardoness castle, Mill on the Fleet and a kilt making shop.
B&B accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Day 5 – Rest Day or Fleet Valley Circuit route options
Distance – 15 miles with longer options. Grade – easy/moderate/challenging options.
Terrain – from flat by the coast to hilly up the Fleet valley.
Summary – A flexible day! Some great shorter circuits or a long one.
Features:
National Scenic Area – cycle in the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area.
Cally Palace Hotel – pass the front door on a cycle route.
Sandgreen – a beach detour.
Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm – a great place to visit on one of the loop options.
Carrick Shore and Knockbrex Hill Viewpoint – a detour option we point out with views over the Isles of Fleet.
Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve - a tough cycle up the Fleet Valley for a peaceful day out - with 6 miles back down again!
Cardoness Castle - with great views over the Fleet estuary.
Cally Gardens - unusual walled garden with eastern plants.
Woodland and other walks - if you prefer a walking rest day - we can advise.
B&B accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Day 6 – Kirkcudbright Circuit or shorter options
Distance – 25 miles or less. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – reasonably flat with some gentle rises.
Summary – A day out to the Artists town for lunch and a look around.
Features:
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.
Borgue village – pub with limited opening hours (we provide the details)
The Coo’s Palace – an interesting farm tower.
Kirkandrews kirk – easily missed.
Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm – a great place to visit on one of the loop options.
B&B accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Day 7 – Gatehouse of Fleet back to Castle Douglas
Distance – 20 miles or longer options. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – cross country with some gradual hills.
Summary – Several places of interest around Twynholm with more if taking one of the detours.
Features:
Twynholm – The David Coulthard museum with Pit Stop diner and the Cocoa Bean chocolate factory with tea room are worth a look in.
Tongland - hamlet with hydro electric pwer station.
Barstobrick Visitor Centre - detour option to visit Neilson's monument and tea room.
Rhonehouse village – former home of Kelton Fair.
Threave Garden, Threave Castle and Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – as above, if not previously visited.
Tour End
