7C – Inventors, Castles and Coast
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 25, 29, 28, 25, up to 30, 29 and 20 miles (40, 47, 45, 40, up to 48, 47 and 32 km).
Grade – Moderate / strenuous parts.
Terrain – All types.
Comments – As well as beautiful and diverse scenery, see several interesting inventor and castles sites.
Price – £500 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 Kippford
Distance – 25 miles. Grade – moderate.
Terrain – reasonably flat.
Summary – Although a high number of miles, most of today has a reasonably flat terrain.
Features:
Gelston - village a leading to glen.
Auchencairn – small village with interesting millennium garden.
Balcary Bay – a detour we recommend.
Orchardton Tower – a 15th century tower house – the only round one in Scotland.
Palnackie – a former busy port beside the River Urr with a visitor attraction nearby.
Dalbeattie – another opportunity to visit.
Kippford village – a popular yachting village. We recommend a popular pub food location.
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.
Accommodation in Kippford.
Day 2 – Kippford to Dumfries
Distance – 29 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – hills around Sandyhills then reasonably flat most of the way.
Summary – A fine coastal route with lots of features.
Features:
Rockliffe – old fashioned village on the coast with excellent tea room, gallery and hotel.
Sandyhills Beach – expansive beach and recreational area.
Colvend – small visitor centre, shop and nearby craft farm.
Mersehead Nature Reserve – on a detour route – run by RSPB.
Southerness – holiday area with lighthouse and championship golf course.
John Paul Jones museum – founder of the US Navy.
Carsethorn – old port with pub. See our info. for opening days/hours
Kirkbean – village with attractive church.
New Abbey – with Sweetheart Abbey, Old Corn Mill and Shambellie Costume Museum – see our info.
Kirkconnel Tower – see on passing.
Mabie Forest – forestry mountain biking and walking centre.
Mabie Farm Park – worth a stop for families.
Dumfries – the main town of the region with Robert Burns and other features.
Accommodation in Dumfries.
Day 3 – Caerlaverock and Ruthwell Circuit.
Distance – 28 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – flat beside the river estuary then undulating.
Summary – Visit Ruthwell and museum of Henry Duncan, inventor of the savings bank. Also Robert Burns, poet, house and centre.
Features:
Kingholm Quay – small village with pub by the river estuary.
Glencaple – another small village with a pub.
Caerlaverock Nature Reserve – wetlands for birds operated by RSPB.
Caerlaverock Castle – unusual 3 cornered castle with small visitor centre and tea room.
The Brow Well – visited by Robert Burns.
Ruthwell – with Henry Duncan museum (founder of the savings bank) and nearby runic Ruthwell Stone.
Dumfries – return by The Crichton Royal hospital estate.
Accommodation again in Dumfries.
Day 4 – Dumfries to Thornhill
Distance – 25 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – undulating.
Summary – Cycle along the Cairn Valley and over to the Nith valley to see the smithy where the pedal cycle was invented in 1839 by Kirkpatrick Macmillan.
Features:
Ellisland Farm – where Robert Burns, poet lived.
River Nith Valley – join the Kirkpatrick Macmillan Cycle Trail with views over this larger valley.
Keir Mill – small village with the nearby smithy where the first pedal cycle was invented in 1840. Also cemetery with Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the inventor is buried. See our info.
Drumlanrig Castle – working castle and Estate owned by the Duke of Buccleuch with the Scottish Cycle museum and replica of the original bicycle. (Can be visited today or tomorrow)
Thornhill – picturesque small town with tree lined streets.
Accommodation in Thornhill.
Day 5 – Thornhill Circuit
Distance – up to 30 miles.
Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Undulating and scenic routes.
Summary – A tour of the scenic Nith Valley and Drumlanrig Castle. Andy Goldsworthy (world famous environmental sculptor) sites also around this area.
Features:
Morton Castle – a 4th century ruined castle set beside a loch.
Durisdeer – cul de sac hamlet with 1699 church containing the elaborate Queensberry Marbles.
River Nith – scenic parts with expensive salmon fishing.
Drumlanrig Castle - a 1690 working castle with parts and grounds open to the public. Mountain biking and other features including the Scottish Cycle Museum – see our info.
Penpont village – passed through on some of the detour route options. Good village pub – we provide opening hours info.
Cone Sculpture – One of the world famous Andy Goldsworthy sculptures in the area. We have info on more which could be a cycle route on their own.
Same accommodation.
Day 6 –Thornhill to The Glenkens
Distance – 29 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous.
Terrain – A few hills.
Summary – An upland route passing through some hillside communities including Moniaive as a highlight. Uses some parts of the National Byways Cycle Route.
Features:
Tynron village – a peaceful small village formerly a refuge for Covenanters.
Moniaive – Attractive village with village cross dating from 1638. We recommend a not to be missed tea house and chocolate shop – see our opening days/ hours info.
Striding Arches Sculpture – Another Andy Goldsworthy sculpture – detour.
Single Track moorland road – single track road with commanding views over the hills – beware of the wandering sheep!
Earlstoun Loch – views over the Loch and Glenkens.
Loch Lochinvar – on detour route.
St John’s Town of Dalry – hillside town with several features – see our info.
Balmaclellan – another hillside village with Old Mortality statue and Scotland’s only Clog and Shoe Workshop. See our info. A detour option.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended pubs and restaurants.
Accommodation in New Galloway.
Day 7 – The Glenkens to Castle Douglas
Distance – 20 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – undulating.
Summary – Cycle beside Loch Ken on the Galloway Kite Trail back to Castle Douglas.
Features:
Corsock – village with pub (see our info for when closed)
Glenlair – Home of James Clerk Maxwell, inventor of electromagnetic theory.
Old Bridge of Urr – pleasant hamlet by the River Urr.
and if not visited on arrival day,
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
