7A – The Galloway Triangle
Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 10, 16, 14, 15, 19, 26 and 18 miles (16, 26, 23, 24, 30, 42 and 29 km) with longer options.
Grade – Easy.
Comments – A tour of Galloway for beginners or those wanting plenty of time to look around.
Price – £475 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 Kirkcudbright
Distance – 10 miles. Grade – Easy.
Terrain – a gradual countryside rise then downhill at the end to sea level.
Summary – A gentle day in the countryside to start you off.
Features:
Rhonehouse – once home of the biggest horse fair in Scotland. All the hotels are now houses!
Tongland – hamlet with two interesting bridges which cross the River Dee.
Kirkcudbright – Scotland’s artists’ town with castle, fishing port, art galleries and the Stewartry museum.
Accommodation in Kirkcudbright.
Day 2 – Kirkcudbright to Gatehouse of Fleet.
Distance – 16 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – reasonably flat.
Summary – Follow the line of coast with several extra miles detour options if desired.
Features:
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.
Accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Day 3 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Creetown
Distance – 14 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous (first part only)
Terrain – cycle up the glen to begin with then a downhill.
Summary – Start by cycling up a glen to spectacular upland scenery (with visitor centre and short walk features which we outline) then downhill to a great 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.
Stay in Creetown.
Day 4 – Creetown to Wigtown
Distance – 15 miles.
Grade – Easy, with a strenuous part.
Terrain - Easy with one steep hill.
Summary – Cycle either side of the Cree estuary today with Newton Stewart the halfway stop.
Features :-
Kirroughtree Forestry Visitor Centre – mountain biking, walking and recreation area.
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 – see our info leaflets and advice.
Accommodation in Wigtown.
Day 5 – Wigtown to Garlieston Circuit
Distance – 19 miles.
Grade – Easy.
Terrain – Reasonably flat.
Summary – Several villages with Garlieston fishing village and Galloway House gardens as the focal point.
Features:
Braehead and Kirkinner - villages.
Garlieston – small harbour with activity options – see our info.
Sorbie Tower – clan seat of the Hannay’s.
Sorbie and Whauphill – villages.
Same accommodation in Wigtown.
Day 6 – Wigtown to The Glenkens
Distance – 26 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – flat to Newton Stewart then a gradual ascent to Clatteringshaws.
Summary – A longer day today along a beautiful route through the Galloway Forest Park..
Features:
Newton Stewart ‘Gateway to the Galloway Hills’ – a riverside market town.
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.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. See our info for recommended pubs and tea rooms.
Accommodation in New Galloway.
Day 7 – The Glenkens to Castle Douglas
Distance – 18 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,
and if not visited on the first 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
