10A - The Galloway Explorer

Start – Any day of the week.
Distance – 30, 30, 26, 29, 25, 32, up to 44, 41, 21 and 27 miles
(Kms - 48, 48, 42, 47, 40, 51, up to 70, 65, 34, and 43 km).
Grade – Moderate / Strenuous parts.
Comments – An excellent tour with a good variety of terrain including some hills and glens.
Price – £695 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 – Urr Valley Circuit

Distance – 30 miles. 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 nearby craft farm.
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.
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.
Same accommodation.

Day 2 – Castle Douglas to Thornhill

Distance – 30 miles. Grade – moderate / strenuous.
Terrain – An occasional hill.
Summary – Some peaceful countryside scenery today with Glenkiln Sculptures and loch an ideal midway stop off. Unique cycling historical locations near the end. 
Features:
Small villages – pass through three villages, some with services and some nearby. See our info.
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.
Cairn Water Valley – cross this scenic river valley.
Dunscore village – with shop and pub – limited opening – see our info.
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 1839. Also cemetery with Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the inventor is buried. See our info.
Thornhill – picturesque small town with tree lined streets. We recommend accommodation and restaurants.
Accommodation in Thornhill.

Day 3 – Thornhill Circuit

Distance – 26 miles with more or less miles options. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – Undulating and scenic routes.
Summary – Your choice today – we provide the info to only visit Drumlanrig Castle – 8 miles each way – or a tour around this picturesque 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. Mountainbiking 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.
Accommodation in Thornhill again.

Day 4 – 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!
Earltoun 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.
Accommodation in St John’s Town of Dalry.

Day 5 – St John’s Town of Dalry to Newton Stewart

Distance – 25 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – reasonably hills but generally down to Newton Stewart at sea level.
Summary – New Galloway is worth a visit, including The Catstrand arts centre, then follow the National Byways Cycle Route via Clatteringshaws loch.
Features:
New Galloway – Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. Two good tea rooms.
The Catstrand – art centre with tea room
Galloway Forest Park – tarred road to cycle on.
The Queens Way – scenic route
Clatteringshaws loch – forestry visitor centre – see our info for opening times.
Red Deer Range – guided tours – see our info.
Wild Goat Park – viewing area beside the road.
Murray’s monument and Grey Mare’s Tail – a good stop place - with a dramatic waterfall.
Glen of Bar Viewpoint – views over a deep glen
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.
Accommodation in Newton Stewart.

Day 6 – Newton Stewart to Portpatrick

Distance – 32 miles. Grade – Moderate / strenuous.
Terrain – a grdual rise into peaceful upland countryside then back downhill to Castle Kennedy before reasonably flat heading to Portpatrick depending on route taken.
Summary – An peaceful upland route with the option to visit Stranraer before heading to the west coast. 
Features:
Challoch church - an unusual styled church
Three Lochs - holiday park 
New Luce – an attractive village with pub – info provided on opening times.
Castle Kennedy - village with Castle Kennedy Gardens nearby.
Stranraer – ferry port to Northern Ireland and the second largest town in the region.
Portpatrick – a picturesque fishing village.
Accommodation in Portpatrick
 

Day 7 – The Mull of Galloway Circuit

Distance – up to 44 miles. Grade – Moderate/Strenuous.
Terrain – Reasonably flat on east coast and hiily on the west.
Summary – A longer day if you wish to reach the Mull of Galloway. Shorter options to Logan Gardens or Sandhead.
Features:
Sandhead – a popular village with miles of sandy beaches.
Ardwell – coastal village.
Drummore – most southerly village in Scotland. Services – see our info.
Mull of Galloway – lighthouse and tea room – see our info for opening days/times.
Port Logan – a hamlet laid out in 1818 and scene of recent filming.
Port Logan Fish Pond – an unusual fish pond.
Logan Botanical Gardens – famous gardens with palm trees and other plants benefitting from the Gulf Stream.
Kirkmadrine christian stones – a chapel with religious stones as early as the 5th century.
Same accommodation.

Day 8 – Portpatrick to Newton Stewart

Distance – 41 miles. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – a longer day but reasonably flat most of the way.
Summary – Refreshments available at Glenluce, the Cock Inn and Wigtown, and even the whisky distillery!
Features:
Glenluce Abbey - ruins of an abbey founded in 1191 by Cistercian monks.
Glenluce - large village known as 'The Valley of Light'
The Cock Inn – pub by the sea.
Wigtown ‘Scotland’s book town’ – with nearby Bladnoch whisky distillery – tours.
Newton Stewart  - as previous.
Accommodation in Newton Stewart
 

Day 9 – Newton Stewart to Gatehouse of Fleet

Distance – 21 miles. Grade – Moderate / Strenuous.
Terrain – up a glen then back down to sea level with an awkward hill near the end.
Summary – A steep hill after a mile or so, then on old railway line (good surface) to Creetown. A gradual hill then 6 miles downhill to Gatehouse.
Features:
Kirroughtree Forestry Visitor Centre – mountain biking, walking and recreation area.
We suggest a detour route through the glen to avoid a steep hill!
Creetown – old ‘ferry toon’ with ‘The Wickerman’ featured hotel, Gem Rock Museum.
Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve - with visitor centre and viaduct.
Gatehouse Station – disused railway station – a significant place in the novels ‘The Thirty Nine Steps’ and ‘Five Red Herrings’.
Castramon Wood – an ancient oak woodland in a National Scenic Area.
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 10 – Gatehouse of Fleet to Castle Douglas

Distance – 27 miles with extra miles detour options. Grade – Moderate.
Terrain – reasonably flat with a gentle rise from Tongland.
Summary – Follow the line of coast with several extra miles detour options if desired, then on to end in Castle Douglas.
Features:
Cally Palace Hotel – pass the door and call in for afternoon tea!
Sandgreen – a beach detour.
Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm – a great place to stop for a refreshment. More than ice cream to experience!
Carrick Shore and Knockbrex Hill Viewpoint – a detour option we point out with views over the Isles of Fleet.
Kirkandrews kirk – easily missed
The Coo’s Palace – an interesting farm tower.
Borgue village – pub with limited opening hours (we provide the details)
Brighouse and Ross Bays – detour options – we outline the merits.
Dhoon Bay – a bay popular with locals.
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.
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.
Castle Douglas ‘food town’ – a popular shopping centre with lots of attractive independent shops.

Tour End with last night's accommodation in Castle Douglas