Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway has over 450 miles of signposted cycle routes which were judged by SUSTRANS in 2004 as the best maintained in the UK.

From sea to mountain top, rolling hillsides and open estuaries, rivers and cliffs, waterfalls and beaches, the greatest way to experience Dumfries and Galloway's scenic treasures is to simply envelope yourself by bicycle in their beauty, soaking in the atmosphere and the still majesty of this rich, varied and very accessible landscape.

A 2008 Sunday Times Quote about Galloway

In an article on the 'best and the worst' places in the world of the past 12 months, as experienced by the Sunday Times travel writers, writer Brian Schofield mentions our area as bein g the best,
Best: the north Solway coast. 'My find of the year. Head up the M6 until it peters out at Gretna Green, hang a left and follow the beautiful coves, cliffs, mud flats and sandbanks along the top of the Solway estuary, through the tiny holiday and fishing villages of Rockliffe, Kipp-ford and Southerness. There are a few caravan parks, but otherwise the lack of development is a dream, and well worth the epic drive'.

Galloway - In 2009 Europe's First 'Sky Dark Park'

From the car park in the foothills of the Range of the Awful Hand, it is a short walk to what may be the darkest place in the country. Drive up here after sunset and you are unlikely to set eyes on another soul, yet the site is famous among a small group of enthusiasts who come here in the black of night to stand, watch and wonder.The patch of ground in the imposing row of mountains is surrounded by 300 square miles of moorland, woods and lochs that form the rugged wilderness of Galloway Forest Park in southern Scotland, and in a few weeks, officers at the forest will take steps towards making it Europe's first official dark sky park.

It is the profound lack of light that makes the area worthy of recognition and such a spectacular place to look at nature. The spot is so remote that on a cloudless night it offers an unrivalled view of the heavens: a rare chance to see shooting stars and the distant Andromeda galaxy, the aurora borealis and stellar nurseries where suns are born to warm alien planets.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY REGION

Dumfries and Galloway is situated in the south west corner of Scotland. Apart from having the site where the first poedal cycle was invented in 1839 by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the region is already popular with cyclists due to the large number of quiet roads, the not too difficult hills, the beautiful and diverse scenery and of course the many interesting places to visit or stop for refreshment along the way.

The region is bordered by over 100 miles of coastline along the north Solway Firth coast, with the Lake District of England beyond in the south and the Northern Ireland in the west. An England / Scotland / Ireland tour is a possibility for regular cyclists.
The land gradually rises from the coast with 5 main river valleys to the Galloway Hills and beyond to Ayrshire and Glasgow further north. The Scottish Borders region and Edinburgh is to the east.  
How to get Here is outlined on our Services page.
The climate is generally milder than other parts of Scotland due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. - there are even palm trees at Logan Gardens!

  

A view of Clatteringshaws loch from your bicycle
ACCLAIMED FOR CYCLING AND MOUNTAINBIKING

Dumfries and Galloway has over 450 miles of signposted cycle routes which were judged by SUSTRANS, a national cycling organisation, as the best maintained in the UK in 2004. 
The last measurement was 158 miles (256km) of the signposted National Cycling Route and 194 miles (312km) of more upland National Byways Cycling Route. 

Our tours often combine parts of these routes with a myriad of other equally good quiet roads and cycle tracks of varying distances and characteristics.
As mentioned, for cycling enthusiasts our unique star attraction is the former Keir Mill smithy where Kirkpatrick McMillan invented the pedal cycle in 1840 and at the nearby Scottish Cycle Museum at Drumlanrig Castle where you can see a replica. We do tours to include these historical places.

Mountain Biking  - In addition, our region has 5 of the internationally renowned 7 Stanes mountainbiking trails at Mabie, Dalbeattie, Kirroughtree, Glentrool and Ae forests along with another at Drumlanrig Castle. 
We are ideally situated to access all of these cycling facilities as the base of our operations is the market town of Castle Douglas in the centre of our region and also on the National Cycle Route.

  

Leif and Annie taking a break at the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall beside Murray's Monument in the Galloway Forest Park
Castle Douglas and Nearby Towns

Castle Douglas is a thriving market town and themed as a 'food town', in recognition of the many food related businesses in the town. It is now a popular centre for shopping with many independent shops.
In and around the town, there are many places of interest including the nationally known Threave Garden; Threave Castle - situated on an island in the River Dee, accessible only by ringing the bell to summon the ferryman from the island; Carlingwark Loch, bordering the south end of the town and the small independent Sulwath real ale brewery including a visitor (and tasting) centre. There are several excellent tea rooms and restaurants in and around Castle Douglas which we can recommend.
As well as the National Cycle Route passing through the town, the nearest  7 Stanes mountainbiking Trails at  Dalbeattie Forest are only 7 miles away.
With both the Solway Coast, including a National Scenic Area and Loch Ken and the Galloway Forest Park a few miles away, the town is an ideal base to explore the great outdoors.

  

 

Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright is 10 miles from Castle Douglas and an excellent place to visit for a 20 miles round trip cycle or as an overnight stop if cycling further west.
This former county town for The Stewartry area, is a picturesque fishing port with McLellan's Castle prominent in the town centre overlooking the harbour. Kirkcudbright is best known as an 'artists town', being a haven for artists since the 19th century. As well as several art galleries, the Stewartry Museum and Galloway Wildlife Conservation Centre are worth a visit. Kirkcudbright has various tourist attractions on throughout the summer months including 6 Scottish Nights. We design our tours as far as possible to include being in the town when events are on. We can recommend two excellent restaurants in the town for your evening meal. A small bicycle shop with cycle mechanic is in the centre of town.

  

 

Dalbeattie

Dalbeattie is 6 miles from Castle Douglas with the Solway Coast and National Scenic Area a further 4 miles away.  The town is in the River Urr Valley with the Dalbeattie Forest 7 Stanes mountyain biking trails at the edge of town. We usually recommend a circular route to a National Scenic Area area formerly known as The Scottish Riviera on the coast which has several attractions and pubs.

  

 

The Glenkens

The Glenkens area is north of Castle Douglas at the other end of the 10 miles long Loch Ken. The hillside towns of New Galloway, St John's Town of Dalry and Balmaclellan are all within a few miles of each other in a picturesque setting beside the Water of Ken river valley. 
Our tours usually visit the area with different options for accommodation whether B&B or hotel.
The new Catstrand arts centre and the only clog making workshop in Scotland are places to visit with two excellent tea rooms for refreshment.

  

 

Some of our Other Favourite Places to Visit

Gatehouse of Fleet - Another location we use both as a destination point for a longer day tour and more often as an overnight stop location on a cycling tour further west. 
The nearby Cream o' Galloway ice cream farm and visitor centre, Fleet Valley National Scenic Area and the beautiful coastal area make it one of our best locations if you know where to go. Accommodation can range from B&B to the magnificent Cally Palace Hotel with golf course. We recommend some good restaurants here also.

Newton Stewart - the 'Gateway to the Galloway Hills' is set beside the River Cree which flows from the Galloway Hills and Galloway Forest Park. Nearby Kirroughtree 7 Stanes mountain biking trails are popular as is Glentrool area and Bruce's Stone with magnificent views around Loch Trool.

The Machars - This relatively flat peninsula offers several options during a cycling break. The former county town of Wigtown, now Scotland's national 'book town' is used by us as a destination point and can include nearby Bladnoch whisky distillery on a day tour from Newton Stewart. We prefer to include Wigtown in a tour to Garlieston, a small port, to the extremity of the peninsula to Isle of Whithorn where we suggest a good pub at the harbour. St Ninian's Cave and inland Whithorn are both significant as visitor attractions in the early Christian reputation of the area.  

More Places to be added