Castle Douglas & Kirkcudbright

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Castle Douglas
Day 2: Castle Douglas, flexible miles
Day 3: Castle Douglas, flexible miles
Day 4: Castle Douglas - Kirkcudbright, 11 mi. (18 km)
Day 5: Kirkcudbright, flexible miles
Day 6: Kirkcudbright, flexible miles
Day 7: Kircudbright, flexible miles
Day 8: End of tour

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Castle Douglas
You will be met at the Lockerbie train station and transferred to Castle Douglas. You could go on a short bike ride to acquaint yourself with the bikes. The 10 mile ride along the old railway to Threave Castle and the Nature Reserve is a perfect ride.

Day 2 and 3:  Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas is a historic market town that sits on the old military road linking Scotland with Ireland. It is described as the “Food Town” and gives you a feeling of having stepped back to the time of Ma and Pa shops. There are three high-quality butchers, two bike shops, and more than enough excellent cafes along with antique and craft shops. This is a town where the locals come to shop or sell their sheep or cows. Bustling would be how to describe it.

Castle Douglas has traditional pubs and award-winning microbrewery and even some quality fish and chips at the end of the day. You can pick how far you want to ride and most rides are loops. To help you visit sites further away there are days when we can transport you and your bike to the start of the ride, allowing you to bike back at your own pace.

Sample rides:
Castle Douglas: Palnackie and Orchardton Tower 15.2 mi. (24 km)
A ride past Threave Gardens to Orchardton Tower, an unusual free-standing round-tower, on to the small harbor at Palnackie. There is the Flounders Community Cafe. You could now either turn back towards Castle Douglas, or continue the dead-end road to GlenIsle to see the Scottish Rivera and the white houses of Kippford from the other side of the firth. If you are lucky you will see an otter.

Castle Douglas, 22 mi. (36 km)
This loop shows you the other side of Castle Douglas, the rolling countryside, where the sheep and cows are reared. You will see the higher hills of the GlenKens in the distance, cycle along the beautiful river Urr, go through small villages and experience the typical life in the Galloway countryside.

Day 4: Castle Douglas - Kirkcudbright, 11 mi. (18 km)
A journey along the Solway coast with pretty fishing villages and breathtaking views of the coastline. On the horizon across the Firth, the mountains of the English Lake District are seen. There is coffee and cake and the ruins of Dundrennan Abbey to explore. The artists' harbor town of Kirkcudbright is your destination.

Day 5, 6, and 7:  Kirkcudbright
With its pastel-colored houses, the castle, and the fact that it still has real family-owned and operated shops, and a working harbor, you will find it delightful.  You can ride out along the coast, into the hills, or a bit of both, you make the choice every day. Pick from a range of 10, 20, 30, 40 miles or further, rides that have been tried tested, and handpicked for you.

If you want to take a day off the bike this is a good place to do that and visit the many galleries and craft shops. 

Sample rides:

Kirkcudbright round trip to Balcary Bay, 30 mi (48km)
Out of Kirkcudbright and along to Kirkcudbright Bay you will cycle next to the sea. This quiet bay was part of the American war of independence when John Paul Jones lay siege to the Kirkcudbright.

Along the coast road with amazing view across to Solway Firth to England and the Lake District you will the pass the ruins of Dundrennan Abbey, a focus in power and history and Mary Queen of Scots final stay in Scotland before being taken to England.

Onwards and the road to Balcary Bay - one of the most beautiful roads in the area it has a cafe and sandy beach at the end! Heston Island off to the left was the final stronghold of Scottish Kings locally.

The returning route will the “High Road” from Gelston to Kirkcudbright, passing the cemetery, where Steve Marshall, King of the Gypsies in the 17th/18th century, is honoured with a beautiful grave stone.

Kirkcudbright round trip to Gatehouse of Fleet, 27 mi (43.5km)
The day will see you cycling along the other coast line, where old Viking castles and harbours where found. It is considered one of the most iconic coastlines in Galloway.

Passing Coo Palace, once the home in style of a mok-castle of some lucky 12 Belted Galloway Cows, and now a holiday complex, you continue through some quiet lanes to sample the best ice cream in Scotland at Cream O’ Galloway. Listen to their story as their Ethical Dairy is groundbreaking in sustainable and ethical milk production.

You follow then the national Cycle Route 7 through the evocative Cally Woods (with the Cally Tower and Cally Palace) to the quaint town of Gatehouse of Fleet. There are several good options for food and drinks.

The route back to Kirkcudbright will be on the Old Military Road, formerly the road from Ireland to Carlisle, England.

Kirkcudbright round trip to Rhonehouse and Laurieston, 27 mi (43.5km)
This loop goes off to Ken-Dee Marshes Reserve, where the Galloway Hoard was found, left there by Vikings with an estimated value of $4 million. You follow the quiet road around to Laurieston, with the eccentric owner of Laurieston Gallery, a colorblind photographer, and back through the beautiful countryside to Kirkcudbright.

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Accommodations

You will be accommodated in the Ernespie House Hotel, 1/2 mile outside the town center, in Castel Douglas and the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright. If the preferred hotel is not available, and if alternative accommodation is necessary, the price will be adjusted accordingly but only after approval from the client. For example, if the Ernespie House Hotel is fully booked, you will be offered the Kings Arms Hotel or the Douglas House. If the Selkirk Arms is fully booked you will be offered the Gladstone Guesthouse at the same price or the Baytree Guesthouse, which is actually £15 less per person.

Bicycles

Standard Bike

Dawes Discovery Speed 2

• Dawes 6061 alloy standard frame
• Shimano gearing, 21 speed
• Alloy V brakes
• Dawes cushioned Discovery saddle
• Schwalbe Silento 700 x 42 C tires
• Rear rack

Ridgeback

• Alloy frame
• Disc brakes
• Shimano gearing 20 speeds
• Schwalbe 700 x 42 tires
• Rear rack

Accessories

• Helmets
• Pannier
• Emergency repair kit
• Pump

Electric Bike

Wisper Electric Bike

• Hand welded Alloy step-through frame
• Wisper high-efficiency 250W hi torque brushless motor
• Lithium Battery, three ranges
• Shimano 7 speed
• Hydraulic disc brake
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus Perf 26 inch tire
• Wisper comfort saddle
• Rear rack

Accessories

• Helmets
• Pannier
• Emergency repair kit
• Pump