Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright, Scotland

8-day tour

Day 1, 2, and 3:  Castle Douglas

Castle Douglas is an 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.

A wonderful rolling landscape with the coastline just a short ride away makes this a perfect place or a few days of cycling. Loops down to Sweetheart Abbey and back along the coast or inland to New Galloway and the delights of Smitty Tearoom.

As ever in Dumfries the roads are quiet and drivers often wave, so wave back, and take your time. There are offroad rides through the woods of Dalbeattie and on to the Scottish Riviera at Kippford for a ride through this wonderful sailing village.

Castle Douglas has traditional pubs an 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

 Day 4, 5, 6, and 7:  Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright is one of Scotland's most vibrant small towns and is just a wonderful ride down the coast from your first base at Castle Douglas.

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. 

Again the rides from here are loops, with the option for a transfer to the start of a ride to extend your adventure further or ride the wind or hill home to Kirkcudbright.

Sample rides:
Kirkcudbright round trip via Threave Castle: 21 miles
The ride takes you to Threave Castle first along the coast following an off-road track before you turn onto what becomes an old military road. This was the route that drovers used to move cattle and horses from Ireland. The wonderfully named Archibald The Grim built the castle in the 1370s and it is one of Scotland’s most atmospheric castles. You can visit Threave gardens for coffee and cake and a walk around the beautiful old gardens next. The way back to Kirkcudbright takes you along what locals call ‘ the high road ‘. Once an important trading road it is overlooked by the remains of hill forts and settlements. The road is high enough to give fantastic views back across the southern mountains of southern Scotland. You can detour and take a walk to the site of ancient rock art, cop and ring marks that may be as much as 6,000 years old.

Kirkcudbright round trip via Dundrennan: 23 miles
You ride out of Kirkcudbright along the coast, take a right and then you are on the quietest roads in the area with the sea by your side. You have to get used to car drivers waving, that is just a thing they do here. As you gain height, there are views to a lighthouse. More gentle cycling brings you to Dundrennan Abbey, a ruin now but still impressive. This is where Mary Queen of Scots spent her last day in Scotland. Have a look around and then it is coffee and cake time at the cafe opposite.

You ride along the coast further before heading inland. There is a standing stone and an opportunity to ride off-road into the hills for spectacular and remote views, time for a picnic by the loch even.

Returning to Kirkcudbright, it will be time for galleries, craft shops or the best fish, and chips in Galloway down at the harbor.

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You will be accommodated in the Douglas House in Castel Douglas and the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright.