Calling all locals and visitors – Come join us on our rides of Discovery around Dumfries & Galloway.
These circular rides are
suitable for all ages and abilities and will take approximately 3 - 4 hours at
an easy pace. Most rides are FREE and there is no need to book for most rides;
just turn up at the Meeting point with a bike, suitable clothing, a snack, a
drink and your camera for the scenery.
SATURDAY
22 MARCH - Moniaive
Exploring the Cairn and Dalwhat Waters, inc. the
curious “Flying Arches”. Lunch at The Green Tearoom at approx
12.15.
Grade: Moderate, 25 miles (2 off-tarmac and 1
walking). Maps OS Landranger sheet 82; Explorer sheet 310.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Moniaive (follow signs to car park) at 10.00 (finish approx. 16.00). On Cyclists’ Byway.
SATURDAY
12 APRIL - Lockerbie
A delectable part
of
Grade: Moderate, 17 miles (1 off-tarmac). Maps OS
Landranger sheets 78, 79, 85; Explorer sheet 322.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Lockerbie Somerfields at 13.15 for 13.30. On National Cycle Route 74. Train station at
Lockerbie.
SATURDAY
19 APRIL – Newton
Searching out the
finest scenery in the
Grade: Moderate, some short sharp hills, so we proceed
slowly, approx. 15 miles (6 off-tarmac), wide tyres advised. Maps OS Landranger
sheet 83; Explorer sheet 319.
Booking: advised.
Meet:
SUNDAY
4 MAY - Dumfries
A visit to the
truly unique Portrack Garden of Cosmic Speculation, and to the beautiful
Lincluden Abbey ruins and scene, using Dumfries’s cycle routes and
byways.
Grade: Easy, 12 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheets 78,
84; Explorer sheet 321.
Costs : approx. £5 donation for entry to
Booking : advised.
Meet:
SATURDAY
10 MAY –
Castle Douglas
An all day ride of
Discovery visiting a variety of features from CD’s “port”,
through classic villages and a unique round tower to the beautiful
smugglers’ coastline, made famous in S.R.Crockett’s novel
“The Raiders”.
Grade: Easy, except one hill, 30 miles (2 off-tarmac).
Maps OS Landranger sheet 84; Explorer sheets 312, 313.
Booking : advised.
Meet: Market Hill car park/TIC at 10.00 (return approx 16.00). On National Cycle Route 7 and service
500 bike-bus route.
SATURDAY
24 MAY - Eskdalemuir “Spring Fling” Special
Spring Fling gives
us this chance to discover localities on the fringe of our province; one that
we do not otherwise get to. Lunch at Samye Ling Tibetan monastery. Spring Fling
is an open studio weekend - all across Dumfries & Galloway artists and
makers will be waiting to welcome you at their studios and workshops.
Grade: Fairly Easy, 12-15 miles (none off-tarmac).
Maps OS Landranger sheet 79, Explorer sheet 323.
Costs : probable opportunity for donation to Samye
Ling.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Eskdalemuir Village Hall at 10.15 (return approx. 16.00), Map ref. NY 250983
SATURDAY
14 JUNE
– Stranraer/Lochinch
This is the
beginning of “Bike Week”, so we are staging one of our favourite
easy rides, featuring many of this estate’s gorgeous roads and tracks
while there is still a spring look about them and some lingering rhododendrons.
A marvellous opportunity for you to (re)introduce yourself to cycling and to
meet like-minded people! Café stop at Castle
Grade: Very Easy;
11 miles (inc. 2.5 off-tarmac), wide tyres required. Maps OS Landranger sheet
82, Explorer sheet 309.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Westwood Av,
Stranraer, off
WEDNESDAY
18 JUNE – Castle Douglas
A “Bike Week” easy ride – well, easy
except for one hill, for which we have plenty of time to walk if you like! We
visit the Motte of Urr, and have a pub. stop at the Haugh of Urr.
Grade: Easy,
except for one hill, 10 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheet 312.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Market Hill
car park/TIC at 18.00 (return
approx. 20.00), Map ref. N? 787627. On R7 and service 500 bike-bus route.
SATURDAY
21 JUNE – Annan
A “Bike
Week” easy ride on the little roads around Annan, with a coffee stop.
Grade: Easy, 10
miles maximum (inc. 1 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 85, Explorer sheets
322,323. Booking: advised.
Meet: Somerfield
car park,
SATURDAY
5 JULY
– Gatehouse of Fleet
This time, we poke
around Gatehouse’s history before sampling moorland and forest, with a
stunning view of the Fleet Estuary.
Grade: Moderate,
13 miles (inc. 5 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 83, Explorer sheet 312.
Booking: advised
Meet: Gatehouse
car park/TIC at 13.15 for 13.30, Map
ref. N? 599563. On R7 and service
500 bike-bus route.
SUNDAY
6 JULY - Wigtown/Whithorn area
A longer ride,
incorporating much of the heritage in this area, featuring harbours, ancient
ecclesiastical buildings, castles, and more.
Grade: Fairly
Easy; 35 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 83, Explorer sheet 311. Booking:
advised
Meet: Wigtown town centre at 10.00 (return approx. 17.00),
Map ref. N? 433553. On R73 when
signed.
SATURDAY 19 JULY -
Langholm
First we see
Langholm Common Riding’s famous uphill gallop; then we have a big hill with big views, which earns us a long glide down the Tarras Glen.
Grade: Moderate,
with one big hill; 10 miles (inc. 2 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 79,
Explorer sheet 323.
Booking: advised
Meet: Buccleuch
Centre, Eskdalemuir road at 13.15 for
13.30, Map ref. N? 360848. On
Byway.
THURSDAY
24 JULY - Borgue
This is our most
popular ride of all because it is very easy going, and has such a wealth of
heritage in such a short distance. We have a Cup and Ring marked rock, a broch
with a Viking harbour, a poet’s memorial, a series of quaint buildings
and fine coastal scenery, to say nothing of the obligatory stop at Cream
o’
Grade: Easy; 13
miles (inc.1 off-tarmac and 0.5 walking). Maps OS Landranger sheet 83, Explorer
sheet 312. Booking: advised.
Meet:
SATURDAY
26 JULY – Port William
This ride has an
absorbing mixture of features from bronze age to very recent, and a few miles
of coastal scenery to boot.
Grade: Easy, 17
miles (inc.1 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 82, Explorer sheet 311.
Booking: advised.
Meet: centre of
Port William village at 13.15 for 13.30,
Map ref. N? 337435.
SATURDAY
9 AUGUST – Sanquhar
Our most strenuous
Discovery ride this year, as it takes us high into the Lowther Hills, using a
switch-back track, to Wanlockhead. Be prepared for tough hills (though we can
walk some), stunning views, and wide open spaces! The final reward is a zoom
down the Menock Water! Arrive early to visit Sanquhar’s old P.O. and the
Tollbooth.
Grade: Strenuous,
25 miles (inc. 7 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 78, Explorer sheet 329.
Bring: wide tyres
and plenty of water essential.
Booking: advised.
Meet: car park at
WEDNESDAY
13 AUGUST– Colvend
Experience a grand
mixture of woodland and river scenery in this National Scenic Area, with a
café stop and the likelihood of a visit to a live archaeological dig,
with guided tour.
Grade: Moderate, 10 miles (4 off-tarmac). Maps OS
Landranger sheet 84; Explorer sheet 313. Wide tyres only please.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Colvend shop at 13.15 for 13.30.
SATURDAY
23 AUGUST– Knockengorroch
Yes, we start near
Knockengorroch Hairth! Our main objective, after a very stiff climb up a forest
road, is the most majestically sited Windy Standard windfarm. Like it or not, come and experience the
situation, where windfarm and forest integrate (well?). If time permits, we will visit the
Hairth site.
Grade: serious
climb up forest road, the steeper parts of which we will walk, 14 miles (all
off-tarmac), Wide tyres essential. Maps OS Landranger sheet 77, Explorer sheet
328.
Booking: advised.
Meet: bridge over
Water of Deugh at 12.45 for 13.00,
Map ref. NS 546983 (turn off A713 0.5 miles south of regional boundary; in 1.5
miles turn right down to bridge).
SUNDAY
31 AUGUST – Crossmichael
“Four Kirks
Ride”. Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick
Durham, Corsock and Parton churches now make one vast parish. Learn about their
fascinating history, whilst partaking of some of our most appealing byways.
Find out about local-born scientific genius,
Grade: Moderate,
23 miles (no off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheet 320.
Costs: small entry
charge; kirk donations expected.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Crossmichael church hall at 13.00. R7 and service 500 bike-bus 3.5
miles (Castle Douglas).
SATURDAY 6
SEPTEMBER - Thornhill
Mid Nithsdale is
such a gem that it draws us back time and time again. This time we visit the
romantically sited Morton castle, a Covenanters’ Conventicle site and
more.
Grade: Moderate,
17 miles (inc. 3 off-tarmac, walk 0.5 miles). Maps OS Landranger sheet 78,
Explorer sheet 321.
Booking: advised
Meet: Thornhill
near roundabout at 13.15 for 13.30,
Map ref. NX 878955; close to Byway and KM Trail from
SATURDAY
20 SEPTEMBER - Johnstonebridge
Discover
what’s at the back of that hill that you see to the east from
Grade: Easy; 13
miles (inc. 3 off-tarmac).Maps OS Landranger sheet 78, Explorer sheet 322.
Booking: advised
Meet:
SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER
– Ardwell, Sandhead
Criss-crossing the
Grade: Fairly
Easy, 13-15 miles (inc. 1.5 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 82. Booking:
advised.
Meet: Sandhead,
near toilets at 13.15 for 13.30.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER - Laurieston
Our mid-autumn ride
this time is in the more intimate scenery of the
Grade: Easy, 14
miles (inc. 3 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheet 320.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Laurieston
Hall at 13.15 for 13.30 (off A762
between Laurieston and Mossdale).
SATURDAY
15 NOVEMBER - Southwick
A gentle route on
the (nearly) flatlands of this the Nith Estuary National Scenic Area with its
coastal, ornithological and seafaring interest (3 seafaring theme sites). Lunch
at the Steamboat Inn at Carsethorn, 12.00.
Grade: Easy, 21
miles (inc. 1 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheet 313.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Southwick
church car park (on B793 near Caulkerbush) at 10.15 for 10.30 (return about 14.30).
SATURDAY
13 DECEMBER
- Kirtlebridge
A route through
rolling farmland in the gentle slopes of Lower Annandale, inc. estate roads,
National Cycle Route and a Bruce connection. Lunch, Crossways,
Grade: Easy, 22
miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 85, Explorer sheet 323. Booking: advised.
Meet:
SATURDAY 10
JANUARY 2009 - Kirkcudbright
Today, we meander
along the byways of the lower
Grade: Moderate,
22 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 83, Explorer sheet 312. Booking: advised.
Meet:
Kirkcudbright harbour car park at 10.15
or 10.30 (return approx. 14.30).
On service 500 bike-bus route.
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2009 – Castle Douglas
A pottering route,
firstly in the Urr Valley, visiting, in particular the largest intact remaining
Motte in Scotland, a more recent ruin (what was a WW2 munitions factory), what was
Castle Douglas’s port, and some magnificent Douglas Fir. Lunch at The
Little Treat, Dalbeattie, 12.15.
Grade: Fairly
Easy, approx. 23 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheets 312, 313.
Booking: advised.
Meet: Castle
Douglas Market Hill main car park/TIC at 10.15
for 10.30. On R7 and service 500 bike-bus route.
SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2009 – Three Lochs holiday park (on Newton Stewart-Glassoch-Glenluce
road)
A
woodland/moorland/glen route, including a new cycling accessible viewpoint
created by a windfarm, and features from history.
Grade: Moderate,
25 miles (inc. 3 off-tarmac). Maps OS Landranger sheet 82, Explorer sheet 310.
Booking: advised.
Meet: from east,
track-end on right 100yds past ruined cottage after Three Lochs park main
entrance at 10.15 for 10.30 (return
approx. 15.00), Map Ref. NX 267653.
SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2009 - Dumfries
This is a
well-known loop to
Grade: Fairly
Easy, 22 miles. Maps OS Landranger sheet 84, Explorer sheets 313,322.
Costs: Charges if
entering Castle and WWT, but half charge for arriving by bike at WWT !!!
Booking: advised.
Meet:
For further
information call