A short ride up one side of the Fleet Valley and down the other.

Start:  Centre of Gatehouse DG7 2HS

Distance: 6.1miles

Duration: 40-80min

This circular route is a local tradition and there is a 10km organised run around it every summer. It’s all on road, so suitable for all bikes. It starts with a steady uphill, then after a steep downhill to the river is gently undulating back into Gatehouse. 

Miles Route

0.0 Follow the Route 7 sign into the Mill on the Fleet grounds, cross the pedestrian bridge and follow the path straight through little park. Turn right along the road, following the National Cycle network no 7 sign. Follow this quiet residential road (Riverbank) through the houses.

0.2 Take the second left (following the route 7 sign) along Riverbank

0.3 At the T-junction turn right along Dromore Road (aka Old Military Road/B796). Follow this quiet, winding rural road

2.8 Turn right down a very steep hill. You can see Rusco Tower on your left.  Cross over the lovely River Fleet. 

3.1 At the T-junction turn right, cycling through Carstramon Woods, over a couple of hills. Note the demonstration dyke at the start of the EMU walk.

5.1 At the Y junction turn right. Yield here to cars entering from behind left, and from ahead. Continue along the Laurieston Road past the Barlay Mill, the tennis courts and the former mill pond. 

5.7 Turn right at the T-junction and continue down the High Street to the start.

Places of Interest

Rusco Tower. Built around 1500 it is a fine example of a Scottish fortified tower house.  It was restored in the 1980s and is still lived in.

Carstramon Wood is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve and one of the largest semi-natural broadleaved woodlands in the area. The oak trees were once used for making charcoal and supplying the Mill on the Fleet with the wood to make bobbins.  The wood is full of wildlife and in May full of bluebells. The oldest tree on the corner is known as Parliament tree as the local community long ago met there to discuss important issues. 

Barlay Mill. Just after reaching the Laurieston Road, note the Barlay Mill on your left, birthplace of the celebrated Faed family of artists. Examples of their work can be seen in the Kirkcudbright galleries.  The large painting in The Mill on the Fleet is by John Faed.

The Mill Pond at the War memorial was built to supply the water to the mill wheel that sits next to Wheels of Fleet. 

Click below to download a pdf sheet for the route.