Start: Centre of Gatehouse DG7 2HS
Distance: 24 miles
Duration: 2.5-4hrs
This is a beautiful on-road route to Kirkcudbright for shopping or just a visit, which takes in quiet Borgue back roads. Suitable for any bike, Note: there are various options to cut this ride shorter, returning by various B-roads, also option to ride in the opposite direction.
Miles Route
0.0 Cycle up the High Street. Continue past the clock tower and war memorial up the hill on the road out of the town.
2.3 At A75 turn right and immediately left towards Kirkcudbright. Follow the A755
3.1 At Barharrow turn right along the B727
3.4 At first junction turn right. Follow this road through beautiful countryside straight ahead all the way to Knockbrex.
6.1 At Knockbrex, bear left at the T-junction, along the coastal road past the Coo Palace. Going straight ahead past a couple of junctions. Kirkandrews has a tiny church 100m off route which is well worth a visit. Then up the hill to Borgue.
9.7 In Borgue turn right onto the B727 (Borgue Hotel is very near this junction). Follow the road all the way round the Dee Estuary. Pass Dhoon Beach on your right.
14.8 Turn right on A755 to arrive in Kirkcudbright.
15.4 In Kirkcudbright turn left at the T-junction (after visiting the shops, art galleries and castle!) along the A711. If you are on an off-road bike you could follow the path next to the river Dee
16.8 Over the historic Tongland bridge over the River Dee, then turn left along the A762.
17.5 Turn left, then after 200 metres cross the beautiful old Cumstoun bridge over the Tarff Water: look out for otters! Then follow the road West to Twynholm. The Cocoabean Company is a slight diversion to the right and well worth a visit.
19.0 In Twynholm go straight ahead at the crossroads. Follow the lane to the A75 (careful with the high hedges and narrow road here).
19.9 Cross the A75 - turning right and immediately left. Up the steep hill past Littleton Farm and back down the other side
22.5 Go carefully down a steep hill to a T-junction, where you turn right onto the B727. Follow this road back into Gatehouse of Fleet.
The Coo Palace built in 1911 as a modern dairy in such an elaborate style that the locals named it the Coo Palace. It is now an exclusive holiday appartment complex. Other places to see include Castle Haven and Kirkandrews church. Note the neighbouring arts and crafts cottages.
Castle Haven Dun, next to Castle Haven Bay is a stone fort, or Dun, with outer fortifications on a cliff facing out to the Wigtown Bay. When the galleried dun was cleared in 1905, they found relics from the Early Iron Age and the 8th/9th century, as well as a human skeleton.
Borgue hotel for refreshments.
Dhoon beach is a beautiful beach with toilets. The Dee estuary has been a magnet for artists, photographers and bird watchers for generations.
Kirkcudbright is Scotland’s Artists’ Town. It is a beautiful town with many local amenities including toilets, shops, cafés, pubs, hotels and restaurants. Visitor attractions include art galleries, MacLellan's Castle, the new Dark Space Planetarium, and more! The extensive salt marsh and reed beds at the confluence of the rivers Dee and Tarff are nationally important wildlife habitat, especially for birds.
Broughton House in the care of the National Trust for Scotland was the home of leading Kirkcudbright artist E A Hornel. It has a beautiful garden.
Tongland bridge. Historic bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1805.
Cocoabean Company. 300 metres off route, a family run chocolate factory and visitor attraction, with a café, toilets and play area.
Click below to download a pdf sheet for the route.
