Gin, Music and Stories

A ride to the West of Galloway through Scotland’s finest cultures & landscapes, along the Solway coast.

Tour details

  • A tour with two hubs and a single luggage transfer, making it the green option that allows you to fully relax.

    The two base locations are Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart.

    You will ride along the Solway coast, a bit of upland or forest rides with more than enough castles and history.

    This tour goes right into the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere.

    Enjoy a whisky or gin distillery tour (or both!) and more than enough art and second hand bookshops too.

    Newton Stewart has a very vibrant music scene - there should be some live music in the The Vault, in the heart of Newton Stewart.

  • between 25- 35 miles each day - or loads more, if you like

  • from £950 per person based on sharing a room

    SINGLE as part of a group: from £1220

    Solo: £1300

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    Bike rental is an Extra.

  • Day 1- Arrival:

    Make your way to Lockerbie or Dumfries by train and we transfer you to your accommodation in Kirkcudbright. We give an introduction to the area and your route highlights, and get you ready to make the most of your stay. If you hire bikes from us, we do a bike-fit and ready to ride briefing.

    Day 2 & 3: Tours around Kirkcudbright

    We design the rides just for you, the distances you are happy with and the things you want to see. Perhaps you like to visit Threave Garden near Castle Douglas, or Dundrennan Abbey. Perhaps you want to explore the area where the Galloway Hoard was found or see ancient stone circles or rock carvings. The rides are unique to you.

    Day 4: Cycle to Newton Stewart

    A 34 mile day *. Out along the Solway coast with sandy bays and coves where vikings, pirates and smugglers sailed. 

    Riding through the grounds of Cally Palace you arrive in Gatehouse of Fleet. You can stop here for lunch or book a room and extend your stay with a ride into the Galloway Forest, the Dark Sky Park at the heart of Galloway. 

    Climbing steadily away from the coast the views open to the galloway Highlands and the highest hills in southern Scotland. Early summer rides here will be accompanied by the song of Cuckoos, high moorland birds and possibly an eagle. 

    Turning back towards the coast you drop down to Creetown and the Gem Museum cafe before picking up the rail trail towards Newton Stewart. You ride through farmland and then forest to Kirroughtree, which has a great restaurant and bike shop before you return to roads on the outskirts of Newton Stewart.

    * If you would like to split this stretch and allow yourself some more time, we can arrange an overnight stay in Gatehouse for you.

    Day 5 & 6: Tours around Newton Stewart

    Again there are several options for you. There is a beautiful ride along the river Cree to the heart of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Unesco Biosphere with stunning views into the hills around Loch Trool. Another option is to keep to the Solway and explore the area around the famous Book Town of Wigtown and maybe visit the Crafty Gin Distillery or Bladnoch Distilleries.

    Day 7: Departure

    We will bring you back to the train station in Lockerbie, or to your car in Kirkcudbright.

  • If you arrive by car, we can arrange safe parking and bring you back to it from Newton Stewart.

    If you arrive by train/coach, we will arrange pickup and transport back to the stations.

Hub 1: Kirkcudbright - the ‘ Artist Town ‘

The pastel coloured townhouses, galleries and craft shops plus the working harbour give the town a unique feel in Southern Scotland. A gin distillery and Dark Sky planetarium are a brand new addition. There are great cafes for treats during the day and a range of quality places for evening meals. Accommodation can be anything from 4 star hotel with fine dining to self catering and everything in between. Quiet roads and tracks take you on some of the best day rides in the UK.

Hub 2: Newton Stewart - Gateway to the Machars

Again there is a range of accommodation and places to eat. Rides from here can be along the coast to Wigtown ‘ Scotland’s Book Town ‘ to indulge  in books and cafes or perhaps a visit to Bladnoch Distillery for a whisky tour, or to internationally acclaimed Crafty Distillery for Gin. Stone circles and ancient crosses and some of the quietest roads in Scotland.

NEWTON STEWART is home to a wonderful welcoming cultural music venue and bar, “The Vault”, that frequently has ad-hoc traditional music sessions and events.