Skedaddle stories: Cycling in Dumfries and Galloway

As Head of Marketing at Saddle Skedaddle, I’m fortunate to spend plenty of time promoting cycling adventures across the world. But there’s no substitute for getting out and experiencing a destination firsthand!

My initial interest in the Gallovidian Gravel route was sparked through Saddle Skedaddle’s partnership with Cycling UK and the launch of our new cycling holiday in the region, the Galloway Gravel Escape. The routes are largely similar, but the Skedaddle version offers additional support, including guides, a support vehicle, daily lunches, accommodation and luggage transfers (more on this below!).

Overview

Earlier this year, I joined the route launch event in Dumfries and sampled a section around Mabie Forest, getting a taste of the quiet trails, beautiful scenery and excellent gravel riding on offer in this gorgeous region of Scotland.

That short ride was enough to leave me wanting more, so I managed to convince my partner to spend a weekend exploring a larger section of the Gallovidian route for ourselves in July. Over two gloriously sunny days, we tackled the Dalbeattie loop, riding more than 110km via Kirkcudbright and Gatehouse of Fleet, before returning through Castle Douglas.

The route provided a fantastic snapshot of everything that makes cycling in Dumfries and Galloway so special. From remote gravel tracks winding through dense forests to peaceful country roads and spectacular coastal views stretching out across the Solway Firth, it offered an ever-changing journey through one of Scotland’s most underrated cycling destinations.

Here are some things that particularly stood out.

A chance to explore a lesser-visited corner of Scotland

Having visited this peaceful corner of south-west Scotland on numerous camping trips over the years, I thought I knew Dumfries and Galloway fairly well.

Yet Gallovidian Gravel revealed a completely different side of this Scottish region, leading us through secluded forests, along quiet country lanes and down to remote stretches of coastline I had never previously discovered.

One of the standout moments was reaching the beautiful Rascarrel Bay, where grassy cliffs tumble down towards the hidden rocky beach with beautiful views of the Solway coast. I also loved the scenic back roads approaching Kirkcudbright, which wound gently through rolling farmland and countryside with glimpses of the sea in the distance.

What has always drawn me to Dumfries and Galloway is its ability to make you feel far removed from the tourist trail, and this route only reinforced that feeling.

On day two, after leaving Gatehouse of Fleet, we rode up through Glengap and Largiston Forests and barely saw another person for next couple of hours. As you head up away from the small town, the views stretch out over the wonderfully wild Scottish hills and provide a strong sense of remoteness and adventure.

Don’t forget your swimwear and suncream

The route passes several fantastic wild swimming spots, offering the perfect excuse to cool off during a summer ride. We were lucky enough to tackle it during a spell of warm July weather and, despite Scotland’s often unfair reputation for rain, it felt more Mediterranean, than midge season.

With temperatures climbing and barely a cloud in the sky, having both swimwear and suncream packed proved essential.

One of our favourite stops was Carrick Bay, located a short distance from Gatehouse of Fleet and an ideal place to unwind after a long day in the saddle on day one. Popular with both locals and visitors, the sheltered bay offers beautiful views across the Atlantic Ocean towards a scattering of small islands.

After hours spent riding gravel tracks and quiet roads in the sunshine, there was no better feeling than swapping cycling shoes for bare feet and heading into the water for a refreshing dip.

Throughout our weekend, the sunshine highlighted the region at its very best, from the deep greens of the forests to the sparkling coastal waters. Long daylight hours meant there was no rush to reach our overnight stop, allowing plenty of time to pause, swim and soak up the scenery along the way!

Packing light pays off

One of the best decisions we made was travelling relatively light. I carried a couple of pannier bags for the essentials, while my partner, Niall, opted for a small handlebar bag. By booking a room at the Murray Arms Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet, we avoided the need to haul camping gear, sleeping bags and cooking equipment around the route.

Not only did this make the riding more enjoyable, particularly on some of the hillier gravel sections through the forests, it also meant we could enjoy some home comforts at the end of the day.

After a hot day in the saddle, a refreshing shower, comfortable bed and excellent meal were exactly what we needed! The Murray Arms’ restaurant also serves delicious food and I can highly recommend the vegetable curry and chocolate marquise ...

Our experience also highlighted one of the key benefits of joining a supported trip with an operator. Travelling light undoubtedly improved the ride, and with Saddle Skedaddle’s fully guided Galloway Gravel Escape holiday, luggage transfers are included (more on that below!), allowing riders to enjoy all the benefits of a bikepacking adventure without excessive weight to worry about.

Check your dates carefully

Summer was a fantastic time to ride Gallovidian Gravel, with long daylight hours and generally favourable weather conditions. However, it’s worth checking local event calendars before setting off. We narrowly missed a major car rally that used some of the same forest tracks, leaving sections of the gravel rougher and more churned up than usual.

It’s also worth noting that Dumfries and Galloway has become a major gravel cycling destination thanks to the Gralloch festival each spring; in 2027 this will take place 14-16 May. While the atmosphere is fantastic, accommodation can book up quickly and some trails become much busier, so riders seeking a quieter experience will likely prefer to visit at another time of year.

Go supported and leave the logistics to the experts

We chose to ride the route independently, using the detailed Cycling UK guidebook and Ride With GPS navigation files to find our way around. Both worked well and made following the route straightforward, allowing us to focus on enjoying the riding and scenery.

However, even with navigation taken care of, there was still a fair amount of planning involved behind the scenes. We needed to decide where we would stay, organise transport to and from the route, and work out how best to travel with our bikes and luggage.

For riders short on time to sort logistics, a guided trip can be a great alternative. Saddle Skedaddle’s fully supported seven-day Galloway Gravel Escape group holiday removes all of the planning.

It includes several sections of the wider Gallovidian Gravel route, such as the legendary Fuffock Hill in Glengap Forest, a climb that also features on the renowned Gralloch gravel race, as well as wilder sections further north, including Glentrool.

With support from an experienced riding guide and a support vehicle, luggage transfers between accommodation and freshly prepared picnic lunches each day, you can simply concentrate on turning the pedals and soaking up the spectacular scenery.

There’s no need to worry about finding where you will rest or deciding where to stop for lunch. Instead, you can enjoy the best of the route knowing that the practical details have already been taken care of.

It's an appealing option whether you’re new to gravel riding, a seasoned cyclist looking for a more relaxed experience, or a solo traveller seeking company and camaraderie along the way!

Having experienced firsthand how rewarding the riding is across Dumfries and Galloway, I can certainly see the appeal of letting the experts handle the logistics, so you focus on exploring with new friends.

Final thoughts

The Gallovidian Gravel route I rode exceeded my expectations. Extremely quiet in places, varied and incredibly idyllic landscapes, it offered a wonderful snapshot of everything that makes Dumfries and Galloway such a rewarding cycling destination.

This short loop route from Dalbeattie also provides an excellent introduction to gravel riding. With a mix of quiet country roads, forestry tracks, coastal trails and sections of off-road riding, it gives riders a genuine taste of the different terrain gravel cycling can encompass.

The combination of on- and off-road surfaces makes it an ideal route for anyone looking to build confidence away from tarmac, while still enjoying plenty of time on quieter roads.

Another thing to note is that Dumfries and Galloway’s landscape is far hillier than it first appears, and there is plenty of climbing throughout the route, especially on day two when you ride up into the forests. So, a good level of fitness is important.

I wouldn’t consider myself an experienced gravel rider, but I found this section of the Gallovidian route offered just the right balance of challenge and accessibility, helping me build confidence on a variety of terrain, while still feeling achievable and rewarding.

For those looking for a slightly more challenging gravel journey in Dumfries and Galloway, Saddle Skedaddle’s Galloway Gravel Escape route is graded at 3 and better for gravel riders with some previous experience who are happy cycling on range of rough terrain over several consecutive days.

While much of the riding is on non-technical gravel tracks and quiet roads, some sections feature loose, chunky gravel, bumpy surfaces, grassy trails and occasional singletrack, all of which require good bike handling skills, particularly after wet weather.

What’s next?

Whether you’re new to gravel or a seasoned gravel rider looking for a multi-day adventure in the UK that combines scenic roads with off-road exploration, Gallovidian Gravel delivers in abundance.

If you like the idea of more support and logistics taken care of, head to Saddle Skedaddle’s website to find out more about the Galloway Gravel Escape guided holiday including dates, prices and availability.

In addition to cycling holidays in Scotland, Saddle Skedaddle also offers more than 180 supported trips in the UK, Europe and further afield for a wide range of cyclists, including road, leisure, gravel and MTB trips.