Gallovidian Gravel

The Gallovidian Gravel route starts in Scotland’s Queen of the South, Dumfries, before diving into Mabie Forest where wildlife mixes with perfect traffic-free gravel and epic views across the Solway Firth into the Lake District.

After the unspoilt coastline of Rockcliffe you head into the granite biking hub of Dalbeattie Forest, heading south to the smugglers’ stories and idyllic isolation of Balcary Bay.

Quiet lanes and gravel sections take you past Dundrennan Abbey, firing ranges and ancient pastures to the pretty artists’ town and fishing port of Kirkcudbright. Then it’s along the jagged volcanic coastline to Coo Palace and beautiful beach coves of Carrick. Pedalling through parkland gets you to Gatehouse of Fleet with its booming bike culture and coffee houses.

Ancient churches mark the climb up and out over the military road with views south past the tip of Galloway to the Isle of Man before winding back roads take you to Kirroughtree. More manmade forest tracks turn to wild grass-centred back roads to Newton Stewart and north past tumbling waterfalls in ancient woods.

Head into the brooding beauty of Galloway Forest Park and the Dark Skies heart of Glentrool where Robert the Bruce rolled boulders onto his English enemies. Wild goats play on the hillsides as you wind up Glenhead. From the breathtaking remoteness of Loch Dee is a perfect gravel rollercoaster past lochs, forests and crystal-clear rivers down the Raiders Road and then long-lost railway lines over and under towering viaducts back towards Gatehouse of Fleet.

Pristine gravel and deserted forest roads loop north again past Red Kite centres and traces of Rome’s futile fight against the Picts before pretty Castle Douglas. Then it’s old military roads and zig zagging farm tracks back to Dalbeattie.

Please note, due to flood defence work happening through the local council there will be diversions in place at the start of this route soon.