I did this run the day before I met up with Stuart for the west coast loop (below). This is in South West Scotland, not far from major towns (Ayr, Dumfries, Stranraer), but mostly not on major routes. The roads and villages feel more like the highlands & islands than the industrial central belt. This is worth a look if you're from Scotland and normally head north or if you're coming to Scotland from the south this is worth a detour in the way north.
It's a 250 mile round trip. If you stop off and explore a bit as I did it's a good days ride, but obviously quicker if you don't stop much.
I started the loop just south of Ayr in the village of Maybole. On entering village take a right signed for Maidens (the name of a town not.....), then on to the A719 along the coast towards Girvan, passing Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort on the way. After Turnberry the coast road becomes the A77.
The section from Girvan to Ballantrae hugs the coast and has son fast sweeping bends. After Ballantrae road turns inland before coming back to the coast passing through ferry ports of Cairnryan & Stranraer (for Belfast & Larne). At Stranraer I continued on A77 to the picture postcard town of Portpatrick. This is well worth a visit, the harbour is really pretty & there are many pubs with outside tables for food/drink. I had lunch in the sunshine sitting outside the Waterside Hotel. Believe it or not there was a topless couple sunbathing on the beach (well the bloke was topless & his partner had a bikini on).
After lunch I took the A716 towards Drummore & Mull of Galloway (the most Southern part of Scotland). There is a single track road out to the lighthouse that has great views of sea & cliffs. On a clear day you can see the IoM, Ireland, Lake District & North Wales. I could see all except Ireland as there was some haze. At the lighthouse there is a cafe with great cliff views & a bird watching centre (of the avian variety!)
From here it's back up the A718 via Sandhead, the briefly on the A75 before turning right on the A747 towards Whithorn & Isle of Whithorn. IoW is another pretty harbour. The Steam Packet Inn does nice food and tables outside.
From Isle if Whithorn it's the A746 through Wigtown then the A75 to Gatehouse of Fleet where I turned right on the A755 to Kircudbright then the A711 to auchencairn & Dalbeatie.
At Dalbeatie I turned north on the A713 towards Castle Douglas then onwards to Loch Ken. The A713 through the Galloway Forest Park is a fast road with some sweeping bends and technical twisty bits.
It's well worth stoping at Loch Ken to admire the view. The A713 continues though Carsphairn and Dalmellington before arriving back in Maybole.
I'd definitely recommend this route. If you don't stop much or only once you could do it in a few hours, but it also makes an interesting day with things to look at along the way.
I'll post up some photos and a route map later.
It's a 250 mile round trip. If you stop off and explore a bit as I did it's a good days ride, but obviously quicker if you don't stop much.
I started the loop just south of Ayr in the village of Maybole. On entering village take a right signed for Maidens (the name of a town not.....), then on to the A719 along the coast towards Girvan, passing Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort on the way. After Turnberry the coast road becomes the A77.
The section from Girvan to Ballantrae hugs the coast and has son fast sweeping bends. After Ballantrae road turns inland before coming back to the coast passing through ferry ports of Cairnryan & Stranraer (for Belfast & Larne). At Stranraer I continued on A77 to the picture postcard town of Portpatrick. This is well worth a visit, the harbour is really pretty & there are many pubs with outside tables for food/drink. I had lunch in the sunshine sitting outside the Waterside Hotel. Believe it or not there was a topless couple sunbathing on the beach (well the bloke was topless & his partner had a bikini on).
After lunch I took the A716 towards Drummore & Mull of Galloway (the most Southern part of Scotland). There is a single track road out to the lighthouse that has great views of sea & cliffs. On a clear day you can see the IoM, Ireland, Lake District & North Wales. I could see all except Ireland as there was some haze. At the lighthouse there is a cafe with great cliff views & a bird watching centre (of the avian variety!)
From here it's back up the A718 via Sandhead, the briefly on the A75 before turning right on the A747 towards Whithorn & Isle of Whithorn. IoW is another pretty harbour. The Steam Packet Inn does nice food and tables outside.
From Isle if Whithorn it's the A746 through Wigtown then the A75 to Gatehouse of Fleet where I turned right on the A755 to Kircudbright then the A711 to auchencairn & Dalbeatie.
At Dalbeatie I turned north on the A713 towards Castle Douglas then onwards to Loch Ken. The A713 through the Galloway Forest Park is a fast road with some sweeping bends and technical twisty bits.
It's well worth stoping at Loch Ken to admire the view. The A713 continues though Carsphairn and Dalmellington before arriving back in Maybole.
I'd definitely recommend this route. If you don't stop much or only once you could do it in a few hours, but it also makes an interesting day with things to look at along the way.
I'll post up some photos and a route map later.
