During a conversation with one of the Dumfries and Galloway rangers earlier in the year (2025), he happened to mention another Long Distance Path that they were trying to develop. This was the Rhins of Galloway Coastal Path, but he did warn it was not complete and definitely not suitable for bikes - OK then!
Stranraer to Corsewall Point
And so it was we found ourselves parking the van at Agnew Park in Stranraer one cold March morning for the first leg of our RGCP bike ride. The route is well posted as we crept along the coast leaving the town past the golf course and on to Wig Bay. One of my reasons for wanting to ride this route is the abundant WW2 history and the giant seaplane facility here is fascinating.
After passing through Kirkcolm, the route stays glued to the Loch Ryan coastline with interesting singletrack footpath still well sign posted and fairly easy to follow. Eventually reaching the Corsewall Lighthouse, we headed back to Stranraer on quiet minor roads.
Corsewall Point to Galdanoch
For this leg we plotted a loop starting out from Leswalt which meant taking back roads back out to the Corsewall Lighthouse where we could pick up the RGCP once more.
A nice start past a rather cool looking designer coastal home took us south along the rugged coast and we now started to realise the true nature of the RGCP signposting. The path was often non-existent but rather a lonely marker post that you had to aim for with your own route. Or maybe there was no marker post and you had to invent the path. No problem for an ex-cub scout with his 1970s pathfinders badge.
We soon came across giant strange looking concrete lumps in the ground along with a field full of rather large (and heavily defended) bunkers. Later research revealed this to be an early top secret radar base (RAF North Cairn)
The path is no longer easy as you follow a non-existent dotted line along the coast and cliff tops but the views and scenery are stunning (having never been here before). Our loop for today got us to Galdenoch Castle, where we headed inland and back to Leswalt.
Galdenoch to Killantringan Bay
Back to Leswalt for another loop. Climbed out of the village through the lovely Aldouran Wetland and woods before retracing minor roads back to the coast at Galdenoch.
The route is very much a series of (often imaginary) signposts and vague paths joining beautiful remote bays and cliff top views. Sometimes there is a definite "way" to follow, other times you are the navigator on the ground. We didn't always get it right.
But this "work in progress" is being created as we speak and there are signs of brand new activity such as freshly planted bridges.
Once we reached Killantringan Bay, that was this leg for today and we headed back to Leswalt on easier minor roads and a small chunk of the familiar Southern Upland Way.
Portpatrick to Ardwell Bay
Having previously ridden the full Southern Upland Way there was no need to repeat the cliff top stretch from Killantringan Lighthouse to Portpatrick so we opted to park at the port itself for our next loop. A steep set of steps out of town got us high on the cliffs and over to Dunskey Castle.
Great singletrack past Morroch Bay and Knochinaam Lodge Hotel before starting to follow field edges and the cliffs where the local farmer seems to relish electric fences. Some without gates, making us regret bringing the eebs on this particular stretch.
More signs of major trail work as we descended some impressive (and steep) steps down into Cairngarroch Bay only to be greeted by a hideous climb back out where no trail exists at all, just a steep boggy climb onto a feint boggy path.
On reaching Float Bay we headed back to Portpatrick, taking minor roads for speed as the wind was now against us.
Float Bay to Clanyard
For our penultimate leg we had devised a loop starting at Port Logan. Heading north, we followed minor back roads to Port Gill then on to pick up the Coastal Path where we left off at Float Bay. Rough field edges brought us to Ardwell Bay where we diverted out to investigate the impressive Doon broch site on the headland.
A tricky bit of narrow singletrack got us back on the path as we made our way back to Port Gill. The route here is a particularly ambiguous, I think the end game is to hug the coastline around the Mull of Logan, but the land owners were not playing ball at the time of our visit so it was a tarmac backtrack to Port Logan for us.
We next headed south from Port Logan and followed the imaginary trail along field edges to Castle Clanyard. This section was a little dreary to be honest, so much so the only photo I have is not even landscape.
To the Mull
This would be the final leg for us as we had previously ridden the Mull of Galloway trail from the lighthouse to Glenapp so had covered the Coastal Path route to Stranraer. We parked the van at the little kirk at Kirkmaiden and meandered on back roads back out to the coast at Castle Clanyard. Here we picked up a good drove/farm track that took us out past a magnificent modern house isolated on a lonely hill top.
Back out to the coast at Portencorkrie and around to the Crammag Head lighthouse and the WW2 watch hut.
Low cloud was changing the atmosphere as we continued to skirt between cliff edge and farm boundary ever southward toward the Mull. Occasionally lifting to give us tantalising views of the dramatic coast line.
It wasn't long before we reached the narrow neck of land letting the Mull cling onto its bigger mass and started our climb up to the lighthouse with some pretty impressive cliffs. The wind had picked up which made this cliff top section all the more exhilarating.
And finally we were at the lighthouse. Celebrated with a large slice of Ecclefechan tart.
The full Rhins of Galloway Coastal Path route now makes its way back to Stranraer and you can read about that from our previous trip notes here.
This trail has plenty of potential but it is a little vague in many places just now. We don't mind that and are happy to take the rough dotted line given by the D&G rangers and create a possible route to follow. Others may not be so keen. The biggest issue at present is the land owners ignoring any form of access and plunking live electric fences across the path with no gates/styles, etc. Not ideal but hopefully things will change.
Cheers
Vincent and Jill
Nice write up and I can take a good (informed ) guess at the exact landowners/farmers who are being dicks, they were dicks 20years ago when we used to attempt that route (I live in kirkcudbright) they will not change their self entitlement to their inbred “get orff my land” mentality
I had an overnighter around the Mull last year on the gravel bike (mainly roads). Camped in spooky Dunskey Castle. Lovely bit of coastline.
Cheers, liked that, lived at Corsewall as a lad, it’s a tucked sideways area that gets driven by.
Very nice write up - enjoyed that 👍