[Closed] Routes around Dalbeattie

[url= http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/bigjohnskona/Dalbeattie/#!cpZZ3QQtppZZ12 ]there is the coastal path from Sandyhills or Portling to Kipford[/url]
Need to join this up to the Stane to make a decent ride. If you add on the couple of hrs worth of "local" stuff you can have a challenging ride fitness wise, noth serious like you are used to in the Lakes 🙄
To make a really big day you can join Mabie & Dalbeattie using a forest track known as Bilsons Link and the coastal path..50-60mls depending on how much you do in either Stane. Find Southwick East Lodge on the OS map along from Sandyhills and before Southerness and follow the forest road across the hill(may show as dead end but it is not)to Kinharvie. You then find Shambellie Wood and Troston Forest to Mabie. The only bit that is difficult to find is the hole in the dyke from Shambellie into Troston, it is at the top of a forest road, opposite the 4X4 tracks.

When are you planning your trip? I am meeting up with another forum member on Mon to do the "good" stuff @ Mabie.

Excellent - thanks Trekster. I'll be staying in Rockcliffe and I was hoping there was an offroad route that might drop me out at Mabie. Thanks for the Monday offer but I won't be over there until end of the month.

Any idea what Criffel's like - any interesting descents ?

Criffel is a bogfest most of the year. google it, there are 2 ways up, long & short. Been years since we attempted it and that was 2 new yrs in a row when it was covered in snow. 2.1/2hr hike up and 1/2hr descent. It is a fair auld hike for not much gain really.
The short has recently been upgraded so might be worth a punt but not something many locals have tried afik.
When you are in New Abbey you can see a monument, there is a good descent off there but will be very difficult to find due to all the bracken. It can be reached by turning sharp right on the downhill to the fish farm(off Bilsons Link) and then right again uphill and left at the next junction. At the monument you go left on a vague footpath, cross 2 forwarder tracks. At the 2nd forwarder track you must keep left at a tree stump. As I say it will be vague under the bracken etc. This track leads onto the farm road along to the sawmill and into New Abbey. You then take 1 of 3 ways into Shambellie Wood over to Mabie as before.
got quite a bit on end Aug, begin Sept. have you got dates?

Also some hike a bike onto Lotus Hill

Screel hill to the west?

yeah, short but sweet. Go up the back way(clockwise), cycle/scramble along the top onto Screel, scramble down on to what is left of the track and back to car park. Not done it for years due to erosion and it got wrecked when they felled the trees and the ensuing windblow.
There is another track the other side of the estuary from Dalbeattie, only done that a couple of times due to the amount of road required to get there & back.
Unfortunately the South of Scotland(D&G anyway) does not have the drove road or bridleway systems the North or Lakes have. The area is boggy most of the year round!!! Difficult enough hiking the hills never mind trying to bike them.
The Lowther and Moffat hills lend themselves to some good biking tho, OS78 😆

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll have a wander. Not sure about exact dates as yet trekster, but if I have web access I'll give you a shout 🙂