A Galloway gallivant

For our latest SLOG (Singletrack trail LOG) we are joining up a couple of local paths down here in SW Scotland – the Mull of Galloway Trail and the Ayrshire Coastal Path. No idea what will be rideable but we seem to enjoy a little exploration – especially with the website warning us “many stretches along cliff-tops, up gullies, and over rough rocky shores are not suitable for cyclists, horses, or slip-on shoes”.

Mull of Galloway Lighthouse to Ardwell

Weather looked promising for Monday (both off work) so we parked up near Ardwell and made our way down to the “most southerly point in Scotland” weaving across the Mull via Port Logan and the western coast using back roads and farm tracks.

Eventually reached the starting point (and a Galloway ice cream).

Exhilarating drop down to toward the sea and then headed along the narrow cliff top sheep tracks – so dangerous for “slip-on shoes”.

Lots of narrow (some overgrown) coastal path with some tough going sections along the pebble beaches but eventually made our merry way back to the waiting van at Ardwell.

Hoping to get back down soon for the next stretch from Ardwell to Stranraer and back.

Nice pictures. I’m envious and I could do with getting out on my bike more often and further from home.

Aye, you’ve used up all the good weather. Not so braw in Galloway today.

Lovely. ?

I grew up in Drummore so know this corner of Scotland very well, fair play for giving this a bash on a bike – I did it from Stranraer to Drummore years ago and some of the beach sections were really hard going.

Ardwell to Stranraer

We are no strangers to a Scottish coast to coast having completed the Southern Upland Way on the bikes but this leg of our mini adventure would be one of the shorter ones taking us from the coast of Loch Ryan to Luce Bay.

We parked up just outside Stranraer and followed the Mull of Galloway trail markers south weaving our way through woods and rolling farmland.

Passing by RAF West Freugh, we reached the waters of Luce Bay where we followed the coastal trail – often having to battle for right of passage with the local habitat.

Refuelling sandwich at Ardwell then about turn and retrace the route with a detour up to see the fascinating Kirkmadrine church and stones high on the hill.

Back to the waiting van at Stranraer then off to Girvan for Gelato.

Looks great–did you happen to pass through Castle Kennedy gardens/estate?

I have been eyeing up a route from Cairnryan to New Luce (and on to Galloway Forest) and wishing to avoid the A75 as much as possible, some route-planning apps pick up paths through Castle Kennedy but I assume it’s private?

@tractionman – We did pass through the gardens when we followed the Southern Upland Way last year – the marked route is West to East so unsure if that helps you. Maybe a bit of a diversion but you could follow the coast (bike path) into Stranraer then the Mull of Galloway Trail south out of Stranraer then the Southern Upland Way back towards (and through) castle Kennedy (assuming gravel or MTB)?

Many thanks @vmgscot for the inf, that’s good to know.

Cheers,

Keith

You can get to Castle Kennedy gardens from the A77 – take a left at Innermessan and then take your first right – follow this for a couple of miles and you will come to a cross road – go straight over to go into the estate. Take your first left and go over the bridge to go round the north side of the loch

You can get to Castle Kennedy gardens from the A77 – take a left at Innermessan and then take your first right – follow this for a couple of miles and you will come to a cross road – go straight over to go into the estate. Take your first left and go over the bridge to go round the north side of the loch

ah thanks @rudedog, that’s the way I was looking at, through the estate, turning here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/86vrtMfyZTguXrxu5

Yep, just make sure you go round the north side of the black loch as the southern side is blocked with a gate at the end.

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Forum still appears really flaky (and the previous links to postimg are broke) but lets see if we can finish this little post off…

Stranraer to Glenapp

For our third and final stint we parked up where the Mull of Galloway trail ends at Glenapp Church.
Headed southwards up and over the hills that watch over Loch Ryan and the comings and goings of the ferries to Ireland.

Ideal location to park a gun battery.

Also home to the “Taxing Stane” – presumably placed here by “ye olde HMRC”

After an interesting liaison with hundreds of juvenile pheasants (unsure if escaped or released from nearby pens) we descended down to the coast proper at the old Cairnryan military port. Must have been some sight to see the Ark Royal parked and dismantled here in the 80’s.

The route then hugs the shoreline between the A77 and the sea and is a little untended but passable and adds to the adventure.

A little sandwich break at Stranraer before about turn and head back to the van and a little look at the information sign about the Ayrshire Costal Path that starts here – uhm sounds like another bike ride idea.

More amazing weather 🙂

Great to see the pics, especially the ‘path’ by the shore, as an alternative to riding the A77 which does not really appeal too much with the traffic to and from Cairnryan to compete with!