Cycling in Dumfries and Galloway

In recent years cycling has become a popular leisure activity in Dumfries and Galloway. Cycling in Dumfries and Galloway is a great way to see the region at your own pace and many cycle routes have been designed to pass famous locations.

Dumfries and Galloway is a cyclist’s dream destination with hundreds of miles of sign-posted routes, enabling you to see the region at its best from two wheels. Why not start your cycling adventure in the historic town of Dumfries? The town makes a convenient base for exploring the Solway coast with its many attractions, not least those associated with Robert Burns. Just outside of Dumfries, near Thornhill, you can even find out about the history of the bicycle at the National Cycle Musuem at Drumlanrig Castle Gardens.

The town’s Bike2Go scheme is the perfect way to explore in your own pace. Simply pick up a bike from one of the cycle hire HUBs that have been installed across the town, and return it to any other HUB when you’ve finished. Dumfries has an extensive traffic-free cycle network, connecting many of the town’s key locations. There are handy maps to guide you around the various routes and there are plenty to try, from short journeys to longer routes into the beautiful countryside.

There are two National Cycle Network routes in the region. National Cycle Route 7 covers 114 miles, passing through Gretna Green, Annan, Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart and a variety of visitor attractions. While National Cycle Route 74 runs for 44 miles and connecting Route 7 to South Lanarkshire along quiet roads adjacent to the A74 motorway.

We recommend using Sustrans national cycle network app, which is free on Apple and Android and enables the user access to over 25,000 miles of walking and cycling across the UK. For more information on what there is to explore, check out our Things to Do guide.

_{Photo by Michael Cummins on Unsplash}