D&G circular

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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thidwick
Posts: 93
Joined: 27 Jul 2014, 7:33pm

D&G circular

Post by thidwick »

No, nothing to do with a fashion house....
Thinking of planning a route in Dumfries & Galloway, and the Sustrans map shows some off-road bits of National Cycle Route near Newton Stewart, and an interesting looking route up from the B796 past Loch Grannoch to Clatteringshaws loch along the "Raiders Road".
I did find reference in this forum to the bits near Newton Stewart being forestry tracks and OK for touring bike tyres; but these references are a few years old. Any more recent experience out there?
The route past Loch Grannoch seems as if it might be more MTB than tourer. Opinions? I don't enjoy having my teeth rattled all day.
If I do go, I'll be on a Galaxy with 32mm tyres.

I'd welcome your views. (and promises of good weather)

Thidwick
khain
Posts: 245
Joined: 5 Feb 2014, 5:42pm

Re: D&G circular

Post by khain »

That route from the B796 is a pretty rough track. I was thinking about it last year but decided against it when I saw it. You might be able to manage it on 32mm tyres but it definitely looks more suited to a mountain bike. However, continuing along the road to Creetown is a cracking cycle with superb views and probably much better than the track which is mainly through forest. There is a cycle path from Creetown to Newton Stewart which is reasonable quality so I would definitely go that way rather than up to Clatteringshaws.

It's a lovely area to cycle and there are loads of quiet roads so I wouldn't bother with off-road tracks. Most of the main roads are ok to cycle on too, except the a75 which is busy. I would largely ignore the Sustrans maps and make up your own route.
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Paulatic
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Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: D&G circular

Post by Paulatic »

We always have good weather in D&G [emoji3]

I lied but we always have good cycling. Long time since I've been out that way but as its FC I don't imagine it will be a poor track at all. I've done it on 25mm but there again I always do. I'm not known to let tyre choice be a barrier to some rough stuff!
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chris_suffolk
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Joined: 18 Oct 2012, 10:01pm

Re: D&G circular

Post by chris_suffolk »

Unless they have spent loads of money (which I doubt) take as durable and comfortable tyre as you can manage, as when I was there two years ago even some of the main A roads (classed as Trunk roads) were like ploughed fields, many minor roads were almost unridable on a road bike. I contacted the council upon my return, and was told thay had had a hard winter - but this was August, so plenty of time to fix the issues if they had a mind to.
Galloper
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Joined: 6 Dec 2012, 2:21pm

Re: D&G circular

Post by Galloper »

I'm not sure exactly which off road route you are intending to use near Newton Stewart but last year I rode the CTC "Big Country" ride which loops around Newton Stewart and Glentrool. It's a circular ride of 58k and is well worth riding but I would recommend not using a road or touring bike. When I rode it last year there were quite a few sections where the FC had laid down hardcore and anything other than an mtb would struggle. There are also plenty of sections of rough fire road so I would suggest that yoiu have a look at the 7 Stanes website for Glentrool and clarify if your proposed route uses the "Big Country" loop
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andrew_s
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Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 9:29pm
Location: Gloucestershire

Re: D&G circular

Post by andrew_s »

Looks perfectly OK for a touring bike to me.

To check these routes out, go to http://cycle.travel/map , set up a route that goes up the track you are interested in (drag the route onto the track if the suggested route doesn't take it), then click on the route and select "find photos" to get a selection of photos from geograph.org, among which there will generally be several showing what the track is like. The photos are closest to the click first.
For example:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2758115
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2136145
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2136029
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3346944

There's always the possibility that the Forestry Commission will have decided to chop some tree down and churn up the track, but you'll just have to chance that.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3345793
thidwick
Posts: 93
Joined: 27 Jul 2014, 7:33pm

Re: D&G circular

Post by thidwick »

Thanks all, for your assistance and suggestions. I like the "find photo" feature on cycle.travel. I've never played with that before, and have just now spent a good while doing just that. :D
It works well too. Some of the tracks look pretty ok, some to the north of the A712 look too rough. The photos of some of the minor roads look like delightful cycling country.
I like some of the place names. Minigaff just asks to be visited.
I had a look at the 7stanes website too. Some useful info there. Some of the "big country" loop will be in the plan: at least the bit parallel to the a714 up to Glentrool.
Thank you again, I'll play and plan (and dream) some more. May bank hol weekend methinks.
pwa
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Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: D&G circular

Post by pwa »

For anyone who likes old fashioned whodunnits, Dorothy L Sayers set her murder mystery novel Five Red Herrings in that area, using real locations as a backdrop. And a bicycle features.
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