The B7085 crosses the Machars Peninsula in Galloway, almost stretching from coast to coast.
Longcastle Schoolhouse near the summit
The route starts at an old fork junction just north of Braehead where the A714 turns into the A746. The B7085 is therefore the third route at this triple point and heads southwest. The route is largely flat at first as it weaves its way gently past the low hills but presently it starts to climb as it passes a larger forestry plantation. The treelined course of the old railway can be seen curving across the field to the left as the route approaches Whauphill, a small village with two large tractor dealerships occupying several sites between the old cottages. The B7085 follows Main Street and crosses the B7052 in the village centre. Back in open fields, the route continues in the same direction across the undulating terrain. After some windy bends, passing a few scattered buildings, a couple of long straights lift it up to a summit of just over 70m. The descent is of a similar nature, with some gentle bends between longer straights.
Presently the route curves down around the lower slopes of Drumtroddan Hill and then enters a wood. Here there's a sharp right-hand bend as the B7021 comes in from the left. The B7085 doubles back on itself to head south west along the edge of the woodland. The route gently zigzags past the wood for half a mile or so, after which it bears right at a fork and after a slight climb it straightens out. From this crest, the road can be seen stretching out ahead with a series of dips, but more excitingly the sea can be seen for the first time! This undulating descent leads down towards Port William, which is entered via a slalom next to the school. The High Street is lined with old stone houses and drops slightly towards the sea. However, to negotiate the low cliffs that sit along the coast here, and onto which the village clings, the route has to bear left then right to snake down to the raised beach on the shore. It crosses the small Kilantrae Burn to end at a roundabout on the A747 in the square on the edge of the harbour.
History
The route was originally classified as the southern end of the A714 in 1922, and remained so for many years. However, it was downgraded in the 1970s, although most of the road signs along the route still carried the A714 designation until the 1990s when they were plated over with B7085.
