Galloway Roadtrip 2013
A spring visit to the far south west of Scotland in April 2013.
Attendees
Day 1
Ummm... Pottering around the borders.
Day 2
More of the same
Day 3 - Border Glens and Dumfriesshire Coast
An early morning meet in Moffat saw Rob join up with Haydn and Glen. The morning was spent exploring the old A74 (now B7076 and B7078) north to Lesmahagow before driving up the A708 past the Grey Mares Waterfall and on to Cappercleuch, from where the minor road led us across Meggethead to the A701 and so back to Moffat.
Haydn and Glen then headed down to Lockerbie to pick up Mark and then the A709, whilst Rob took the more direct A701 across to Dumfries, with the next stop being Sweetheart Abbey on the A710. Continuing south via Southerness Point, we followed the coast around to Dalbeattie where we swapped onto the A711. South again, stopping at viewpoints and Dundrennan Abbey before detouring onto minor roads along the coast and so into Kirkcudbright. Here we stopped to look at the Castle and Kirkcudbright Bridge before taking the B727 and some minor roads around to the A75 at Gatehouse of Fleet. From there it was straight to the Youth Hostel in Newton Stewart and tea in a local pub.
Day 4 - Whithorn & The Mull of Galloway
We headed south on the A714 through Wigtown and onto the A746, before forking left onto the B7004 to Garlieston. Then south on the B7063 to the spectacularly sited Isle of Whithorn, cradle of Christianity in this part of Scotland. From here we could see the Isle of Man and the Cumbrian Coast. Then back up the B7004 to Whithorn itself for Brunch.
The B7027 led us west past some standing stones to Port William, and then north on the A747 and some minor roads to Glenluce, Glenluce Bridge and Glenluce Abbey. Across the A75 and onto the B7084, A716, B7041 and a minor road to the Mull of Galloway, the further south west Scotland goes. Northern Ireland now joined the Isle of Man and Cumbria on the horizon, and we enjoyed a walk around the Mull itself.
The B7065 and more minor roads led us north to beautiful Port Patrick, where we enjoyed an hour or so wandering around in the lovely warm spring sunshine. Then it was north again, up the B738 to Corsewall Point Lighthouse. Onto the A718, through Stranraer and north up the A77 to Ballantrae for tea before a failed attempt to catch the sunset at Bennane Head, then B734 and never-ending A714 back to the Hostel.
Day 5 - The Galloway Forest
After struggling to find breakfast on a Sunday Morning, we set off into the Galloway Forest on the A712, the weather now grey and drizzly, a distinct contrast to the sunshine of Saturday. The minor road at Clatteringshaws Loch yielded more potholes than road, and then the A762 and A713 north, with a few stops for photos. We passed through the bleak town of Dalmellington, before finding a nice Cafe at Straiton on the B741.
It was then south on a minor road, and east on the Forest Drive to Doon Castle. Back down the A713 and on to the B729 through Moniaive to Dumfries once more, for a final stop looking at Caerlaverock Castle. From here, Haydn and Mark headed east on the B724 to Annan, and so the motorway and home, while Rob and Glen headed north, taking in the full length of the A76 and then following the old A77 into the heart of Glasgow to drop Glen at the Bus Station, before Rob headed back to Lochaber.
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