Gravel Paradise: Exploring Dumfries and Galloway’s Scenic Routes

Route profile: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1538231736?share_token=aToxva0gKPpGc5b8iiX3aDfcaox9436HNWc106wGS5RU47LdnG&ref=wtd

Join me on an epic gravel cycling adventure through the hidden trails of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland! From the historic remnants of the Portpatrick Railway to the breathtaking views of Cairnsmore of Fleet, this ride is a true exploration of nature’s beauty. But that’s not all – this route is featured in Ed Shoote’s incredible book, “Gravel Rides Scotland,” so you know it’s one not to be missed! Strap in and get ready for an unforgettable journey filled with stunning landscapes, hidden gems, and plenty of gravel goodness. #GravelCycling #Scotland #AdventureCycling #DumfriesAndGalloway #GravelRidesScotland #CyclingAdventures #OutdoorExploration #ExploreScotland #HiddenTrails #GravelBiking #CyclingLife

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welcome back gravel enthusiasts to Rusty rides gravel I’m delighted to have you join me once again on another Excellent Adventure after that excellent ride in AB aoil last time I found myself yearning for more Adventures but I didn’t know where to go I had too many to choose from it was actually one of you guys Greg Makai in the comments that suggested that I explore what is fondly known as Scotland’s secret gravel nestled down here in dumre and Galloway so today’s route also features in Ed shoot’s amazing gravel ride Scotland book which I strongly recommend you get the pit are fantastic the words are brilliant and it’s just a really really nice book to inspire you to ride the bike and also this route I’m doing today has two optionals that are in the book that I won’t be talking about so if you want to find out about them go and buy the book our route today is a 60 km Loop heading north from Gate House of Fleet in dumre Gallow we will ride along the national cycle Route 7 as we head north along quiet country lanes towards the big water Fleet Viaduct and off into the forest of kmor Fleet Nature Reserve following nc7 still we will pass lock Gran and aim for claing shaes lock before turning Southeast and picking up Raiders Road Forest Drive we’ll follow the river D to Strone lock and pick up the Old Port Patrick Railway over the Strone Viaduct to lock Scarrow from there we depart the Old Railway line and head south along Forest tracks and be roads back to Gate House of Fleet to finish our ride right without further Ado let’s strap in let’s gear up let’s go and explore the gravel rides of dumre and Galloway [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] so we’re just heading down to the viaduct and when I was planning this route Kimu didn’t want to put me on this track that goes beside the road it seemed to imply there was nowhere to go so I’m going to follow it anyway see what happens if not I got to turn around and come back to the road [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] so we made it to the big water of Fleet viaduct what a beast of a Viaduct that is it’s lovely the little gravel track to the side of the road that comes here that I wasn’t sure about taking you can take absolutely fine it’s quite nice actually what you do miss out on is like the ride underneath through the Arches so the track brings you just to the side of the viaduct and then down so you do miss out on that kind of stunning reveal but like I did you could just mooch about and get all the ride shots you want and everything so six and two threes I guess Road gets you the nice view but the gravel is is gravel more fun thoughts on the road section then that lovely little B Road that’s lovely very very nice what a glorious little route that was just to get to here nice warm up no problem at all so according to this we’re now going on off-road route number seven this is the start of the 25m cycle route to Glen troll we’re not going all the way to Glen trol we’ll turn off at claing Shores but here we go this is our route let’s get on it so far this is shaping up to be a lovely Loop definitely one I think I will consider as a as a beginner recommendation really quite easy to navigate so far wide double track forestry Trails or single Track Road really really nice what a lovely day out this is turning out to be also I’ve purchased myself some uh bone conducting headphones so I can listen to things other than my huffing and puffing and sniffing as I cycle along so rest assured that whilst you’re listening to some dubious royaltyfree music I am listening to some absolute bangers and having a great time [Music] [Laughter] [Music] hey [Music] [Music] well at descend down to clattering Shores here was absolutely fantastic what a lovely bit of road that was Gravel Road climb up wasn’t too bad I probably wouldn’t recommend anything under 40 mil tires it gets a bit bumpy in places especially if you got baggage and stuff on it can get a bit rough but other than that easy to navigate super fast coming back down again not too hard climbing up and now we’re on the Raiders Road it’s currently closed for logging which should mean I don’t meet any cars which would be really nice so we’ll have a quick look at clattering Shores and then we’ll bimble on down I think [Music] [Music] this is excellent this road is amazing especially for no cars on wouldn’t recommend going quite so fast if there were cars here but wow this is fun I just came flying past here and saw this perfect photo opportunity and noticed we’ve already got a bike posing station set up so thank you everybody who did that [Music] [Music] taking a little pause at the otter pools can’t see any otter though just the statue it’s nice and peaceful here though nice for a dip in the summer I should [Music] think so I’m pleased about the fact I’ve remembered my water bottles getting back into the sing of it now this route then this Raiders road is lovely absolutely lovely I mean it’s extra fun at the moment because there’s no cars it’s all closed off at the moment for the forestry work so in the summer when the cars are here probably slightly more stressful but still a lovely route I think right now with no cars this definitely Rivals the claim of gravel foil is the the home of the best gravel Roots because this is amazing nothing too technical at all it’s just a lovely day out ordinarily I’d put Frank in the air right now and have him do a bit of a trace shot but his left arm fell off as he was landing at the otop pools just now so I’m not entirely sure he’s pit for flying [Music] [Music] so we’re at the Strone vidu now picking up the Old Port Patrick Railway linee uh I think that was the the two Blockbuster bits of the route I think so the national cycle Route 7 North and then the Raiders road coming back south again absolutely lovely brilliant fun nice nice and fast nice and smooth some precarious patches where they’ve been like they they’ve regraded it and there’s some pretty coarse gravel so just watch out for those especially if you got narrower tires but other than that absolute dream of a route so let’s follow this Railway and see where this takes us [Music] this Old Port Patrick Railway line in it’s a fair bit rougher than the rest of the gravel I’ve had today not insurmountable but noticeably more rougher [Music] all right we’re off the railway line now onto the last bit of gravel road before heading back to the start that last couple hundred meters there on the Old Port Patrick Railway line were pretty rough they put down some more type one and it’s just everywhere really squirmy just be careful about that but now we’re back on the silky [Music] smooth that’s a nice little climb up from the railway not too steep just a bit long but all right surface was pretty stable as well I think that’s our track up there going up into those trees I’m not sure if we go over that Ridge or we take a left I’m assuming we’re going up over that Ridge let’s keep climbing [Music] so I’m still on this massive wide forestry Road out of here to the B- Road and I’m still climbing and everyone I’m meeting is going the other way so I’m curious as to what they know that I don’t and where does this road go does it go up to clattering Shores that’ll be quite a nice little Loop this one if you don’t fancy the Raiders Road I suppose maybe that’s why they’re doing it let me know in the comments if you know what the secret of this road is [Music] so I’m just reflecting here as I’m on my last 500 M of gravel of what the route was like and I would say it’s up there it’s up there as one of the alltime greats actually it’s the nearest I can imagine what it’s like cycling somewhere like in the states with the big wide sweeping roads it’s not like in the borders when they just put a quad track up the side of the hill and just have at it or in the highlands where you have amazing views but it’s often foot path or boggy this is just lovely Jewel gravel track all day absolutely amazing absolutely brilliant definitely one for the beginner friendly Roots I would say [Music] well there we are we’re done back at the start thank you Greg for that that was worth coming down for definitely what a great suggestion really enjoyed that loop as I said was saying on the way definitely one you can do if you’re just starting out just new to gravel come and have a go at this one absolutely amazing what a great place to be done Fring Gall lovely big Skies big views big gravel really impressed with that stats on the screen below for the route I did obviously if You’ like to look at the variations Ed shoot’s book he’s got a few options to do on that Loop and I’m off now to go and see where that gravel track goes and how I can make a ride out of it for next time thanks for watching everybody see you next time