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Lochs & Glens South

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Starting at the Town Hall Square in the historic city of Carlisle, National Cycle Route 7 takes you out of the city in a north-westerly direction. You then follow minor roads to Longtown where the A7 bridge takes you over the River Esk, before returning to minor roads to Gretna Green. Continue west through Eastriggs and Annan to Dumfries. The ride is flat but sometimes uses fairly busy secondary roads although get views over the Solway Firth in places. Caerlaveroch Castle and National Nature Reserve are well worth a visit. Traffic-free routes by the River Nith take you through Dumfries from where you head out on the track along the old railway line to Cargenbridge. From here it's an undulating ride along minor country roads to Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright and then nearer the coast to Gatehouse of Fleet. After travelling north to Gatehouse Station, those with sturdy bikes and provisions can take the off-road alternative to Glen Trool. Others return towards the coast at Creetown on minor roads and then on to Newton Stewart along a railway path.

After Newton Stewart, you enter the more remote country of the Galloway Forest Park. Minor roads lead to Glen Trool and then through Glen Trool Forest. Along this section you should carry a repair kit, food and drink as it's a long climb on a single-track road up to the Nick of the Balloch - watch out for timber lorries throughout this section. From here it's a rapid 1.5km descent to the River Stinchard and then another steep uphill stretch to Doughty Hill and The Pilot. Once over the summit, it's an enjoyable run down country roads to Crosshill, which offers the first facilities for 21 miles. From Crosshill the route leads you through Maybole, after which there is another climb that rewards you with magnificent views of Arran and the Ayrshire Coast. The route is pretty flat along urban roads and cycle tracks through Ayr, Prestwick and Troon and almost completely traffic-free from Troon to Kilwinning. After 6 miles along country roads to Kilbirnie, you join an excellent cycle track along an old railway line to Paisley. The route then passes through parks, along river banks, cycle tracks and quiet urban roads to Bell's Bridge on the Clyde in the heart of Glasgow.