Friday 16th August

Long Ride

Caerlaverock, Annan and Lochmaben

Map Required Landranger 78, 84 and 85

Distance 66.3 miles

Route Notes

The last day leads through Dumfries to arrive at Caeraverock castle. Here admission not only includes a fine moated castle but the grounds where there are signed nature trails. The rest of the ride takes in the pretty countryside and takes in two bike paths.

Places of Interest

Caeraverock Castle (NY026656) (Special discounted rate) Built in around 1270 Caeraverock Castle is everyone's idea of a castle. Surrounded by a double moat and besieged by both Edward 1st in 1300 and retaken by Robert the Bruce in 1312. It was remodelled by the Earl of Nithsdale in 1634 but was wrecked and abandoned 6 years later. There is a children's adventure park, model siege engine and nature trail. Charge Adult 2.80, Senior 2.00, Child (5-15) 1.00 (10% discount on these prices) Free entry for Historic Scotland, English Heritage, CADN, Manx Heritage. Tel 01387 770244, 32 seat caf. Open 0930-1830

Caeraverock Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre. (Special discounted rate) Lining the Solway Firth the Caeraverock Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre comprises 13,594 acres of protected salt marsh, merse, meadows and mud. Over 12000 Barnacle Geese from Spitsbergen overwinter here and there is wild swan feeding daily at 1400. Charge Adults 3.25, Senior 2.50, Child (4-16) 2.00 Family 8.50 Tel 01387 770200

Discount 20%, WWT members FREE (not RSPB though)

Food and Drink

6.5DumfriesPlenty of choice

16,6Caerlaverock castleCaerlaverock Castle Tearoom

Caeraverock Wildlife and Wetlands Trust detour needed

32.0AnnanPubs and shops

43.0LochmabenPubs and shops

56ishDumfries

Route Description

TL Turn LeftTR Turn RightSO Straight on

XR Cross RoadsTJ T JunctionSP Sign Post

1

0.0

0.0

Exit the campsite to TL at TJ

SP ?

NX 879775

2

3.5

3.5

TR

SP ?

NX 916795

3

1.1

4.6

TL at TJ, pass through Terregles, cross A75T, now on Terregles Street.

SP ?

NX 921778

4

Cross A road and along Church Street, at the bottom you should pick up signs for Sustrans route 7, follow this to the left, out of town and all the way to Caeraverock. If not then at the bottom of Church street, TL at XR, along A 756 to cross River Nith, as soon as cross should pick up Sustrans 7, if not then TR at XR, along B725/6, cross large roundabout and bear left along B725, follow this south to Caerlaverock

Caerlaverock Castle RHS (NY 025656) 16.6 miles

Having passed Caerlaverock Castle, follow B725 north again and enter Bankend, keep following B725/sustrans 7 heading east

5

23.0

(85) TR at TJ, along B724, pass through Cummertrees, enter Annan

SP Annan B724 (A75)

NY 094681

6

6.3

29.3

TL at TJ, along B723, cross A75T. (To visit Annan centre TR at TJ and cross river Annan)

SP Lockerbie

NY 187669

7

3.9

33.2

TL, along B725

SP Dalton

NY 164727

8

3.3

36.5

TR at TJ, along B7020, immediately enter and pass through Dalton

SP Lochmaben

NY 117739

9

6.0

42.5

(78) TL at TJ, along A709, pass through Lochmaben

SP Dumfries, Templand (B7020)

NY 083823

10

0.9

43.4

TR, (second turn after hospital, first non dead end road)

SP Shieldhill

NY 072824

11

3.3

46.7

TR, cross dismantled railway, to TL at TJ, close to Shieldhill, pass phone box

SP Amisfield, Locharbriggs Dumfries

NY 033853

12

2.0

48.7

SO at XR, cross A701(T), through Amisfield (speed humps) at foot of hill;

SP Amisfield

(SP on A701)

NY 006840

13

1.0

49.7

TR at XR, pass Robertland farm LHS then driveway to Amisfield tower RHS

No SP

NY 001824

14

1.3

51.0

TL at TJ

No SP

NX 989839

15

0.2

51.2

TL at XR leads directly to Locharbriggs, where right turn to Caledonian cycleway (signposted) is about 200 metres before T-Junction joining A701

SP LocharbriggsDumfries

NX 986839

16

2.7

53.9

TR on Caledonian cycleway to Dumfries town centre, proceed through Dumfries via Edinburgh road, Academy street, past Robert Burns statue and Greyfriars church, to Buccleugh street. Cross river Nith by Buccleugh street bridge and continue on A711 to Cargenbridge

NX 993804

17

4.1

58.0

(84) TR, to roundabout on A75T

SP Stranraer

NX 953748

18

0.7

58.7

TL immediately on joining roundabout and ride to the end of the Glen cycleway (formerly part of A75) There is nothing to indicate this is a cycleway. Trust it!! At the dead end continue for about 300 metres along pavement width path.

SP Dead end

NX 944753

19

2.7

61.4

TR at TJ (sharp right)

No SP (other way Stranraer, Dumfries)

NX 904749

20

1.4

62.8

TL at TJ,

SP Shawhead

NX 909768

22

0.4

63.2

TR, pass Crochmore House RHS

SP Meikle Barncleugh, Crochmore-Mallabay

NX 904765

23

2.1

65.3

TL at TJ and return to campsite

No SP

NX 883786

1.0

66.3

FINISH