Saturday 10th August

Long Ride

Thornhill, Moniaive, Wanlockhead

Maps Required Landranger 78 and 84 (Bold bracketed on route)

Distance 71.2 miles

Route Notes

Les Byers the curator at Ellisland farm has kindly agreed to lay on tea, coffee and squash along with biscuits specially for the tandem club, for which he asks for a donation at the time. The admission has been reduced dramatically to just a pound an adult and U18 are free. Although a little early in the route it would be worth a look in (open from 1000)

Drumlanrig castle is the first suggested point of interest. Although the castle is closed, there are marked walks of 1,2 and 3 miles and a cycle museum featuring a replica of the first pedal cycle invented and built locally by Kirkpatrick Macmillan

The Museum of Lead mining is the second point of interest, again a discount on admission is offered. More details in reception.

Places of Interest

Ellisland Farm (Special discounted rate) Home of Robert Burns 1788-1791. Described as the most interesting of all his sites, the Farmhouse and steading reflect his life here, with plenty of original memorabilia. Riverside walk, heritage trail, farming exhibits

Charge 1.00 Adults, children free

Tel 01387 740426

Drumlanrig Castle The Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch features a craft courtyard, adventure playground, cycle museum and walks. During this week the castle is closed as the owners are in residence.

Charge 3.00 Adults, Children 2.00

Tel 01848 330248

Wanlockhead

Situated in Scotlands highest village the Museum of Lead Mining (Special Discounted rate) features an underground lead mine, cottages and miners' library. This would be good for wet weather, as there are guided underground tours. Gold Panning and mineral/artefact display. Tearoom

Charge Adult 4.00, Child 2.00 (Includes half hour guided tour of lead mine, guided tour of the 2 period cottages and admission to miners library)

Tel 01659 74387

Food and Drink

5.8 Ellisland FarmCoffee and Biscuits

17.7 Dumlanrig CastleTearoom

32.6 Museum of Lead MiningTearoom

56.0 ThornhillTearooms, shops and pubs

66.4 DunscoreThe George Hotel

Route Description

TL Turn LeftTR Turn RightSO Straight on

XR Cross RoadsTJ T JunctionSP Sign Post

0.0

(84) Exit campsite to TL at TJ

No SP

NX 879775

1

1.5

1.5

TR, cross bridge over old water (Routin Br). Just after Irongray church LHS;

SP Dumfries

NX 886797

2

2.1

3.6

TL, cross bridge over Cluden water

No SP

NX 917795

3

0.6

4.2

(78) SO at XR

SP Auldgirth

NX 918804

4

0.5

4.7

SO at XR, cross B729

SP Auldgirth

NX 922812

5

0.3

5.0

TL at TJ, along A76T

SP Thornhill, Sanquhar

NX 934826

Ellisland Farm RHS (5.8 miles) Tea,Coffee, Squash and Biscuits

6

3.8

9.6

TL, (bus stop here) follow minor road parallel to River Nith

No SP

NX 902887

7

4.2

13.8

TL at XR, (Summer seat on north side of road junction) along B731 (SO to enter Thornhill)

No SP

NX 878946

8

0.8

14.6

TL at TJ, along A702

SP ?

NX 872954

9

0.6

15.2

TR,(telephone box and post box at junction) pass entrance of Drumlanrig Castle LHS

No SP

NX 862954

Dumlanrig Castle (17.7 miles) Tearoom

10

2.7

17.9

Bear left. Do not cross River Nith. Pass turn going left at NS843032. Along left bank of river Nith, A76T other side

Byway bike sign, SP Buccleugh

NX 859998

11

7.6

25.5

TR at TJ, along A76T, pass 50 mph signs, enter Mennock

No SP

NS 804083

12

0.7

26.2

TL, along B797, enter Wanlockhead

SP Wanlockhead, Leadhills, Abington

NS812077

Museum of Lead Mining (32.6 miles) Museum and tearoom Should be signed LHS

Pass through Wanlockhead, in Leadhills;

13

8.1

34.3

TR, along B7040

SP Elvanfoot

NS 886153

14

4.7

39.0

TR at TJ, along A702

SP Thornhill

NS 951174

15

15

54.0

Merge with A 76T, carry on into Thornhill, at large roundabout;

SP A76 Dumfries

NX 870979

16

1.7

55.7

TR, bear right in front of church, then bear left to leave town

SP Thornhill Cross

NX 879955

Thornhill (56.0 miles) Tearoom at Marchbank the bakers near cross roads on east side of town and inside Chintz and China shop.

17

0.5

56.2

SO at mis-shaped XR along A702.Cross River Nith. In Penpont;

No SP

NX 872954

18

1.7

57.9

TL at XR, pass through Keir Mill

SP Keir Mill

NX 847947

19

5.6

63.5

TR, pass through Glenmidge

SP campsite 1/4 (reverse side Glenmidge)

NX 893873

20

2.5

66.0

TL at XR, enter Dunscore, in village;

SP Bicycle byway sign

NX 864847

Dunscore The George Hotel

21

0.3

66.3

TR by war memorial, pass church LHS Take next left

SP Morrinton, Corsock

NX 868843

22

0.1

66.4

TL, follow Cairn Water RHS, pass morrington quarry and bungalows LHS

SP Morrinton, Newtonairds

NX866843

23

2.8

69.2

TR, (bus shelter LHS) very shortly – cross bridge

No SP (broken) SP to Dunscore the way you came

NX878803

24

0.1

69.3

TL at TJ, shortly afterwards pass byway SP on LHS

No SP (broken) SP to Dunscore the way you came

NX 877800

25

0.5

69.8

(84) TR at TJ and return to campsite

SP Shawhead

NX886797

1.4

71.2

FINISH