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 | ||||