Saturday 10th August
Medium Ride
Thornhill, Dumlanrig Castle, Moniaive
Maps Required Landranger 78 and 84 (Bold bracketed on route)
Distance 40.1 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. I would recommend this as a morning tea stop to get a taste of his hospitality.
Drumlanrig castle is the 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
Moniaive is an interesting and scenic village. A full description is posted 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 walks, heritage trail, farming exhibits. Open from 1000
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
Monaive Conservation village featuring a statue of James Renwick who was the last of the Covenanter Martyrs. The James Paterson Museum was one of the founder members of the Glasgow Boys. His museum illustrates his artistic life. Free Admission.
Food and Drink
5.8 Ellisland farmCoffee and biscuits laid on
17.7 Drumlanrig Tea room (a little pricey?)
27.5 MoniaiveGreen Tea House Caf, The George Hotel, Craigdarroch Arms Hotel (both serve food), Village Shop.
35.5 DunscoreGeorge Hotel
Route Description
TL Turn LeftTR Turn RightSO Straight on
XR Cross RoadsTJ T JunctionSP Sign Post
| (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) Coffee 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, cross River Nith. | No SP | NX 872954 |
| 9 | 0.6 | 15.2 | TR, (telephone box and post box at junction) reach entrance of Drumlanrig Castle | No SP | NX 862954 |
| Dumlanrig Castle (17.7 miles) Tearoom | |||||
| 10 | 2.5 | 20.2 | Exit castle and retrace route to A702 to TR at TJ. Follow this to and right through Moniaive (If you fancy a climb and views take minor road through Tynron at NX832937) | No SP | NX 862954 |
| Moniaive Caf, pubs and shop | |||||
| 11 | 7.8 | 28.0 | TL, cross bridge over Cairn water and follow this LHS | No SP | NX 778903 |
| 12 | 2.2 | 30.2 | TR at TJ, (don't cross bridge) stay to right of Cairn Water | No SP | NX 812901 |
| 13 | 4.0 | 34.2 | TL at XR (SO is deadend) | SP Dunscore | NX 838843 |
| 14 | 0.6 | 34.8 | TR at TJ, (TL to visit pub at Dunscore) Cairn Water LHS | SP Glenkiln. Irongray, Shawhead | NX 847838 |
| 15 | 3.9 | 38.7 | TR at TJ, return to campsite | SP Shawhead | NX 886797 |
| 1.4 | 40.1 | FINISH | |||