The SWC300 route is over 300 miles (320 miles 515 km) around South West Scotland, starting in Dumfries, before driving along the spectacular Solway Firth and the spectacular views of the Ayrshire coast and Solway Firth, before heading inland to explore the Southern Uplands. Along the way, you will visit both Scotland’s most southerly point Mull of Galloway and Scotland’s highest village, Wanlockhead, nestled in the Lowther Hills at 467 m above sea level. Whether you want to drive the route in 1 day, 2 days or 3 weeks, camp in a tent or stay in luxury accommodation, the SWC300 has something for everyone.
The beauty of the SWC300 being a circular route, is that you can start it from anywhere and travel in any direction. This route happens to start from Dumfries and travels in an anti-clockwise direction and although it can be completed in 1 day, I would suggest at least 1 overnight stop and if you start from Dumfries, then the picturesque harbour town of Portpatrick is not only a beautiful place to stay but is also approximately half way. I have added a few POIs here to show some of the options for accommodation, I have also added POIs along the entire route for fuel stops.

You may choose a different start point or direction, so I will highlight things to see along the way rather than a travelogue style review.

DUMFRIES:
The town has also been home to a number of famous individuals throughout its history including Peter Pan author JM Barrie and British Formula One racing driver David Coulthard, but its most famous former resident is Robert Burns who spent his final years here.

MOFFAT:
The biking heart of the region. A quaint picturesque market village with a variety of shops and eateries. It is also the home of the renowned Moffat Toffee Shop that's been trading for 125 years. Pick up a bag to enjoy along the route.

LEADHILLS & WANLOCKHEAD:
Leadhills is not an imaginative name for a village located high in the Lowther Hills and founded on lead mining, but it is an apt one. Lead was mined in Leadhills from the 1100s, and in about 1500 the village also had a gold mine from which nuggets as large as 60g were extracted. Leadhills is the home for Britain's highest narrow gauge adhesion railway, reaching 1,498 feet above sea level. Look around the station at Leadhills with its collection of locomotives preserved from the industrial world.
Wanlockhead, Scotland's highest village at 467 m. It owes its existence to the lead, gold and other minerals found under the surrounding countryside. Lead was for many centuries the mainstay of the village's economy, but it was not the only mineral found here. What became known as "God's Treasure House" also produced zinc, copper, silver and gold. Some of the world's purest gold, at 22.8 carats, was found locally and used in the Regalia of the Scottish Crown. A visit to the Museum of Lead Mining here will give you a good insight of what made this area.

SANQUHAR:
A view of the ruins of Sanquhar Castle greets you as you arrive in this town famed for its distinctive knitting patterns, chiefly gloves in black and white. There are a selection of cafes for a coffee stop and the nearby Crawick Multiverse is reached by turning right immediately after crossing the Crawick Water bridge.

CRAWICK MULTIVERSE:
Crawick Multiverse is a stunning representation of exciting discoveries and theories of the universe. Linking the themes of space, astronomy and cosmology, this project has created a truly inspiring landmark with a wide appeal, from art enthusiast and scientists to the wider community. It features a network of paths which navigate features and landforms representing the sun, universes, galaxies, comets, black holes and more.

ALLOWAY:
The great Scottish poet Robert Burns (Rabbie Burns) was born here and was the setting for his poem "Tam o' Shanter". The single story thatched cottage where he was born is now a museum for all things Rabbie Burns.

If you follow this route, you will now be on the Ayrshire coast and at RP 31 is:
ELECTRIC BRAE:
The Electric Brae is a gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill. It is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an optical illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slope. Thus, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill against gravity. There are hundreds of recognised gravity hills around the world. Once stopped, release your handbrake. You get the very odd sensation of starting to roll uphill, towards the corner and the sea. The illusion is a powerful one, and the resulting effect is very weird, even when you know its cause (written on a stone). Unusually, it is possible to capture the illusion in a photograph.

GIRVAN:
There are no fewer than 20 different castles in the local area. Some are mere ruins and others like Culzean are viewable in all their splendour. The world-famous golf links course, Turnberry, is a few miles up the coast. A sight that will not have escaped your attention is the omnipresent view of the island of Ailsa Craig. It is a mesmerising sight in the Firth of Clyde. Boat trips run out to the island from Girvan, the trips can be about one hour out to Ailsa Craig, one hour on the island, a half hour tour round the island to see the seals and thousands of birds nesting on the steep cliffs on the west side, then about a one hour trip back. Girvan is also another good stop for a coffee.

Stranraer is the gateway to the Rhinns of Galloway and for more than a century was a busy ferry port for services between south-west Scotland and Northern Ireland.
RHINNS OF GALLOWAY:
The Rhinns of Galloway is a hammerhead shaped peninsula west of Stranraer that runs 25 miles from north to south. Its coastal scenery includes rugged cliffs, tiny harbours and sandy beaches.

PORTPATRICK:
Portpatrick is a pretty town of pastel-coloured houses, set around a small bay with cliffs forming the backdrop. A former port for transportation to and from Northern Ireland, Portpatrick is now a peaceful holiday resort. Portpatrick has its origins stretching back some 500 years. Just south of the village is the clifftop location of the ruins of Dunskey Castle, dating back to the early 1500s, while in the village itself the roofless remains of the Old Parish Church are attached to a circular tower also dating back to the 1500s.

MULL OF GALLOWAY:
The Mull of Galloway is Scotland’s most Southerly Point and one of the best kept secrets in the UK. The Rhins of Galloway peninsula remains an unspoiled paradise for visitors on the lookout for peace and tranquillity. You can climb the 115 steps to the top of Scotland’s most southerly Lighthouse, where a spectacular view from the balcony and lightroom will reward you for your efforts!

ISLE OF WHITHORN:
There are two surprises awaiting first time visitors to the Isle of Whithorn. The first is that this beautiful little village hiding near the southern tip of The Machars is a real gem, an old seaport with true character and a powerful sense of history. And the second surprise? Well, it's that there's no longer an isle at the Isle of Whithorn. Harbour improvements in 1790 included the building of a causeway linking island with mainland, on which parts of the village have since been built.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT:
Bordered by south west Scotland’s scenic hills and coast, Kirkcudbright offers its visitors both man-made and natural beauty. It’s known as The Artists’ Town because of the town’s link with the Glasgow art movement and is a big attraction due to its religious roots, artistic associations, events, museums and exhibitions. Kirkcudbright is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a bit of culture and variety for your road trip.

NEW ABBEY:
Here you will pass and maybe stop for a while at Sweet Heart Abbey. This splendid red-sandstone ruin of the late 13th century was founded by Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway, in memory of her husband Lord John Balliol. When her husband died in 1268, Lady Dervorgilla, had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory casket which she carried everywhere with her. On her death, she was laid to rest with her husband's heart and the monks named the abbey in memory of her.

This road trip was designed to show visitors what the south west of Scotland has to offer and it is guaranteed to please. There is something for everyone in this route, great landscapes, great sea views and great roads along with history and a little romance.

Links for some accommodation in Portpatrick are below this review.