South West Coastal 300 SWC300 starting from Dumfries
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 06-07-2021
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Verdict
Duration
10h 48m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
519.48 km
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RouteXpert Review 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.
Links 
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Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Scotland
About this region
Scotland (Scots: Scotland, Scottish Gaelic: Alba [ˈal̪ˠapə] (listen)) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and east, and the Irish Sea to the south. It also contains more than 790 islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles. Most of the population, including the capital Edinburgh, is concentrated in the Central Belt—the plain between the Scottish Highlands and the Southern Uplands—in the Scottish Lowlands.
Scotland is divided into 32 administrative subdivisions or local authorities, known as council areas. Glasgow City is the largest council area in terms of population, with Highland being the largest in terms of area. Limited self-governing power, covering matters such as education, social services and roads and transportation, is devolved from the Scottish Government to each subdivision. Scotland is the second-largest country in the United Kingdom, and accounted for 8.3% of the population in 2012.The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the 9th century and continued to exist until 1707. By inheritance in 1603, James VI of Scotland became king of England and Ireland, thus forming a personal union of the three kingdoms. Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain. The union also created the Parliament of Great Britain, which succeeded both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England. In 1801, the Kingdom of Great Britain entered into a political union with the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (in 1922, the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom, leading to the latter being officially renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927).Within Scotland, the monarchy of the United Kingdom has continued to use a variety of styles, titles and other royal symbols of statehood specific to the pre-union Kingdom of Scotland. The legal system within Scotland has also remained separate from those of England and Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in both public and private law. The continued existence of legal, educational, religious and other institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the 1707 incorporating union with England.In 1999, a Scottish Parliament was re-established, in the form of a devolved unicameral legislature comprising 129 members, having authority over many areas of domestic policy. The head of the Scottish Government is the first minister of Scotland, who is supported by the deputy first minister of Scotland. Scotland is represented in the United Kingdom Parliament by 59 members of parliament (MPs). It is also a member of the British–Irish Council, sending five members of the Scottish Parliament to the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly, as well as being part of the Joint Ministerial Committee, represented by the first minister.
Read more on Wikipedia
Scotland is divided into 32 administrative subdivisions or local authorities, known as council areas. Glasgow City is the largest council area in terms of population, with Highland being the largest in terms of area. Limited self-governing power, covering matters such as education, social services and roads and transportation, is devolved from the Scottish Government to each subdivision. Scotland is the second-largest country in the United Kingdom, and accounted for 8.3% of the population in 2012.The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the 9th century and continued to exist until 1707. By inheritance in 1603, James VI of Scotland became king of England and Ireland, thus forming a personal union of the three kingdoms. Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain. The union also created the Parliament of Great Britain, which succeeded both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England. In 1801, the Kingdom of Great Britain entered into a political union with the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (in 1922, the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom, leading to the latter being officially renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927).Within Scotland, the monarchy of the United Kingdom has continued to use a variety of styles, titles and other royal symbols of statehood specific to the pre-union Kingdom of Scotland. The legal system within Scotland has also remained separate from those of England and Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in both public and private law. The continued existence of legal, educational, religious and other institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the 1707 incorporating union with England.In 1999, a Scottish Parliament was re-established, in the form of a devolved unicameral legislature comprising 129 members, having authority over many areas of domestic policy. The head of the Scottish Government is the first minister of Scotland, who is supported by the deputy first minister of Scotland. Scotland is represented in the United Kingdom Parliament by 59 members of parliament (MPs). It is also a member of the British–Irish Council, sending five members of the Scottish Parliament to the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly, as well as being part of the Joint Ministerial Committee, represented by the first minister.
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4766Amount of downloads (Scotland)
Route Collections in this region 6 Must do routes in The Highlands of Scotland
This collection of routes in the spectacular Scottish Highland's offers a great way to experience the full spectrum of what this region has to offer - snowcapped mountains, loch after loch, areas of solitary wilderness, white sandy beaches and a multitude of historic castles and buildings that reflect the past, the Highland's have everything. The weather however, cannot be guaranteed and somebody once said " Nobody visits Scotland for the weather"!
May can be a very good time of year to visit - temperatures can be pleasant and it's often a dry month with the added bonus that it's too early for the midgies. Many of the roads are single lane but largely empty and well maintained so the riding is comfortable and stress free allowing you to take in the views and there really is a wow around every corner. The pass at Glencoe for example is staggeringly impressive - you can actually see the geology and appreciate how it was scooped out by glaciers.
The people you encounter are warm and engaging and the food is good.
The very popular North Coast 500 route is included for those of you with Iron Butts that like a 1 day challenge. For me, the best way of enjoying the NC 500 is with two overnight stops, so the route includes these if required.
May can be a very good time of year to visit - temperatures can be pleasant and it's often a dry month with the added bonus that it's too early for the midgies. Many of the roads are single lane but largely empty and well maintained so the riding is comfortable and stress free allowing you to take in the views and there really is a wow around every corner. The pass at Glencoe for example is staggeringly impressive - you can actually see the geology and appreciate how it was scooped out by glaciers.
The people you encounter are warm and engaging and the food is good.
The very popular North Coast 500 route is included for those of you with Iron Butts that like a 1 day challenge. For me, the best way of enjoying the NC 500 is with two overnight stops, so the route includes these if required.
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Top 10 Downloaded UK routes by RouteXpert Nick Carthew
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in the UK.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be ridden.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelstory of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your email.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be ridden.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelstory of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your email.
View Route Collection