Looking for a bit of exercise and adventure while you sip your way through the birthplace of Scotch? The Whiskey & Burns cycling tour takes travellers on an 84-mile cycle through Scotland — enjoying traditional food and drink along the route.
Before you worry about drinking Scotch and cycling and what a mess that could be, the route is quite leisurely and Galloway Cycling Holidays staff are there to help. They’ll also transport your luggage for you so you can pack all of your essentials for the trip.
The first day covers the route from Powfoot to Dumfries and begins with — a whiskey tour! That’s right, the first stop is the Annandale Distillery tour where visitors will taste award-winning single cask malts and see how the spirits are made before setting out on a leisurely 30-mile cycle.
Visitors also see the Ruthwell Cross. Thought to date back to approximately 680 AD, this 18-foot ancient cross has one of the largest figurative inscriptions found on any surviving Anglo-Saxon cross.
Caerlaverock Castle is next on the list. One of Scotland’s great medieval fortresses, this twin-towered castle surrounded by a moat brings visitors back to a time when England and Scotland weren’t united and fortresses manned the border.
After a stop at the Glencaple, a small and picturesque harbour with a wonderful little café, cyclists arrive in Dumfries. In Dumfries, there are museums and tours which follow in the footsteps of 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Crash out, you may be a bit tired from the 30-mile ride, at The Globe Inn — which serves traditional Scottish meals and, of course, plenty of beers, ales and Scotch.
Day two of the journey consists of a 27-mile cycle to Thornhill. Stop and see the 12 Apostles Stone Circle high on Burley Moor. With stunning panoramic views, it’s an incredible lookout spot to take in the Scottish countryside. From here pass by Keir Mill and the grave of Kirkpatrick Macmillan — inventor of the pedal bike.
Spend the night at the Nithbank Country Estate. This secluded estate comes with all the amenities and local charm to make you truly feel like Scottish nobility. Think local chocolates, great food, flowers outside the guests’ doors. The owners truly make this a home with their classic Scottish hospitality.
On the last day of the tour, cyclists will ride a 27-mile loop from Thornhill customized to their liking. Spend the day exploring Morton Castle, Drumlanrig Castle and Durisdeer church. The option is there to travel to Wanlockhead — the highest village in Scotland — but only do this if you are fit enough for the task.
The company can arrange transfers from Lockerbie or Dumfries and arrange a hotel the night before you set out. This particular journey takes quiet roads and is designed not to be too physically challenging. Once you have conquered it, you may want to check out their longer, more physically intensive, cycling tours.
With prices starting at approximately $700 per person, there is hardly a better way to explore the local countryside, the Scotch scene and classic Scottish hospitality than this serene cycling tour.