Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 3

The third stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C stretches from Kirkcudbright on the coast to the largest town in the area, Dumfries.

This mostly flat stretch of the route offers some undulating sections, as well as dedicated cycle paths in Dumfries.

Spend some extra time in the Artists’ Town of Kirkcudbright to explore its sights, including Broughton House and Garden, and the Dark Space Planetarium, before setting off towards Dumfries. The route will take you through the designated Food Town of Castle Douglas, so make sure to stop at some of the local shops and eateries. Don’t miss nearby Threave Garden: the gardens showcase a wide variety of styles and planting schemes, while the nature reserve is home to red squirrels, ospreys and peregrine falcons. The massive tower house of Threave Castle sits imposingly on a small island in the River Dee. Only accessible by boat, it served as a stronghold for the Black Douglases in times gone by. As you reach Dumfries, take the time to walk in the footsteps of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard. He lived in the town in the 1790s, and the local Burns Trail will take you to his house, favourite howff and final resting place.