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We're going to be holidaying in Laurieston, Dumfries in the very near future and we're looking for some ride ideas, preferably MTB and preferably from the door without too much road slogging, although a nice cafe ride under 15-20 miles wouldn't go amiss. We'll be doing the likes of Mabie, Kiroughtree and Dalbeattie, but I'm after someting that I can get out of the door early for. Thanks!
Haven't been yet but Glengap forest isn't far from Laurieston
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/map/?activitytype=1&z=12.2&lat=54.90615&lon=-4.11641
Alternatively, it's fire-road gravel and some road, not so much mtb but I've ridden from Gatehouse of Fleet to Loch Grannoch in Galloway Forest Park before. Goes past the Big Water of Fleet viaduct which is worth seeing.
If you can be assed driving, there's a nice gentle loop from Gatehouse of Fleet that goes South through the woods by Cally Palace hotel, past Creme o' Galloway (mandatory ice cream stop) and down to the beach at Sandgreen.
It's not taxing (at all) but you're into nice rolling hills terrain so it's pretty bonnie scenery. Plenty cafes at Gatehouse - Galloway Lodge is about the best.
This route's in this book - which is worth picking up if you've got time.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Southern-Scotland-7stanes-Selected-Mountain/dp/0954976282
Thanks for the info. Couldn't see much on trailforks but a bit of gravel bashing in the forest will be fine, just be nice to get away from the road!
We stay at Gatehouse regularly and pretty much everything he says for gravel and quiet roads. Galloway Lodge is definitely the best in the village for breakfast / lunch / cakes. They used to do a burger evening but not sure if that is still on. We've mooched around in Glengap and Disdow but nothing very exciting. If it isn't too boggy there is a smidge of singletrack out of Disdow wood down Whinny hill and then back east along the old military road to loop back into Glengap
I think my mum and dad visit the gallery in Laurieston for coffee and cake but we've never been.
Maybe have a look at the route for the Gralloch event which came here earlier in the year.
https://www.grallochgravel.com/route
The full loop is a big day out but from Laurieston it is easy to pick up the route from where it crosses the Gatehouse route near Kennick burn and ride into Gatehouse for a cafe stop.
Would maybe suggest doing it the opposite way to the gralloch i.e. go offroad Laurieston to Gatehouse and then return on the road. Is a really nice quiet road with good views.
Glengap is OK if passing and riding out that way, haven't ridden there for over a year so no idea if clear of overgrowth which can make the higher blue routes really slow. Wouldn't say is worth the climb back up for more than one runs on the red, sorry if the people who build it are reading!
Heading north to New Galloway is also maybe an option from Laurieston for an out and back using bits of forest road to get off the loch side road.
There are ways through from Laurieston round woodhall then a bit on the road before back in at Mossdale. Can then get most of the way there using forest and walking tracks. On way back could go through the Hensol estate and RSPB reserve for a bit of a change. Probably not as ride out as the route to Gatehouse though.
There is a nice loop in the Gravel Rides Scotland book by Ed Shoote, lots of nice scenery, bits of railway history and a cafe at Clatteringshaws.