Carrick Forest
- 7stanes Ae Forest
- 7stanes Dalbeattie
- 7stanes Kirroughtree
- 7stanes Mabie
- Carrick Forest
- Clatteringshaws Loch
- Drumlanrig
- Drumlanrig Castle to St Johns Town of Dalry
- Glentrool and Clatteringshaws Loch
- Lochinvar Circular
- Lowther Hills and the River Clyde
- Lowther Hills Circular
- Newton Stewart to the Isle of Whithorn
- Stranraer to Dunbar
- Stranraer to Newton Stewart
- The Merrick Circle
A long mountain bike route in Galloway Forest Park, between Barr in Ayrshire and Loch Doon.
Key route details
Main Region: South of Scotland
Distance: 20 miles
Difficulty: Hilly route
Type of Ride: Mountain Biking
Surface: Dirt Road
Environment: Forest
Start Point: Barr
End Point: Loch Doon
The routes are at high level much of the way, which provides cyclists with magnificent views.
Start from the village of Barr in Ayrshire, and reach Dumfries & Galloway at Loch Doon. The hills tend to be steeper and longer at the east (Barr) end of the route. There is a good pub and tearoom at Barr and a hotel that serves meals at Straiton.
The Banks and Braes o’ Bonny Doon are still as lovely as when Robert Burns sang of them. While the route finishes at Loch Doon, the nearest river most of the time is in fact the River Stinchar.
There are four different circular possibilities, most of which use public roads to link up circular routes. These can be linked in a number of ways. The part between Loch Doon and Loch Braden is linear only.
Forest roads are signed as bike routes by the Forestry Commission and you need to pay attention to the signs to find your way. The public roads are not specifically signed as bike routes but the normal road signs should be adequate.
The nearest town to Barr is Girvan, 17 miles south of Ayr. Loch Doon can be reached via Dalmellington.
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