NR's Scottish South West 300 - 2025

Arrived at my start point here in Dumfries after drive up the M5/M6. A journey that does not improve with time. Checked into my B&B hotel where the very helpful landlady allowed me to leave my car on site for the week. Dumfries like many small provincial towns in the UK looks a little tired. It boasts a Weatherspoons aptly called Robert the Bruce which provided me with an adequate evening meal at a more than reasonable price. Dumfries claims to be the home town of Rabbie Burns where as I thought he came from Alloway however he is buried here! "A man's a man for aw that"!

The South West 300 is a circular cycle route in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, Scotland. It's not a single, continuous cycle path but rather a route that utilizes existing roads and some sections of trails. The route is designed to be ridden over multiple days. It passes through scenic areas, including the Mull of Galloway (Scotland's most southerly point) and Wanlockhead (Scotland's highest village). It was originally set as a challenge to ride in 24 hours for a charity but has evolved over the years to ride at whatever rate you wish to do it in. It is apparently becoming popular like the North 500 with bikers and campervans, hopefully by riding it in April I will avoid these as well as the midges! My route as planned somehow is only 285 miles and I am using metaled roads only but I do hope to perhaps divert to anything of interest on route. This is my itinery I have already booked and therefore have little option but to stick to it. Dumfries - Sanquhar - G...