Cycling in Dumfries
2 cycling routes from Dumfries, United Kingdom, 38 to 66 km, 104 km mapped in all, with up to 601 m of climbing in a day. Hilly riding (10 m of climbing per km on average), mostly mixed-surface and road routes, 80% paved. Best months to ride: Jun to Sep.
At a glance
- Routes
- 2
- Lengths
- 38–66 km
- Biggest day
- 601 m
- Terrain
- Hilly
- Surface
- 80% paved
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Longest gap
- 35 km
- GPX
- Every route
Know before you go
Added up from the recorded routes and OpenStreetMap; nothing estimated.
- Surface
- 80% paved · 20% gravel or unpaved — 20 km of gravel or unpaved road across the routes.
- Roads
- 3% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane · 5 km on cycle paths or lanes.
- High point
- 372 m on Caledonian Cycleway.
- Bail-outs
- A railway station or ferry within reach on 2 routes.
- No services
- 35 km on Caledonian Cycleway.
Cycling guide to Dumfries
Dumfries in Dumfries and Galloway is a starting point for two main routes: the Caledonian Cycleway and the Dumfries to Moniaive route. The former covers 38.3 km with nearly half the surface unpaved, climbing to a high point of 372 m and passing through places like Locharbriggs, Ae, and Beattock. It includes a 6.6 km climb with an average gradient of 3.4% and a maximum of 6.8%, ending near Beattock. The Dumfries to Moniaive route is longer at 66.1 km with 98% paved surfaces and a climb reaching 231 m. This route passes numerous villages such as Dunscore, Penpont, and Thornhill, with its steepest climb 2 km long at a 5.6% average gradient, max 10%. Both routes include access to a railway station near the route and long stretches without services of around 34 km.
More on terrain
Terrain
The terrain includes moderate climbing with the highest point reaching 372 m on the Caledonian Cycleway and 231 m on the Dumfries to Moniaive route. Gradients vary from gentle slopes averaging 3.4% on the longer climb to steeper sections up to 10%. Surfaces differ between mostly paved and significant gravel sections, especially on the Caledonian Cycleway.