Cycling in Shawhead
2 cycling routes from Shawhead, Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom, 16 to 38 km, 53 km mapped in all, with up to 245 m of climbing in a day. Rolling riding (8 m of climbing per km on average), mostly road routes. Best months to ride: Jun to Aug.
At a glance
- Routes
- 2
- Lengths
- 16–38 km
- Biggest day
- 245 m
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Bike
- Road bike
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Longest gap
- 21 km
- GPX
- Every route
Know before you go
Added up from the recorded routes and OpenStreetMap; nothing estimated.
- Surface
- Paved almost throughout.
- Bail-outs
- A railway station or ferry within reach on 1 route.
Cycling guide to Shawhead
Shawhead in Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom, provides cycling routes ranging from a 15.6 km point-to-point National Byway Dumfries Loop to a longer 37.6 km Glenkiln Loop Cycle Route. The routes visit places including Nunwood, Lochside, Lincluden, Sandside, and Dumfries. The Glenkiln Loop passes through Summersville, Barnhill, Summerhill, and Laurieknowe before returning to Shawhead, offering extended riding options. Cyclists can expect the Glenkiln Loop to feature a longest services-free stretch of 21.1 km and a cycle path of 3.7 km, while the shorter National Byway has no cycle paths and no services during its 15.6 km length. Both routes feature road surfaces that are 99% paved with just 1% gravel or unpaved sections, and no sections on main roads lack cycle lanes. A railway station is near the Glenkiln Loop route for transport access.
More on terrain
Terrain
The terrain around Shawhead is generally rolling with moderate climbs. The biggest climb on the Glenkiln Loop is 2.7 km long, gaining 70 m at an average gradient of 2.6%, with a maximum of 4.5%, reaching 162 m elevation. The National Byway Dumfries Loop has a similar climb of 2.6 km and 69 m gain, averaging 2.7%, maxing at 4.5%, peaking at 161 m. The highest point on the routes is 215 m.