Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · Gallovidian Gravel (part)← Stage 1
Creetown to Glentrool Village
A hilly 41 km mixed-surface cycling route from Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway to Glentrool Village through Spittal, Strathmaddie and Palnure, with 501 m of climbing. There is a 33 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 7–40). Mixed surface: 81% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 40.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 501 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 54 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 33 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Creetown → Glentrool Village
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 501 m
- 41 km
Route description
- Creetown
- Spittal
- Strathmaddie
- Palnure
- Newton Stewart
- Minnigaff
- Caldons
- Glentrool Village
The ride starts at Creetown passing through Spittal and Strathmaddie early on. The surface is mostly paved (81%) with 19% gravel or unpaved, riding primarily on minor roads (51%) and quiet streets (24%), plus 13% on tracks and 9% on cycle paths. Initially, the route stays low until a climb starting at 6.7 km raises the altitude by 94 m over 2.4 km, with an average gradient of 3.9% and a maximum of 6.3%, reaching 116 m.
The ride continues through Palnure and Newton Stewart. Between 7.3 km and the finish at 40.2 km, there is a long stretch of about 33 km without cafés, shops, or water. The second climb begins at 28.5 km, gaining 114 m over 2.8 km with an average gradient of 4.2% and max 6.9%, peaking near 171 m at 31.2 km. The final climb starts around 35.4 km with a milder 55 m gain over 2.2 km averaging 2.5%. Places to note include Minnigaff at 17.2 km and Caldon at 34.6 km, with minor services like a bike shop and toilets available around 7.4 km off route. The highest point on the route is 171 m.
Highlights
- Peaks near the road: Daltamie Hill, Larg Hill, Path Hill
- Longest climb gains 114 m at 4.2% average gradient
- Passes through Newton Stewart and Minnigaff
- Longest descent is 1.9 km dropping 55 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 6.7 km | 2.4 km · 94 m · 3.9 % · max 6.3 % | 116 m |
| Unnamed climb | 28.5 km | 2.8 km · 114 m · 4.2 % · max 6.9 % | 171 m |
| Unnamed climb | 35.4 km | 2.2 km · 55 m · 2.5 % · max 5.1 % | 137 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map.
- Roads
- 51% minor road · 24% quiet street · 13% track · 9% cycle path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Fast roads
- 1.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 3.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 81% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 33% climbing · 26% descending · 42% flat
- Steep sections
- 2 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.7% at 30.1 km
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 33 km, from km 7 to 40. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 public toilet and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmPub · on the route
- 0 kmCreetown Stores · convenience store · 210 m off route
- 7.3 kmCafé · 130 m off route
- 7.4 kmToilets · 140 m off route
- 7.4 kmThe Breakpad Bike Shop · bike shop · 140 m off route
- 17.2 kmCreebridge Mill · pharmacy · 750 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — Gem Rock Museum (attraction)
- 17.2 km — Minnigaff Motte (archaeological site)
- 38 km — Bruce's Stone (monument)
Start and access
At the start
- Shops
- Creetown Stores (210 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 32.9 km from 7.3 km
- 1.8 km on roads with speed limits above 80 km/h
- 19% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces
