Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 7 of 7 · EuroVelo 1← Stage 6
Wigtown to Cairnryan
A rolling 60 km road cycling route from Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway to Cairnryan through Bladnoch, Auchenmalg and Stairhaven, with 244 m of climbing. Most of it (32.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 21 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 2–23).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 59.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 244 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 15 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 21 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Wigtown → Cairnryan
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 244 m
- 60 km
Route description
- Wigtown
- Bladnoch
- Auchenmalg
- Stairhaven
- Balcarry
- Glenluce
- Dunragit
- Stranraer
- Lochryan House
- Cairnryan
Starting in Wigtown, the route passes through Bladnoch at 1.9 km, then continues through Auchenmalg, Stairhaven, Balcarry, and Glenluce. The profile features a total elevation gain of 244 m, with the highest point of 114 m at 15.7 km and the lowest point of 1 m near 51.1 km. A climb begins near 22.9 km, gaining 41 m over 1.7 km with gentle gradients up to 3.4%. The route is almost entirely paved (99%), with a very small amount of gravel or unpaved surface (1%).
The road mix includes 25.5 km on main roads, 16.3 km on minor roads, 6.7 km on major roads, and 6.4 km on cycle paths. Main roads without a cycle lane total 32.2 km, and there are 3 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits or above. The B7005 is the longest named road section, ridden for 15.7 km. Key places to stop for food and drink include Café Rendevous near the start, The Cock Inn at 22.6 km, The Crown Hotel at Glenluce, and The Bunker Snack Bar near Stranraer. There are supermarkets at Wigtown, Glenluce, and Stranraer, with water available at 47.9 km. Toilets can be found near the start, at 28 km, and at 48.4 km.
The longest stretch without a café, shop, or water is 20.7 km from 1.9 km to 22.6 km. Bailout options include Stranraer station and the P&O Cairnryan Ferry Terminal. The route passes near several peaks including Lingham Hill at 3.3 km and Chapel Hill at 7.8 km. The ride ends at Cairnryan near Lochryan House and ferry terminals.
Highlights
- Climb starting at 22.9 km with 41 m gain
- Highest point at 15.7 km (114 m)
- Longest stretch without café/shop/water: 20.7 km
- Ferry terminals at Cairnryan finish
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 22.9 km | 1.7 km · 41 m · 2.5 % · max 3.4 % | 54 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 54% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 43% main road · 28% minor road · 11% major road · 11% cycle path · 7% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 32.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 6.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B7005 (16 km), A747 (8 km), A77 (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 10% descending · 78% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.6 km from 15.9 km, dropping 90 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 21 km, from km 2 to 23. Along the route: 21 cafés and restaurants, 5 shops, 1 water point, 4 petrol stations and 8 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.1 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 0.1 kmWigtown Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 0.3 kmCafe Rendevous · café · on the route
- 0.3 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 1.9 kmPetrol station · 100 m off route
- 22.6 kmThe Cock Inn · pub · on the route
- 28 kmToilets · on the route
- 31.9 kmThe Crown Hotel · pub · 350 m off route
- 31.9 kmKeyStore · convenience store · 270 m off route
- 47.9 kmDrinking water · 210 m off route
- 48.4 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 48.7 kmMorrisons · petrol station · 200 m off route
- 48.8 kmGordons Chemists · pharmacy · 410 m off route
- 50.7 kmThe Bunker Snack Bar · fast food · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 48.8 km — Stranraer (station), 620 m off route
- 56.9 km — P&O Cairnryan Ferry Passenger Terminal (ferry), 60 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — New Mercat Cross (monument)
- 3.3 km — Lingham Hill (peak)
- 7.8 km — Chapel Hill (peak)
- 31.2 km — Glenluce Roman Camp (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Homestead B&B · guest house · 2.2 km from the finish
- Cairnryan Heights Holiday Park · campsite · 2.3 km from the finish
- Rhinns of Galloway · guest house · 3.6 km from the finish
- Corsewall Estate Garden Cottage · apartment · 3.0 km from the finish
- Corsewall Estate Stables Cottage · apartment · 3.1 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- ReadingLasses (110 m), The Florentine (230 m), The Galloway Inn (160 m)
- Shops
- The Co-operative Food (240 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Stena Line Ferry Cairnryan Terminal (370 m), Stena Line Loch Ryan Port (490 m)
Know before you go
- 32.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 3 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- 20.7 km longest stretch without café/shop or water
