Toilets

The South West Coastal 300 route in South West Scotland is a stunning drive of just over 300 Miles. There is so much to explore, including a multitude of interesting towns and villages. You could easily spend a week or two on the South West Coastal 300 and only scratch the surface!

Much of your route follows our many miles of awesome coastline while you will also have the opportunity to marvel at our hills, glens, forests and lochs and soak up some of the abundant history of our area. The roads are quiet too!

As the South West Coastal 300 is roughly circular, you can start wherever you please. Spend as long as you like exploring the huge diversity of scenery and natural beauty on display along our quiet roads.

Drive through the magnificent Mennock Pass in the Lowther Hills to reach the coast of the Solway Firth. On the way, you may will visit Scotland’s Highest Village – Wanlockhead.

Discover delightful towns and villages along the Solway Coast such as Kippford and Kirkcudbright as you head for the remote Mull of Galloway – Scotland`s most southerly point and delight in views of the Galloway Hills, Lakeland Fells, the Isle of Man and even the Mountains of Mourne!

Explore the Machars Peninsula along the way where you can discover the history of St Ninian and find out about the rich history we have to offer.

Driving north from the Mull of Galloway, pop into Portpatrick with its harbourside pubs and restaurants as you head towards Stranraer. Look out for seals at Lendalfoot as you head up the Ayrshire coast to Culzean and Alloway before turning inland towards Sanquhar……….. .and did we mention the quiet roads!

Done the NC500? Try the SWC300 – we look forward to welcoming you, we’re a friendly bunch!!

Basically, you can start exploring our SWC300 route at any point along the way. However, the main access points are likely to be Stranraer where there is a railway service from Glasgow. Stranraer is also close to the terminal for the Belfast Ferry. Alloway,  is near Ayr with road and rail links from Glasgow. Sanquhar which has a rail service to Carlisle, Newcastle and Glasgow. Dumfries which is close to the A74 and M6

We will start in Stranraer, for no particular reason other than that you’ve got to start the South West Coastal 300 somewhere!

Head north on the A77 along the coast of Loch Ryan to Cairnryan where you are likely to see one or more of the ferries which sail from terminals at each end of the village to Northern Ireland.

The road soon climbs through Glenapp and as you descend towards Ballantrae, you will catch glimpses of Ailsa Craig, a volcanic (extinct) island famed for granite used for curling stones. It’s worth turning left once you enter Ballantrae to pause on the sea front, take in the views of Ailsa Craig and Arran and have a look at the small harbour. Maybe even have a game of putting!

Rejoin the A77 at the other end of Ballantrae and soon the road climbs over Benane Hill then descends to Lendalfoot. Just before Lendalfoot you can pull in to a parking area and view a memorial to the Russian Cruiser Varyag which ran aground off Lendalfoot in 1920. Seals can often be spotted lazing on the nearby rocks.

Ailsa Craig from Lendalfoot

From Lendalfoot, the road hugs the coastline and takes you through Girvan where you may wish to spend some time checking out its shops and cafes. Girvan has an interesting harbour where a RNLI Lifeboat is based and where fishing boats can often be seen.

Stay on the A77 and follow the coast as far as Turnberry, passing several cafes. Here we leave the A77 and take the A719. Pass the manicured lawns of Trump Turnberry Golf Resort to Maidens, another pretty coastal village. The road continues past the entrance to Culzean Castle and down the “Electric Brae” where your car appears to be rolling uphill! Onwards the road approaches Dunure with jawdropping views of Arran. Holy Isle and Culzean Castle. It`s well worth a detour of a mile or so to enter Dunure Village to explore its pretty harbour and the extensive ruins of its 13th Century Castle and Dove Cote.

Return to the A719 from where its a short distance to Alloway, a suburb of Ayr and famed for being the birthplace of Robert Burns and the setting for his epic poem, Tam o’ Shanter. You may want to stop and check out Burns Cottage and Burns Birthplace Museum or perhaps spend some time exploring Ayr itself.

Dunure Harbour beside the SWC300

Cottages line the streets of Kirkmichael

Once you’re ready to continue the SWC300, rejoin the A77 via Doonholm Road and head south (right) to pass through Minishant, (if you have satnav, you may with to key in Kirkmichael to keep you right). A short distance from Minishant, turn left and follow the B7045 to Kirkmichael and onwards to Straiton. You are now in Galloway Forest Park – the largest Forest Park in the whole of Britain!

Kirkmichael is a conservation village with streets lined with cottages, many of which are more than 200 years old. Further on, Straiton is also a conservation village which dates back to the 18th Century. Views on the approach to Straiton are dominated by the hilltop obelisk memorial to Lt Col James Hunter Blair. Both Kirkmichael and Straiton have community run village stores. Straiton makes an ideal base for a walking holiday with 5 short walking trails (1.25 to 4.25 miles) all starting and finishing in the village.

SWC300 between Straiton and Dalmellington

Continue your South West Coastal 300 adventure by turning left on to the B741 for Dalmellington, a former weaving centre and mining village.  Dalmellington is now better known for the nearby Scottish Dark Sky Observatory as the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park was the first Dark Sky Park in the UK.  A short section of the road – about 2 miles is single track but there are plenty passing places and good visibility as the road goes through delightful open hilly countryside.  Although, not on the SWC300, beautiful Loch Doon is close to Dalmellington and offers the opportunity to spot an osprey and to visit the ruins of Loch Doon Castle which was built by Robert the Bruce or his father around 1200 ADThe South West Coastal 300 continues on the B741 through open and forested countryside to New Cumnock where you turn right onto the A76 to Sanquhar, first passing through Kirkconnel. Both town.s are on the banks of the River Nith which is renowned for its excellent trout and salmon fishing. Sanquar is home to the Oldest Post Office in the World – it dates back to 1712 and pre-dates adhesive postage stamps  by over a century! The Southern Upland Way passes through providing walking opportunities.  Crawick Multiverse, a renowned Land Art project is nearby.

On the Mennock Pass heading for Scotland’s Highest Village

Just out of Sanquhar, turn left onto the B797 signposted for Wanlockhead. Drive through the magnificent Mennock Pass, following a stream with hills on both sides of the road. Soon you are at Wanlockhead which is Scotland’s Highest Village!

Driving past Wanlockhead on the South West Coastal 300

Wanlockhead and nearby Leadhills are famed for their mining heritage – including gold,  and the villages have a fascinating history. Find out more at the Museum of Lead Mining.In Leadhills, take a right hand turn onto the B7040 towards Elvanfoot where the road follows a recently born River Clyde. Slightly north of Elvanfoot, your route passes below the A74 and join the B7076, a quiet road which follows the main road and pop into Moffat, just off the route. Moffat, a bustling town with plenty shops has a newly refurbished museum. Moffat is also on the Southern Upland Way and has many walks for you to enjoy.

Continue on the B7076 and visit Lockerbie where you join the A709 to Dumfries passing through Lochmaben as you go. You will probably want to stop and spend some time in Dumfries with its many attractions including Robert Burns’ House and Centre and Moat Brae House and others too numerous to list.

From the SWC300 near Sandyhills

From Dumfries, follow the A710 for New Abbey. New Abbey is famed for Sweetheart Abbey which is right in the centre of the village. The history of Sweetheart Abbey dates back to 1273 when the abbey was built by the widow of John Balliol, a prominent figure on Scottish history. The village also has an 18th century corn mill which has been fully restored and is another popular attraction.Continue on the A710 and soon you reach the Solway Coast with views of the Lake District. When you reach Kirkbean, you might want to divert a few miles to  Southerness., one of the oldest lighthouses in Scotland, to the delightful coastal village of Carsethorn or to Arbigland to visit the birthplace of John Paul Jones, often referred to as the “Father of the U.S. Navy).

Back to our route and continue along the A710 where the road soon hugs the coast and passes through Sandyhills with its beautiful beach. When you reach Colvend, we recommend that you divert to Rockcliffe, another delightful coastal village from which there is a beautiful and very popular coastal walk to Kippford ( tea room in the former and pubs in the latter). This is called the Jubilee Walk and is about 2.5 miles return.

After this further detour, return to the A710 until just before Dalbeattie where you turn left on to the A711 down the other side of the Urr Estuary through Auchencairn with its smuggling heritage to Dundrennan. Like New Abbey, Dundrennan is famed for its Abbey which was built in the 12th Century and was where Mary Queen of Scots sheltered during her last hours in Scotland.

Our route continues to Scotlands Artist’s Town – Kirkcudbright with its many galleries including the new Kirkcudbright Gallery, a gallery of national significance opened on the summer of 2018. Kirkcudbright also has an interesting harbour and many independent shops and cafes. Cross the bridge over the River Dee and drive on the B727 alongside the shore past the beautiful Dhoon beach with its views of Little Ross Island and its lighthouse.

Continue along the B727 via Borgue to join the A75 near Gatehouse of Fleet. You may wish to divert into Gatehouse of Fleet before continuing along the A75 passing Creetown to reach the roundabout outside Newton Stewart where you will find plenty of shops and cafes for supplies and refreshments. The drive from Gatehouse of Fleet to Newton Stewart provides great views of the Galloway Hills and Wigtown Bay.

Isle of Whithorn on the Machars Peninsula

From the Newton Stewart roundabout, our route heads south on the A714 to Scotland’s Book Town – Wigtown which has bookshops galore and several cafes. A few miles south of Wigtown, just past the village of Kirkinner, take the B7004 for Garlieston on the shores of Wigtown Bay. You can detour a very short distance into Garlieston itself – another beautiful coastal village famed for the Mulberry Harbours which helped bring an end to WW2. Rejoin the South West Coastal 300 southwards to the Isle of Whithorn with its pretty harbour.

From Isle of Whithorn, we strongly advise you visit nearby Whithorn to find out about the history of St Ninian and to visit the recently opened Iron Age Roundhouse. Return to the SWC300 where you head close to the shoreline via Monreith and Port William to rejoin the A75 near Glenluce. After a short distance, turn left and follow the B7084 to Sandhead

Join the A716 and head south for the Mull of Galloway. Although the road passes behind Sandhead, its easy to turn left into the village and rejoin the main road at the far end. Sandhead has an easily accessed beach several miles long and windsurfers and sand yachts can often be seen.

Continue on the A716 which hugs the coastline through Ardwell to Drummore where you will find Scotland`s most southerly shop and a community run information centre.

Leaving Drummore, follow the signs for the Mull of Galloway along the B7041. The road offers spectacular views which change rapidly as you head south. Although the last few miles of the road are single track there are plenty of passing places.

The Mull of Galloway is,for many, one of the highlights of our route and somewhere you can spend several hours soaking up the atmosphere and views, checking out the bird life at the RSPB reserve and visiting the lighthouse. The Café at Mull of Galloway is built right at the most Southerly Point of Scotland!

Scotland`s most Southerly Point , the end of the road- The Mull of Galloway

Retrace your route and, just before Drummore, follow the signs for Port Logan where you turn right and, after a couple of miles, rejoin the A716 northwards. Port Logan has a another beautiful beach and nearby is “Scotland`s most Exotic Garden” – Logan Botanic Garden.
Continue northwards and when the road reaches Sandhead, turn left onto the B7042 ( signposted Portpatrick) and follow the signs until a few miles before Portpatrick. The B7042 is fairly narrow and some may prefer to remain on the A716 through Stoneykirk before turning left towards Portpatrick. The “scenic” route leaves the B7042 an turns left a few miles before Portpatrick at a sign for Knockinaam. Turn right just before the hotel and the road continues with spectacular views of the Irish Sea, the ruins of Dunskey Castle and Portpatrick itself. Turning right at the end of this road, you rejoin the A77 which takes you back to Stranraer. However you will probably want to spend some time in Portpatrick first where you will find several bars and restaurants on the harbourside.

From Portpatrick, follow the A77 and turn left at Lochans to return to Stranraer where your adventure started.

Outside Scotland’s Highest Hotel

Please return to South West Scotland soon to enjoy the other routes we have for you such as the Scottish Castles Route or the Burns Country Run.

Visit South West Scotland thank Dave Smith and Motor Cycle Scotland, Buccleuch Arms, Moffat for use of the South West Coastal 300 Route idea which has been adapted from their original version.

Photo Credits:-

Ailsa Craig copyright Roderick Leitch Photography

Dalveen Pass – copyright Visit Scotland