If you’ve only got a couple hours then this short run takes you through some of the best routes local to Dumfries. The roads aren’t the easiest to ride at the national speed limit and depending upon the season remember this area has many farms, so don’t go barrelling around that blind corner. Make sure you can pull up safely in the distance you can see ahead to be clear on your own side of the road. Remember that if it’s a narrow single lane road, you need to be able to stop in half the distance you can see, both to be clear and to allow time for the other vehicle to brake too!

So, leaving Dumfries North on the A76 sign posted Kilmarnock from the Dumfries bypass, we head out from the 30 mph limit and to the national speed limit signs by Newbridge. Keep your eyes peeled as the B729 junction is on your left, less than half a mile on from the urban speed limit de-restriction.

Click on the map to view an interactive version on www.routebuilder.org

Thanks to Andy Bird of the Fugitives MCC for supplying this route.

Turn left on to the B729. This road is deceptively wide to begin with, and if you are not careful the first right hand bend will have you cranking your bike right over with your foot pegs and/or exhausts sparking on the lovely grippy surface dressing! Take your time heading to Dunscore as there are quite a number of bends and hidden areas, where cars and tractors could be lurking. Continue on past Dunscore, remaining on the B729 through Crossford, following the signs for Moniaive (A702) and you will eventually reach a give way junction you are turning left towards Moniaive after this junction. The road is now the A702. (15 miles)

Continue heading West on A702 into Moniaive. You are looking to head straight through the village heading due West, where the road strangely turns back into the B729 again! Keep following the B729 West. There isn’t too much traffic on this stretch of road and when the view opens out in front you can safely make progress. However a warning - there are timber extraction operations working in this area. Watch out for mud across the roads at forest openings and those big timber lorries suddenly pulling out! Keep on the B729 heading for Carsphairn, and when you reach the A713, turn left South (32 miles)

Continue heading South on A713, heading for St Johns Town of Dalry. Passing the Hydro Electric reservoirs, watch out for visitors pulling out of the car parks. Once through Dalry, continue heading south on A713 until the Ken Bridge Hotel comes into view. You are taking the left junction A712 to Corsock here (44 miles)

Enjoy the run from Ken Bridge across to Corsock. On leaving the village look out for a right hand turning for the B794 which takes you down to the A75 (63 miles).

Turn left North East onto A75 then immediate right West onto B794 again heading for Haugh of Urr then Dalbeattie (68 miles).

In Dalbeattie, at the junction with the A711, turn left North East and follow this road back to Dumfries (82 miles).