OVERVIEW
Fast becoming known for its epic gravel cycling the Galloway Forest Park is the largest Forest in the UK with endless miles of gravel and off road riding past stunning Lochs, rolling hills & stunning forest.
Offering brilliant views but without backbusting climbs the gravel here is rolling throughout and a great location to get miles under the belt and smiles in the saddle. One of the top 3 places for gravel riding in the UK and an absolute must ride for any off-roader.
Camping is available on Friday & Saturday night so this makes for a brilliant weekend break in South West Scotland. An absolute bucket list gravel ride!
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Endless dreamy gravel trails of Galloway Forest
- Views over Wigtown Bay and all the way to the Lake District (weather depending!)
- Almost entirely off road - one of the longest gravel loops in the UK
What to expect
Almost entirely off road on smooth fire roads but plenty of climbing throughout the day with few flat / rolling sections. We expect the long route to take 6-10 hours.
Ride difficulty
Any 129km off road ride is going to be a big day in the saddle and this one is tough from the start with most of the first 9km heading up hill. The short route is challenging but suitable for most riders. You will need to be in good shape for the medium & long routes.
Long Route *****
Medium Route ****
Short Route ***
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
This is gravel as you see in the adverts. The route is mostly long, flowy and mostly wide gravel trails with some singletrack. Some of the gravel can be quite sharp here so pack more tubes / plugs than normal.
Long Route ***
Medium Route ***
Short Route **
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes, you will be fine on a hardtail MTB but you obviously want a bike you will be comfortable on for many hours. . We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time but the gravel drains well after rain so we expect in July that the trails will be flowing nicely. An all-rounder gravel tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal for all three routes.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
17th June: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
20th June: 7.30am: Ride village at Talnotry opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
20th June: 8.00am to 8.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
20th June: 7pm: Rider village closes.
20th June: 8pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Setting out from just north of Newton Stewart, this glorious route starts with a bang with the toughest climb of the day coming straight away – 3km at 5.5% on the gravel.
We then descend down to Clatteringshaws Loch where the long route splits from the other options at 18km.
The extra 53km loop in the long route is pretty punchy, containing an extra 750m of elevation. This section heads to the East of Galloway Forest to cacth a glimse of the Water of Fleet viaduct through deep forest and past a number of pretty lochs.
We rejoin the others back at Clatteringshaws Loch for a stunning 25km section rolling past Loch Dee & Loch Trool before finishing with a flatter section through Kirrough Forest, down into Newton Stewart and back to the finish line for a beer.
Almost all of the route is off road on excellent gravel. One of the highlights of the season!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 95%
Distance: 129km
Elevation: 2,050m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route deviates from the short route 18km in to take a loop around Catteringshaws Loch, upping the milage but with little in the way of additional climbing before rejoining the short route to finsh the ride.
Almost all off road with a beautiful section past Loch Dee & Loch Trool, this is one of the best 75km routes in the UK. Quite challenging but suitable for riders of most abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 95%
Distance: 75km
Elevation: 1.300m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route deviates from the short route 18km in to take a loop around Catteringshaws Loch, upping the milage but with little in the way of additional climbing before rejoining the short route to finsh the ride.
Almost all off road with a beautiful section past Loch Dee & Loch Trool, this is one of the best 75km routes in the UK. Quite challenging but suitable for riders of most abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 95%
Distance: 75km
Elevation: 1,300m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
A beautiful short route. The route splits from the others after the first climb (3km at 5.5%) and after a great view over the forest, it’s time to descent north towards the lochs.
The best section of the route is the rolling terrain past Loch Dee & Loch Trool and then we head south back through Kirrough Forest.
This option has over 1,000m of elevation so it’s not easy but the hardest section is at the beginning with fresh legs.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 95%
Distance: 59km
Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Talnotry, close to Newton Stewart. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
Yes, there is camping on Friday & Saturday night available for £15 per night (campervan or per tent). There will be food and toilets on site but no showers or power.
Book your pitch in the checkout when you add your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
The Wild Goat starts & finishes at Talnotry, 8 miles north east of Newton Stewart.
Camping is available at the ride village or there are hotels in Newton Stewart or slightly further away in Castle Douglas, Gatehouse of Fleet or on the coast in Kirkcudbright.
It’s a tough ride for public transport with no nearby train stations.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available at the ride village on both Friday & Saturday night (book your spot in the checkout).
Glentrool & Kirroughtree are nearby for anyone wanting some world class mountain biking. Within the Forest are some great hikes particularly around Loch Trool or go and see the wildlife with red deer and (of course) wild goats near the ride village.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available at the ride village on both Friday & Saturday night (book your spot in the checkout).
Glentrool & Kirroughtree are nearby for anyone wanting some world class mountain biking. Within the Forest are some great hikes particularly around Loch Trool or go and see the wildlife with red deer and (of course) wild goats near the ride village.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
