Whisky  and  Burns

Poetry & Whisky, the essence of our culture. From the Solway Coast to the Hills of Galloway following the River Nith.

A 5- day self-guided Galloway Cycling Holiday tour in collaboration with Annandale Whisky Distillery. A cultural taster-tour that offers award winning whisky and breathtaking landscapes.

OVERVIEW

A Galloway Cycling Holidays Highlight: Scotland starts here, where legends and whisky were made. The border area where more battles were fought and more armies marched than anywhere further North. Where our national poet Robert Burns was inspired and where prehistoric people raised standing stones and forts. Where the Pedal Bicycle that changed the world was invented by our unsung hero Kirkpatrick MacMillan.

Experience tradition in drink and food, made welcome by those who live here - you will love the landscape, the slow pace, on short ride through a changing landscape.

The trip is in collaboration with Annandale Distillery, where you explore their award winning whisky with a tour and tasting.

  • Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

  • Type of tour: Self-guided, Leisure road cycling, luggage transfer provided (You can easily combine this tour with our Castles & Coast Tour )

  • Including: Whisky Tour and Tasting at Annandale Whisky Distillery

  • Extras: bike rental, Spa treatment and usage at the Cairndale Hotel and Spa

A young man with a beard, wearing a blue shirt and a black vest, is speaking to a group of people in an industrial-style room with brick walls. Other people are visible, including a woman with blonde hair and glasses, and a bald man with glasses. The setting appears to be a brewery or a similar establishment with large copper brewing equipment in the background.

Tour details

  • from £830 per person based on sharing a room

    SINGLE occupancy (as part of a group): £990

    SOLO: from £1020

    If you come by car, please let us know for arrangements to get you back to your car.

    Pickup and transport back to the stations/car is included.

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    Bike rental, if required, is an extra.

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    There is a 5% discount per person for groups of 4 or more people. Please ask for a code when ready to book.

  • Distances are between 20 and 35 miles each day and there are a number of options to go further if you like.

    Whilst the section between Powfoot and Dumfries is flat, from Dumfries to Thornhill is a VERY GENTLE climb.

    Thornhill is surrounded by hills, but we have routes that even a “non-cyclist” finds easy.

    Want it more challenging? - We have a route to the highest village in Scotland: Wanlockhead.

  • 5 -day schedule

    Whisky & Burns - Arrival Day

    Day 1: Powfoot - Arrival

    Arrive & check into Powfoot Hotel. Get settled in and we custom fit you with your bike - a short ride to the fascinating Devils Porridge Museum just down the coast to get things dialled in, or you have the short ride and the visit at Annandale in the afternoon already.

    If required, we will pick you up from Lockerbie or Dumfries train station and bring you to Powfoot. This service is included in the price.

    Depending on your arrival time, you could visit the Annandale Distillery in the afternoon already. The last tour is at 3pm.

    DAY 2: Powfoot to Dumfries, 30 miles

    Highlights of this day

    • Annandale Distillery Whisky Tour

    • Ruthwell Cross

    • Caerlaverock Castle and Nature Reserve

    • Glencaple

    • Dumfries: The Globe Inn, Moat Brae, all sorts Robert Burns, Dumfries Museum

    DAY 3: Dumfries - Thornhill, 27 miles

    Highlights of this day

    • 12 Apostles stone circle

    • Keir Mill and graveyard of Kirkpatrick Macmillan

    • Drumlanrig Castle

    DAY 4: Thornhill Loop, 27 miles

    (or customised for you)

    Highlights of this day

    • Morton Castle

    • Durisdeer church

    • Drumlanrig Castle

    • and/or Wanlockhead, highest village in Scotland (requires more fitness, a 45 mile hilly route)

    DAY 5: Departure

    We will bring you back to your car, or to the train/ bus station.

  • SPECIAL OFFER with Annandale Distillery.

    The tour will be arranged for you for a special deal @ £20pp. The offer is already included in your price.

    The tour is a full one hour distillery tour, two tastings of whisky plus a take home 'cyclists dram' miniature bottle of the single malt whisky ( you can choose peated Man O’ Sword or unpeated Man O' Words)

    Cask ownership - rare casks of single malt whisky can be purchased and personalised with your own family, clan, club or corporate logo. Bottles can be mailed home to await your return from your cycling adventure.

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    If you arrive by car, we can arrange safe parking and bring you back to it from Thornhill.

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    We are working in collaboration with Cairndale Hotel and Spa. For special offers, options and treatments, please check their comprehensive website.

    We can also arrange for an additional Whisky tasting session at the Globe Inn (owned by Annandale Distillery), or a wonderful menu in their award winning restaurant that is paired with whiskies.

Aerial view of a large historic castle surrounded by lush gardens and expansive green landscape with fields, forests, and rolling hills under a blue sky with some clouds.

HIGHLIGHTS

In most places you could ride for a thousand miles without the variety of landscape and culture that this tour offers. Whisky and big skies of the Solway coast. A great place to relax after your journey to Galloway. A gentle start now along the coast to Dumfries with churches, castles and an award winning hotel with a spa option. A stone circle and begin your ride into the Galloway highlands following the River Nith to Thornhill. Here the vibe is country living, the ‘ Pink Palace ‘, Drumlanrig Castle and mountains. The invention of the bicycle, big trees and grand houses.

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