Steve Herbert-mattick, art editor
The South West Coastal 300 might not be as well-known as its northern rival but it’s no less thrilling for it
I’ve ridden about 5000 miles in Scotland and somehow missed all of the stunning SWC300
IT’S NO SECRET that some of the UK’S best motorcycling roads can be found in Scotland, but with the ever-increasing popularity of wellpublicised routes, such as the NC500, it’s becoming harder to ride them without dicing with tourist traffic.
Enter the South West Coastal 300, a challenging loop around Dumfries and Galloway, an often-overlooked region that is yet to draw crowds. With stunning and varied scenery and brilliant roads, it makes a great addition to any touring wish list – and for English bikers, is easier and quicker to get to than the NC500 as well as quieter.
Being a circular route, you can join the SWC300 anywhere and ride in either direction, but I recommend setting out from Moffat and exploring it counterclockwise which, if the weather gods are kind, will mean you’ll generally have the sun behind you. At a little over 300 miles it takes a full day’s riding to complete, so if you’re travelling from any distance, book a couple of nights at one of Moffat’s biker-friendly B&BS; the folk at the Buccleuch Arms in particular pull out all the stops to welcome motorcyclists and even have individual secure parking sheds. We can vouch for them!
The first leg north from Moffat is a great stretch to get into the groove but if you’re using a sat nav, be sure to turn on motorway avoidance or you’ll miss the B-road fun. From the right turn onto the B7040 at Elvanfoot, things start to get interesting and there’s a wonderful flowing single track down to Leadhills. It’s wide enough for passing most of the time but, as with any remote rural route, you’ll need to be cautious on blind bends. Keep an eye out for loose surfaces and potholes too, as they’re just waiting to catch you out should your attention stray.
Scotland’s highest village, Wanlockhead, lies not in the Highlands as you might expect, but just a short distance along the B797, otherwise known as the Mennock Pass. The former mining town was founded in 1680 and boomed for a while; lead, zinc, copper and silver were mined in the vicinity, as well as some of the world’s purest gold at 22.8 carats, which was used to make the Scottish Crown.
There’s plenty of room to park for a photo beneath the sign proclaiming an elevation of 1350ft above sea level and it would certainly be rude not to. The ensuing descent between dome peaked hills is particularly stunning when the heather’s in bloom — and a real challenge, too.
The A76 towards Kilmarnock is prime speed-trap territory but that danger disappears once you take the left at New Cumnock onto the B741. You’ll eventually reach the coast at Ayr, from where the route heads south via the A719 to the lavish golfing resort at Turnberry. Despite the opulence of its imposing hotel, all eyes will be drawn across the water — on a clear day at least — to take in a magnificent vista that includes the mysterious Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited rock that sits on the horizon like it’s drifted out of your dreams. Expect a boat-load of traffic around Stranraer whenever the ferry from Belfast docks but from there, it’s just a short hop to the quaint fishing village of Portpatrick and a potential lunch stop.
A judgement call is required for the run down to Mull of Galloway lighthouse, as the tip of the peninsular is exposed to savage crosswinds; if it was breezy at Portpatrick, then it’s probably a good idea to give it a miss. Either way, I’d skip the loop on the B7065 as the A716 is a fabulous ride in both directions; a real challenge and full of memorable views.
The southern section skims right along the shoreline in places, with just a narrow stretch of rugged beach separating tarmac from the sea but if you’re looking for an extra challenge, take the A712 from
Newton Stewart for a sensational flit through the forest to New Galloway, then the A762 along Lock Ken to rejoin he SWC300 at Kirkcudbright. It only adds 8.5 miles but is well worth the effort.
In contrast to the rest of the route, the final leg from Lockerbie is rather uninspiring as it just runs alongside the M74 so when you get to Dumfries, ignore the prescribed route and head up the A76
to Carronbridge. The effort is worth it; the majestic, serpentine A702 crosses the Lowther Hills via the Dalveen Pass to sweep through a spectacular U-shaped valley and eventually winds back to Elvanfoot and is perfectly suited to all bikes, from the precise steering of a sports-tourer to the go-anywhere versatility of a big adventure bike. It makes a far more fitting end to a route that should definitely be on your radar for 2021.
‘It makes a great addition to any touring wish list’