Latest news with #SWC300
Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scotland's newest driving route and lessons learned from NC500
The South West Coastal 300 is a driving route on the road less travelled, with lessons being learned from the overwhelming popularity of the NC500. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It takes in sandy beaches, dramatic coastlines, rolling countryside, pretty villages and a sense of the undiscovered. The South West Coastal 300 (SWC300) which ventures through Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, is Scotland's latest driving route. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The loop starts and finishes in Dumfries and reaches the most southerly point in Scotland at Mull of Galloway. Drivers will also head to Wanlockhead, the highest village in the country, in the Lowther Hills. Places such as Culzean Castle, the book village of Wigtown and the charming, colourful Portpatrick are found on the way. The route comes following the overwhelming popularity of the North Coast 500 through the Highlands , which generates at least £22m a year for the local economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Its success has been tempered by frequent complaints from residents about large volumes of drivers on narrow roads, driving standards and the impact of the poor behaviour of some holiday makers, such as illegal parking and bad waste management. The North Coast 500 Ltd, which markets the route, has said it is listening to concerns and acting upon complaints. Meanwhile, the creators of the new drive in the south of Scotland are keen to create a different type of experience for both drivers and communities on the route. David Hope-Jones, of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said he 'did not want to criticise the NC500' given it economic success and job creation but added the route had created 'real challenges' for communities on the route. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Generally, the North Coast 500 can be regarded as a marketer's triumph. With relatively little investment, it has created a phenomenon that has driven the economy to an extraordinary degree. 'If you judge it purely through the marketeers lens, it has been very, very successful. 'But, if you view it through a community lens and actually a visitor experience lens that is not really the story. 'You have got the £25 fish and chips, you have got the associated housing challenges, you have unclassified roads that have useage far, far beyond what they were built for but there isn't the money to invest in them 'So you have got real challenges.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said that promotion for the SWC300 was kept at a minimum and was directed at specific markets, such as potential self-drive tourist from Germany. Mr Hope-Jones added: 'One of the difficult things is when you have that marketing success, it very quickly has its own energy and it is very hard to change or turn off. ' I am not looking to criticise, and with all humility, we look to learn from the NC500's successes in terms of brand creation and the use of social media. But how do we first engage with local communities and have systems working so we are confident we are working within the existing infrastructure? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We run the South West Coastal 300 on our website but we are careful not to push it too much and we are careful where we push it. 'Getting the German and Dutch self drive market to be inspired and do it is great, as their spend is so strong but getting this blunderbuss approach of promoting it to everyone, we might find that the average spend of visitors is going down. 'The key thing is to listen to local businesses and residents and make these adjustments.' Residents and businesses have routinely said they did not want to emulate the NC500, with the topic raised at more than 60 public meetings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Hope-Jones added: 'One of the questions we have asked is which area of Scotland and the UK should we emulate and which area should we not emulate.
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Daily Record
Explore new Scottish road trip with EV guide for the South West Coastal 300
The SWC300 has been tailored for eco-conscious drivers and offers dramatic views, local food and historic stops through forests, coastlines and quaint villages With summer fast approaching and daylight stretching longer, more travellers are hitting the road in search of new adventures, and it seems Scotland is top of the list. According to recent data, UK Google searches for 'Scottish road trips' have skyrocketed by 336 per cent in the past month alone. It's not hard to see why. Scotland's breathtaking landscapes, winding coastlines and charming villages make it an ideal destination for a scenic drive. Now, thanks to a new travel guide from VisitScotland, electric vehicle drivers can explore one of the country's most beautiful corners with ease. The South West Coastal 300 (SWC300), a circular route covering Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire, has been reimagined as a low-emission road trip, tailored especially for eco-conscious drivers. The newly-launched guide highlights accessible EV charging points, eco-friendly accommodation, and relaxed daily itineraries that showcase the area's natural beauty and heritage. The route winds through untamed shores, ancient forests, quaint towns and historic landmarks, all with a lighter environmental footprint. Whether you're looking for dramatic views, local cuisine, or peaceful countryside, the SWC300 offers something for every kind of traveller. Day one: Dumfries to Wigtown The journey begins in Dumfries, where drivers are advised to fully charge up before heading south along the River Nith to Caerlaverock Castle, a striking 13th-century fortress surrounded by wetlands and a nature reserve. Two EV charging points are available near the castle grounds. From there, the route heads west through rolling countryside to Castle Douglas, known as Scotland's Food Town. Nearby lies Threave Garden & Estate, home to the country's only official bat reserve. Visitors can enjoy the gardens and grab a bite at the café, or sample local fare in town from over 50 independent producers and shops. Continuing westward, the landscape shifts as the road approaches Galloway Forest Park, Britain's largest forest park and the heart of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. Near Newton Stewart, the 7stanes Kirroughtree Visitor Centre offers world-class mountain biking trails, woodland walks and a cosy café. A rapid EV charger is available in Newton Stewart if needed. The day ends with a short drive to Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town. Lined with charming bookshops and literary cafes, the village also sits near Bladnoch Distillery, the southernmost whisky distillery in the country. Eco-lodging is available at Wigwam Holidays Wigtown, a solar-powered glamping site with EV charging on site. Day two: Wigtown to Crosshill Day two sets out through the green pastures of the Machars peninsula toward the Mull of Galloway, the southernmost point of Scotland. The single-track road leads to a dramatic clifftop lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson in the 1800s. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic sea views or learn more about the wildlife at the Mull of Galloway Nature Reserve. From there, the journey continues along the rugged Rhins of Galloway coastline to the postcard-perfect harbour town of Portpatrick. Colourful cottages and the ruined Dunskey Castle add to the coastal charm. If needed, drivers can recharge in nearby Stranraer or head further north to Girvan, where a 50 KW public charger is available. The route then follows the scenic Ayrshire coast to Culzean Castle and Country Park. With terraced gardens, woodland walks and views across the Firth of Clyde, this is one of Scotland's most impressive stately homes. Just before arriving, take a brief detour to Electric Brae, a quirky spot where vehicles appear to roll uphill due to an optical illusion. The day ends inland near Crosshill. For a unique overnight stay, the Little Peru Luxury Pods offer alpaca trekking and eco-glamping with EV charging on site. Girvan also offers rapid charging before the final stretch. Day three: Crosshill to Dumfries The final day begins with a drive eastward into the Ayrshire hills, through quiet villages like Straiton and Dalmellington. As the roads climb into the Lowther Hills, the scenery becomes more dramatic. At 1,531 feet above sea level lies Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland and once a bustling centre for lead and gold mining. The Museum of Lead Mining offers guided tours of a preserved 18th-century mine. Visitors should ensure they've charged their EVs before reaching Wanlockhead, as there are no charging points here. The next opportunity will be at Drumlanrig Castle. From Wanlockhead, the road winds down through the breathtaking Mennock Pass to the Nith Valley. Drumlanrig Castle, a grand pink sandstone estate, sits in magnificent grounds and offers an EV charger in its visitor car park. After exploring the gardens or grabbing lunch at the tearoom, it's time for the final leg. The return to Dumfries takes travellers past wide farmlands and gentle hills. Before arriving, a visit to Ellisland Farm, once home to Robert Burns, provides a final historic touch. The museum preserves the rooms where the poet lived and wrote, with personal items on display. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Back in Dumfries, visitors can enjoy a final evening in town, perhaps with a dram from Bladnoch or a locally brewed pint. Cosy guesthouses such as the Lindean Guest House offer a warm end to a memorable trip. VisitScotland reminds travellers to plan ahead. 'Please remember to book accommodation and activities in advance, especially during peak travel seasons,' they advise. 'It's also a good idea to plan your route with EV charger locations in mind, check real-time availability and compatibility before setting off to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.'
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Daily Record
New guide highlights delights of south west Scotland to electric car drivers
The South West Coastal 300 reveals everything from untamed coastlines and timeless forests to storybook castles and quaint small towns. A new guide aims to highlight the delights of south west Scotland to electric car drivers. The South West Coastal 300 loops through Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, showing off the area's natural beauty and heritage from untamed coastlines and timeless forests to storybook castles and quaint small towns And VisitScotland has now created a new guide to the scenic drive with electric vehicle drivers in mind, covering everything from accessible charging points, eco-friendly stays and relaxed daily drivers. The guide, which can be found here, offers the perfect way to enjoy the popular SWC300 route with a low-emission road trip covering three days. Day one will take drivers from Dumfries to the Galloway Forest. Stopping off points include Caerlaverock Castle, Castle Douglas – including a trip to Threave Gardens and Kirroughtree in the Galloway Forest before stopping for the night in Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town. Day two journeys from the Machars to the Ayrshire coast. First up is a drive to the Mull of Galloway - the southernmost tip of Scotland which features a lighthouse and a nature reserve. The picturesque seaside village of Portpatrick is next, offering the perfect place to enjoy some stunning views. Following that, drivers head north through Girvan – enjoying views of the Ailsa Craig – to Culzean Castle and Country Park, finishing for the night at Crosshill. The final day sees a return to Dumfries via a trip to Scotland's highest village at Wanlockhead. Heading through the Ayrshire hills and skirting the edge of the Galloway Forest Park, drivers will arrive at Wanlockhead where they can enjoy a visit to the Museum of Lead Mining. Next on the itinerary is a trip through the Mennock Pass to Drumlanrig Castle and then on to nearby Thornhill. The final leg heads down the A76 to Ellisland Farm – former home of Robert Burns – before the return to Dumfries. Anyone following the route is advised to book accomodation and activities in advance, especially during peak travel sessions, and check EV charger locations before travelling.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Telegraph
The epic but unknown alternative to Scotland's North Coast 500
Scotland's North Coast 500 has rightly been described as one of the world's great driving routes, but has, to a degree, become a victim of its own success and can get uncomfortably busy at peak season. For those eager to experience the beauty of Scotland without the crowds there is an alternative. The South West Coast 300 (SWC 300) takes in some of Scotland's most sublime scenery, mountains, forests, sandy beaches, castles, gardens, quiet Georgian towns, and an abundance of history. The southern section of the SWC 300 runs through two of Britain's most beautiful yet least-known counties, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire, which together make up the Galloway segment of Dumfries and Galloway. Settled in the eighth century by Gaelic-speaking tribes from Ireland, Galloway feels set apart from the rest of Scotland, possessing its own distinctive mood and character. Kirkcudbrightshire (pronounced Kirk-coo-bree-shire) begins across the River Nith from Dumfries. The north of the county is wild and hilly, home to southern Scotland's highest peak, Merrick (2764ft or 842m above sea level) and Britain's largest forest, Galloway Forest Park, 300 square miles of woodland, waterfalls, mountains and lochs alive with otters, red deer, squirrels and kites. At the head of the list to become Britain's newest national park, in 2009 Galloway Forest Park was designated as the UK's first Dark Sky Park as there is so little human habitation that there is no light pollution to obscure the night sky. On the southern edge of the park, overlooking beautiful Loch Trool, stands Bruce's Stone, a huge granite boulder that commemorates Robert the Bruce's first victory over the English here in March 1307 during the Scottish War of Independence. The south of the county overlooks the Solway Firth, a land of salt marshes, wide bays and estuaries, dramatic headlands, golden sands and small, sturdy towns. Eight miles south of Dumfries are the magnificent ruins of New Abbey, founded in 1273 by Devorguilla, Lady of Galloway and mother of the puppet King of Scotland John Balliol. When her husband John, founder of Oxford 's Balliol College, died in 1268 she had his 'sweet heart' embalmed in an ivory casket that she carried around for the rest of her life. On her own death in 1290 the casket was buried with her before the altar at New Abbey, which became known as 'Sweetheart Abbey', thus giving a new word to the English language. Also buried there is William Paterson, founder of the Bank of England. Further south, standing on a windy promontory in the grounds of Arbigland House outside Kirkbean is a simple gardener's cottage, the birthplace in 1747 of John Paul Jones, 'Father of the American Navy'. It is now a museum in his honour. Emigrating to Virginia at the age of 13, Jones joined the Continental Navy and went on to mastermind the first victory of the American Navy over the Royal Navy at the Battle of Flamborough Head off the Yorkshire coast in 1779. The granite town of Dalbeattie boasts a memorial to local hero William Murdoch, First Lieutenant on the Titanic. Portrayed in the film Titanic as a coward, he was actually, according to eyewitness accounts, amazingly brave and saved many lives by guiding passengers to the lifeboats at the cost of his own life. In 1998, the film company's vice president came to Dalbeattie to deliver an apology. Just outside Castle Douglas, an elegant Georgian market town laid out by merchant William Douglas in 1792, stands Threave Castle, one of the mightiest towers in Scotland and stronghold of the Black Douglases who ruled Galloway during the 14th and 15th centuries. Set on an island in the middle of the River Dee it can only be reached by boat. On the coast to the south, an air of melancholy hangs about the impressive ruins of Dundrennan Abbey, founded in 1142 by David I. Mary, Queen of Scots spent her last night in Scotland here after defeat at the Battle of Langside in 1568. Next morning she made her way down to a creek on the Solway Firth, boarded a fishing boat and sailed away to England, never to return. Kirkcudbright, washed by the Gulf Stream and possessed of a special quality of light, is known as 'The Artist's Town' and supports a flourishing colony of painters and craftsmen whose work is shown in local galleries. The houses are gaily painted and the streets wide and breezy. The village scenes from the cult 1973 film The Wicker Man were filmed in the town. Graceful Gatehouse of Fleet is watched over by a tall Victorian clocktower while, perched atop a rocky knoll on the edge of town, is Cardoness Castle, a well-preserved 15th-century tower house, pretty much impregnable and blessed with far-reaching views across the bay. The coast road between Gatehouse of Fleet and the little harbour village of Creetown was accurately described by Thomas Carlyle, in conversation with Queen Victoria, as 'the finest road in her kingdom'. In the 19th century, Dalbeattie granite was exported all over the world from Creetown, helping to build the Thames Embankment and Sydney Harbour. At Newton Stewart we enter Wigtownshire, Scotland's extreme south-west, a windswept county of moorland, big skies, birdsong – and books. Wigtown, the county town, is Scotland's National Book Town, home to Scotland's biggest second-hand bookshop and a well attended annual book festival. The airy streets have a scholarly feel to them and there is a spacious market place with colourful gardens and a bowling green watched over by the flamboyant old County Buildings, now housing the town library and museum. South of the town is the Bladnoch Distillery, Scotland's most-southerly whisky distillery, open for tours and tastings from Wednesdays to Saturdays. Wigtown is gateway to the mysterious Machars, a flat peninsula thrusting out into the Irish Sea, dotted with lonely churches, pretty villages, hidden beaches and mossy cliffs. Here is Whithorn, the cradle of Scottish Christianity where, in 397 AD, after a pilgrimage to Rome, Scotland's first Christian missionary St Ninian built, and was later buried beneath, Scotland's first stone church. It was painted white so that it could be seen from a distance and was known as the Candida Casa or White House, from which Whithorn gets its name. The nave and crypt of a 12th-century cathedral built over St Ninian's shrine survive. Away to the west: a peaceful walk through woods leads to a pebbly beach and St Ninian's Cave, where the saint came for solitude. On the walls are Christian crosses carved by 8th-century pilgrims. On the clifftop at Burrow Head to the south, the wooden stumps of the Wicker Man's legs mark where the final gruesome scenes from the film of that name were shot. Hidden in woods at Kirkmaiden there is a small chapel where members of the local landowners, the Maxwell family, are buried, while on the hillside above stands a bronze otter, sculpted by Penny Wheatley in honour of Gavin Maxwell, author of Ring of Bright Water, who was born nearby at Elrig, a big grey house on the moor. The Sands of Luce, a long crescent of golden beach, lead to the hammerhead-shaped peninsula known as the Rhins of Galloway. To the north, Stranraer, ferries to Northern Ireland, and Castle Kennedy Gardens gathered about the ruins of a 15th-century castle noted for rhododendrons and azaleas. To the south, Logan Botanic Garden, where tropical plants flourish in the warm winds of the Gulf Stream. Nearby, at Port Logan, is Britain's oldest natural marine aquarium, a tidal fishpond scooped out of the cliffs in 1788 as a sea fish larder for the local laird. Some of the inhabitants, which include cod, pollock, turbot, mullet and hermit crabs, are quite tame and can rise to the surface to be fed by hand. A mile south is Drummore, Scotland's most-southerly village, a delightful collection of white-washed cottages running uphill from a sandy beach and beyond that, Scotland's furthest south, the Mull of Galloway, further south indeed than Durham. Here, Scotland ends in solitary, spectacular style with cliffs 300 feet high, a lighthouse and views, they say, of five kingdoms, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland (the Hebrides), England (the Lake District), and the Kingdom of Heaven.
