SUNDAY MAIL SEVEN DAYS OCTOBER 21 2018 15 Take a nostalgic spin in a classic Triumph amid stunning scenery and historic gems along the peaceful new South West Coastal 300 route FIONA RUSSELL Hark the Herald Opening the door of the green and pleasant countryside, and Moffat Toffee Shop is a childhood Travel 1969 Triumph Herald and edges atmospheric forests and favourite of my daughter. info lowering myself into the crosses moorlands. It is seen by Yet, en route to each of these places, seat of the beautifully tourism businesses as a magnet to I was frequently diverted by signposts refurbished car, I was attract more visitors to a less- pointing the way to other tourism frequented area of Scotland. gems, including secluded bays and ■ The route: South transported back 40 years. West Coastal 300 at I felt a wave of nostalgia as I smelled Ian McAndrew, part of the SWC300 tiny harbour villages, castles, cairns, www.visitsouthwest the old leather seats, ran my hand organising committee and owner of monuments, a gemstones museum, a scotland.com/ over the smooth wooden dashboard Blackaddie House Hotel in Sanquhar, smokehouse and a centre for mining. attractions/ STOP OFF In Dumfries and Galloway and clocked an array of ancient- said: “The route circles a huge area A signpost in Ayrshire announced a southwest-coastal- looking dials and gauges. and we have many providers who will section of road called Electric Brae, route/ happily cater for tourists. It is a which is a “gravity hill”, where a ■ Triumph Herald My nan owned a dark green Herald win-win for visitors and businesses.” freewheeling vehicle will appear to be hired from Kippford and, with my two siblings, we enjoyed It would be possible to whizz round drawn uphill by a mysterious force. Classic Car Hire, many wonderful holiday adventures the route in one day but that would be If I’d had my mountain bike with south of Dalbeattie. to Essex beaches and attractions. See kippford missing the point of the SWC300. me, a number of 7stanes trail centres, classiccarhire.co.uk I knew immediately that Bluebelle, There are so many pretty villages, including Dalbeattie, Kirroughtree, the hired classic car, and I would ■ First night: historic towns and fascinating Glentrool, Ae and Mabie would All-mod-cons enjoy each other’s company on our attractions to visit that a week would beckon. There were more signposts, wooden Wigwam at three-day drive of the new South be more suitable for the full loop. this time green rather than tourism Solway View West Coastal 300 route. In the Triumph, I travelled at a brown, that pointed the way to a Holidays, near Once instructed by Paul, the owner speed that at first felt old-fashioned spider’s web network of waymarked Kirkcudbright. of Kippford Classic Car Hire, I pulled yet turned out to be appropriate for a walks through a shapely landscape. See www. solwayviewholidays. out the choke, started the engine and drive-and-see holiday. The 212-mile walking trail, the drove off to join a coastal road that com No one seemed to mind me Southern Upland Way, cuts through ■ Evening meal at hugs the Solway Firth coast in pottering along. They nodded and the area from the coast at Portpatrick Selkirk Arms Hotel, Dumfries & Galloway. smiled at Bluebelle as we made our to Wanlockhead and on to Scotland’s Kirkcudbright. The SWC300 is the third in a series See www. Harbour on the route journey along a route that sticks as east shore at Cockburnspath. MUCH TO SEA of circular road routes to be much as possible to quiet roads. Cyclists can also enjoy signposted selkirkarmshotel. established in Scotland, following on When I parked, people stopped to ways just for them, such as the co.uk from the North Coast 500 and the chat, recounting how their first car Machars Cycle Routes. ■ Second night: North-East 250. was a Herald or they recalled a parent I also learned many brilliant facts Four-star Rickwood Based on a popular motorbike House Hotel in or grandparent owning one. I felt like in this region. Stranraer’s North West Portpatrick. See route but with several additional a minor celebrity. Castle is the first hotel in the world to www.portpatrick. sections, the 300-mile driving loop Each day, I picked a selection of have an indoor curling rink. And me.uk heads through Dumfries & Galloway places to visit, such as the national Sweetheart Abbey, near New Abbey, ■ Evening meal: and dips into south and east Ayrshire. book town of Wigtown, the “Isle” of was named Dulce Cor in memory of Fernhill Hotel, It reaches the most southerly point Whithorn, Mull of Galloway Lady Dervorgilla, who founded the Portpatrick in Scotland at Mull of Galloway and lighthouse, Portpatrick, Culzean building in tribute to her beloved ■ Third night: visits the county’s highest village, Four-star Blackaddie Castle, Alloway and the Robert Burns husband, John Balliol. House Hotel, Wanlockhead, nestled in the Lowther attractions, Wanlockhead, Lockerbie At the end of my journey, having Sanqhuar (dinner, Hills at 1531ft above sea level. and Dumfries. delivered Bluebelle back to her owner, bed & breakfast). The SWC300 features fabulous For a little more nostalgia, I added a I rejoined the real world on the M74 See www. coastlines, including two peninsulas, stop at the town of Moffat to my back to Glasgow in my modern car. blackaddiehotel. and several traditional “Doon the destination list. I once took my nan I wished I could have stayed longer co.uk. Bluebelle has rest in village Watter” seaside hotspots of Ayrshire. there on a day trip when she moved to in the region that must surely be one IN THE PINK Inland, the route winds through Scotland with my family in the 80s of Scotland’s best-kept secrets. VINTAGE Triumph Herald Bluebelle ”There are so many pretty on the road. villages, historic towns and Above, Fiona with the roof down fascinating attractions”.