KIRKMIRREN via Castle Douglas
1. All routes from England and the M74 trunk in Scotland
Get to Dumfries bypass A75 and head west on A75 following signs to Stranraer. (Note: this is only for the route via Castle Douglas - separate directions exist for a recommended alternative route via Dalbeattie & A711.)
Approx 14 miles from west end of Dumfries bypass, leave A75 at exit roundabout signed Castle Douglas (A75 bypasses the town) - roundabout exit LEFT for town.
Straight down into Castle Douglas, past Tesco, at major roundabout take 11 o'clock exit passing on your left the Station Hotel (on roundabout) and then after 150 yards a Shell garage. This is Queen Street (no shops).
Go down Queen Street almost to the bottom, and look for a cross-roads (no warning, as you do not have to give way from this direction) with the Kings Arms hotel on the near right corner; turn LEFT here, signed Auchencairn B736.
(If you reach an oblique T-junction at the end of Queen St., you have overshot.)
THE FINAL FURLONGA / Leaving town on B736 you pass a loch on your right and then a cemetery. Continue approx 2 miles.
At T-junction turn LEFT (still on B736), AWAY FROM Gelston village.
B / Follow B736 just over 3 miles to junction with A711, where turn RIGHT towards Auchencairn.
C / Exactly 1 mile west on A711 - two long straights joined by very slight right-hand curve, with glimpses of Potterland Farm (white) and then Kirkmirren (pink) some distance to the right by Screel Hill - turn RIGHT onto an unsigned tarmac public C road.
D / 150 yards up this road on the left is a Forestry Commission sign for the start of the Screel Hill walk, and another 100 yards on the left is the Kirkmirren entrance - the cottage sits up and back from the road.
Keysyou should have been given separate instructions, but if not, please ask the office on 01556 502211.
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2. All routes from northwest, Prestwick, west Glasgow & airport, Erskine Bridge
From southbound A77 Ayr bypass, at last roundabout turn LEFT onto A713 signed Dalmellington & Castle Douglas and Ayr Hospitals (with red H for Hospitals).
Continue on A713 for 47 miles to Castle Douglas, via Patna, Dalmellington, (St John's Town of) Dalry, etc.
In Castle Douglas go straight into town centre, STRAIGHT over two crossroads - the first with the Douglas Arms hotel at the near-left corner, the second with the Kings Arms hotel at the near-left corner. You will now be on the B736 heading out of town towards Auchencairn "The Final Furlong" above, point A.
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3. Route from Stranraer, Ireland, the wild west
Leave the eastbound A75 (signs to Dumfries) at first exit roundabout signed Castle Douglas (A75 bypasses town, with a roundabout at each end of the bypass) - roundabout exit RIGHT for town.
From 30 mph limit at edge of town, go just under half mile with loch on right, then take first RIGHT - oblique turning off main road. This is the bottom end of Queen Street (no shops).
Barely 200 yards up Queen Street, at cross-roads (no warning, as you do not have to give way from this direction) with Kings Arms hotel on far left corner, turn RIGHT signed Auchencairn B736 "The Final Furlong" above, point A.