There are not many places in the world where a single route can capture the full personality of a landscape, but deep in the Galloway Forest Park and across Southern and Eastern Ayrshire, the Gralloch Ultra somehow manages exactly that. Our two day recce of the full 330 kilometres was not just about gate checks, signal testing and making sure the tracks were ridable. It turned into a bit of a journey through Scotland’s wild heart, the kind of experience that makes you pause every so often and think, this is going to be something special.

Setting the Scene in Gatehouse of Fleet

We arrived in Gatehouse of Fleet the evening before the recce and settled into the local pub to run through the final plans. The energy at the table was really positive, a mix of excitement and a sense that we were about to connect the final dots of something we have been working on for quite a while. Between the three of us we went over route segments, feed zone ideas, and the meetings scheduled with landowners and community groups along the way. Since a big part of the recce was also to test the radios, GPS trackers and general communication setup for the event, we made sure all the tech was ready. Starlink came along too, and to our surprise it delivered a solid 250 Mbps from the middle of the forest. Probably not essential for a route recce, but definitely a fun bonus and very handy for keeping up with emails.

We headed to bed with that slightly restless feeling you get before a big adventure. The good kind.

The Recce Crew

Our team for this mission was compact but mighty:

• Maximilian — writer of this very blog and designated gate-opening specialist
• Malcolm — my business partner, route operations and driver of the heated 4×4
• Gavin — our Brand Manager, proudly Scottish and still buzzing from Scotland qualifying for the World Cup the night before
  
  

Although I had not ridden the full route before this, I had already spent many hours studying OS Maps and every bit of satellite imagery available, and had been talking for months with Warren, Esther and local partners who had been exploring and checking different sections. Seeing it all come together in one go was something I had been looking forward to for a long time.

The day began with that perfect mix of anticipation and adventure… and, unfortunately, three different music tastes trapped in one van for the next two days. If you ever want to test team harmony, just put a gravel race organisation crew in a 4×4 and let Spotify shuffle.

Laurieston Forest to New Galloway

We began on familiar ground as we rolled into Laurieston Forest and onto Raiders Road, which will also feel familiar to riders who have taken part in The Gralloch UCI race. The early kilometres wind through quiet forest, sheltered tracks and tucked away estates, before gently opening up as you pass New Galloway. It is the sort of riding that eases you in without effort and reminds you why Scotland is such a brilliant place to explore.

Windfarms and the Scarred Earth near Dalmellington

The character of the route changes dramatically as you move into the second quarter. Suddenly you find yourself underneath huge wind turbines turning calmly above you. This part of Scotland produces a significant amount of renewable energy, and you really feel the scale of it here.

As we reached the areas around Dalmellington, we entered landscapes shaped by the region’s history in mining and ironworking. Riding through old open cast sites has a strange feeling to it. The land feels raw and partly healed, almost like you are seeing the earth midway through regrowing. It is unusual and quite captivating in its own way.

Loch Doon in Cold Morning Light

Loch Doon is one of the real jewels of the whole route. When we arrived the cold morning air was pushing mist off the water and frost across the hills, while the high ground in the distance was dusted with snow. It is hard not to stop every few minutes just to take it in and snap a picture for our Instagram page. This will definitely be a highlight for riders in May.

80 Kilometres of Pure Wildness

After Loch Doon the world suddenly becomes a lot quieter. Forestry and Land Scotland have a big presence in this part of the route and have been incredibly supportive, but once you head in, you really feel just how remote these forests are. There is a long stretch here, more than 80 kilometres of almost entirely uninterrupted gravel, where the sense of isolation becomes very real.

At one point we checked Strava’s Global Heatmap out of curiosity and it showed absolutely nothing on the tracks ahead. Not a single recorded ride. A local rider in the previous village had already laughed and said we were mad for thinking there was a route through there. He might think differently now because he has a brilliant new loop to share with his friends.

Glen Trool and Clatteringshaws Loch

The final part of the recce took us past Glen Trool and towards Clatteringshaws Loch. This glen never disappoints and feels impressive every single time. We did have a moment of difficulty when we found out a weak bridge ahead could only take bikes and walkers. Our 4x4 did not quite qualify so we reluctantly reversed back out and took a forty five minute detour.

By this point daylight was running out but skipping the final segment was not an option. We continued into the glen while the sky turned completely black. The only sign of life was a logging machine working somewhere on the far side of the loch. Eventually we stepped out of the vehicle and looked up to find a totally clear sky filled with stars. The Galloway Dark Sky Park status is well deserved. It was an absolutely peaceful and almost surreal moment. Anyone riding through here overnight during the Gralloch Ultra is going to experience something really special.

Rider Expectations

Riders can expect a route that constantly changes in feel and rhythm. The elevation reaches close to 5000 metres, but the climbing comes in a rolling pattern rather than huge walls, with the highest point arriving just before the halfway mark in South Kyle Forest. The terrain is incredibly varied and keeps things interesting throughout. You will move from rougher logging access tracks into smoother, faster forest roads and then into stretches of gravel that feel almost too smooth to be real. Some of the newer windfarm tracks in the first half of the route are so well built that they almost feel like freshly laid tarmac. As the course continues the sense of civilisation gradually fades. The second half feels far more remote and riders will experience that thrilling feeling of being completely out there in the wild.

Weather will always play its part and our two day recce was a good reminder of that. It began with low cloud and light rain, then turned into a crisp, sunny and freezing autumn day. Temperatures in May are typically between 6°C and 15°C, but we’ve had 20°C at past editions of The Gralloch as well, so be prepared for everything. May is also typically one of the driest months (so now that I’ve mentioned it, make sure to pack your rain gear).

None of the route was overly technical but some of the rougher descents will require attention and smart pacing. This route rewards focus, patience and a love of long days spent exploring.

Community and Culture

One of the most enjoyable parts of the recce was meeting the people who help shape this region. We encountered plenty of sheep, some deer, a bold ram and more birdlife than we could count, but the human side of the route was just as memorable. We visited several small villages where we plan to host the feed zones and the enthusiasm from local groups was amazing. Conversations quickly turned into ideas about how to create the most welcoming and memorable experience for riders.

Our meetings with landowners and forestry teams were equally positive. Everyone shared a genuine interest in showcasing this part of Scotland. Large sections of the route exist thanks to the work and cooperation of Forestry and Land Scotland and it has been great to collaborate with people who care deeply about both conservation and recreation. It was clear throughout the recce that the Gralloch Ultra is not just a route through the landscape. It is a route that belongs to the communities who live and work in these hills, forests and glens.

Personal Reflections

Even after months of studying maps, images and feedback from the people recceing the route before us, the reality still surprised us. The remoteness felt even more powerful than expected. Every hour there was a moment where one of us looked at the others and said people are going to love this.

A standout moment came about 230 kilometres in when we realised we had not seen another human for 30 kilometres and would not see one for another 30. It was exactly the sense of adventure we want the Gralloch Ultra to represent. We are now working with landowners, Forestry and Land Scotland and local partners on the final details. It already feels like a route that will leave a mark on everyone who takes it on.

Prepare for a wild and unforgettable adventure. The Gralloch Ultra is more than a race. It is a long, deep dive into some of the most varied, dramatic and remote landscapes in Scotland and we cannot wait to share it with you.