Cycling

Free for guests

Road cyclists will appreciate our relatively quiet roads (by UK standards), with routes that offer a balance between hills and flat stretches, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the rural countryside as you ride. Mountain bikers are welcome to explore the trails and farm roads around Kirkwood - Real Farms, offering a variety of terrain for an exhilarating ride.

Kirkwood is ideal for the 7stanes being located right in the middle of them all and with facilities at Kirkwood such as lockable rooms, good car parking, cleaning and laundry, as well as showers/baths in the accommodation, we attract quite a few bikers.

Operated by the Forestry Commission, the 7Stanes are internationally renowned and offer forest trails suitable for all abilities in seven locations across Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders. Green trails are available for beginners, families and novices right through to black trails for the skilled rider! Take your pick, and a fun and exhilarating experience can be had by all.

Glentrool
Start gently on the Big Country Route, 58km of green & blue graded trails with testing climbs leading to magnificent views.

Kirroughtree
Home to some of the best single track in the country including the red graded Twister, a 17km physically demanding loop with some real technical challenges.

Dalbeattie
Don’t be deceived by its relaxed feel & coastal setting – the rough terrain is home to the Slab, the Terrible Twins & the Volunteer Ridge.

Mabie
Fly round the Phoenix, a classic trail with test-ing climbs, fast descents, berms & water splashes. Or the Kona Dark Side 3.8km orange bike park graded trail with elevated wooden sections & loads of granite outcrops –one for the experts!

Ae
13.5km of green & blue graded trail, the red graded Ae Line –Scottish Power Renewables Trail, an aggressive freestyle ride & The Shredder, an orange bike park graded downhill ride.

Glentress & Innerleithen
They share a stane & an awesome reputation for having some of the best mountain biking around including some great downhill, freeride & the red graded XC route.

Newcastleton
It’s got the lot including a 16km red route with fast, narrow singletrack crossing bridges & boardwalks.

Remember you can book in with our masseuse to ease your aching muscles!

Make sure you check out our 7Stanes Challenge when all 7 trails will be tackled over the course of 1 week! Are you up to the challenge??

Experience Enquiries

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Other Experiences

Wanting to immerse yourself in real life farming experiences?

Hire the sports field

POA

Our cricket/sports field is available to hire, whether for a fun family game of rounders or for a team sports residential training session.

Country Sports

POA

At Kirkwood – Real Farms, we welcome shooters, stalkers and wildfowlers because this part of Scotland naturally suits the genuine sportsman offering variety, wilderness and much quarry. All shooters must have proper insurance via BASC or Countryside Alliance and legal gun certificates. Have a look at what we can offer our guests staying in our cottages

Fishing

Price Depending on Season – Residents only

Fishing is our passion here at Kirkwood – Real Farms, and we’re renowned for fishing holidays. We proudly offer access to two exceptional beats on the River Annan. Our own beat, known as Kirkwood, as well as the Jardine Hall beat located approximately 8 miles upstream. We also have some extra trout fishing.

Shear-a-Sheep

Demonstration £50 plus £35 per person – Minimum 2 people – Residents only

Have you ever fancied shearing a sheep? If you have—or if you’re considering it now—this is a fantastic real farm experience to enjoy with us. To ensure everything runs smoothly, we’ll need to agree on a date in advance to ensure an instructor is available and that the sheep are dry for you!

Feed the Hens and Collect Eggs

£25 per session plus 6 eggs – Residents only

At Kirkwood – Real Farms, we take pride in our excellent chickens that lay eggs all year round (although there may be fewer in the winter). As part of your experience, we offer guests the opportunity to feed the hens and collect their own eggs at any time of year.

Feed the Lambs

£25 per session – Residents only

Each year after lambing (generally May to August), we often have a few orphaned or rejected lambs in need of bottle feeding, and we invite our guests to lend a hand! This interactive experience is not only fun for younger guests, but many older ones also love to join in. It’s a wonderful opportunity for real farm interaction.

Cycling

Other Experiences

Real Farms

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