Make the Most of Spring Fling with Our Special Routes or Mobile App
Plus eco-friendly bike and bus tours to enjoy a great weekend of visual art and craft in beautiful south-west Scotland
Spring Fling has come up with six great routes visitors can follow to get the most out of a great weekend of visual art and craft.
There are also guided cycle rides and bus tours which are an eco-friendly way to see studios and meet artists while being able to admire the fabulous Dumfries and Galloway countryside.
But for those who prefer to design their own itinerary there’s a free smartphone app which can be downloaded from itunes and Google Play lets users choose studios either by location or by the kind of visual art or craft on show.
In addition to this there’s a downloadable map on the Spring Fling website, and fold-up printed versions are available from participating studios.
Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “With 95 studios to choose from across a large, beautiful rural area, many visitors find it really helpful to have suggested routes to follow, or to use the apps and maps to plan what they want to see.
“This year there is a special extra route, taking people round the amazing Spring Fling Rural Murals – fabulous paintings specially created on barns, houses and other unusual places.
“Our bus tours let visitors relax and let someone else do the driving while they chat to like-minded passengers from all over the country and the world. Tickets are limited, so book early to make sure you get a seat.
“The cycle rides and walks offer another popular option for making the most of Spring Fling in a way that’s environmentally friendly and fun.”
Driving routes
We have come up with six studio routes, and a seventh takes people round the Spring Fling Rural Murals – delightful artworks specially created by locally-based artists in partnership with national and international street artists.
Each of the main routes is colour coded and takes in a geographical area of the region. The routes can be found in our brochure and on the maps as well as the smartphone app.
Bus tours
Hop on at 10am and return to the same place at around 5pm after seeing at least five studios. The number of tours has been increased to six due to popular demand. Early booking is recommended.
Planned tours and pick up & drop off points are as follows:
All tours offer multi pick-up and drop-off points. The route and timing of all trips is left to the discretion of the driver. Planned tours and pick up & drop off points are as follows:
Saturday 24 May
Pick up: New Galloway 9.30am, Castle Douglas 10am, Gatehouse 10.30am, Newton Stewart 11am. Travelling around studios in the west
Sunday 25 May
Pick up: New Galloway 9.30am, Castle Douglas 10am. Travelling around studios in Glenkens, Moniaive, Kirkpatrick Durham, Castle Douglas
Monday 26 May
Pick up: New Galloway 9.30, Dumfries 10.15. Travelling around studios in Langholm and the east
Tickets:
£10 per person, £8 for Spring Fling Friends (find out more on p13) and Concessions
Booking:
Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm & Saturday 10am-1.30pm*
The Midsteeple Box Office, The Midsteeple, High Street, Dumfries, DG1 2BH
01387 253383. 24 hour booking online (£1 Booking Fee applicable)
*For booking over the Spring Fling weekend beyond Saturday 24th at 3.30pm please phone 07544 556 350
Guided Bike Rides
The tours are kindly organised by Mike Gray of the local CTC members group, all riders with a suitable bike are most welcome. Rides are FREE but booking is essential. Ages under 17 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or have signed permission.
To book and for more details please contact Mike Gray [email protected] or 07751 978563. For more information on CTC visit http://www.dandgcycling.org.uk
Saturday 24 May
A 9.45am start in Corsock (opposite Pringles). Taking in studios en-route through Crossmichael, Laurieston, New Galloway, Balmaclellan and back to Corsock. May divert to Kirkpatrick Durham if there’s opportunity or the weather is (very) poor. Lunch in New Galloway. About 25 miles with a few moderate climbs but relatively easy going.
Sunday 25 May
A 9.45am start at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart. Up on the B road to Glen Trool and then by minor roads to Mochrum Park, Whauphill and Wigtown. Depending on weather and disposition of the riders we may go on down to Isle of Whithorn, or return by the cycle route to Newton Stewart. Late lunch at Wigtown. Around 50 miles, with some climbing.
Monday 26 May
A 9.45am start at Canonbie Village Hall (car park). An unusual ‘eastern’ ride. The route to take in studios in Claygate, Langholm, Eaglesfield and Canonbie. Lunch in Langholm. About 25 miles, moderately hilly.
