Problems

The A709 is one of the busiest fast roads in Dumfries and Galloway. It is used by a large number of heavy goods vehicles.
The alternative routes used by most cyclists double the distance and completely bypass other settlements such as Torthorwald.

Proposals

There are three possible options:

A cycle path or shared-use path that follows the A709. There appears to be enough room on the side of the road to build a decent width path on the crucial stretches.
Improve access to Tinwald to access the quieter back roads to Lochmaben The problem is there are so few roads and it is very hilly, and then there is still the issue of getting from Lochmaben to Lockerbie.
Build a shared-use path to Collin and then head from there to Lockerbie through Hightae using the back roads. Again there is the problem of crossing the River Annan if not using the main road. There is also the problem of the roads not being of great quality and not following a straight line from Collin to Hightae, which would add mileage.

Benefits

Creating a direct cycle-friendly route from Lockerbie station to Dumfries would open up the region to visitors who want to visit by bike.
New direct routes from Torthorwald (which would be very commutable by bike if it wasn’t for the road) and Lochmaben.
More options for getting to Lockerbie railway station, reducing pressure on parking.

At a glance

Score

Council Ward: 8 - Lochar, 11 Annandale North

Total route length: 18.8 km

Travel times: By bike ≈1 hour 20 mins / e-bike ≈1 hour

Total gap length: 18.8 km

Around the route

Settlements en route: Marchmont, Summerpark, Torthorwald, Lochmaben

Amenities en route: Dumfries High School, Lochmaben Primary

Placeholder photo

Explore the gaps on Missing Link #21 - Lockerbie

The Details

Lockerbie is an important town and also has the nearest railway station offering direct access to Edinburgh (trains from Dumfries run to Glasgow). A decent cycle route between the two towns would also enable rail visitors using the Edinburgh to London west coast line to access Dumfries more easily by bike. It would also connect the NCN 7 which runs from Carlisle to Ayr via D&G and NCN 74 which goes from Carlisle to Glasgow.

A straight line drawn from the centre of Dumfries to Lockerbie goes through Torthorwald and bypasses Lochmaben to the south. Unfortunately there are no suitable roads following this route. Crossing the River Annan requires using the A709 route, which has a narrow traffic light-controlled bridge.

The main road between Dumfries and Lockerbie, the A709, is fast, narrow, hilly and bendy – not a road many want to cycle along. The route can be broken down into three sections: Dumfries to Torthorwald; Torthorwald to Lochmaben (a lovely destination in its own right) and Lochmaben to Lockerbie.

From Dumfries, the end of the cycle provision just past the Peel Centre on the Lockerbie Road puts a cyclist straight into a narrow bendy road. As you leave Dumfries you have to cross two large roundabouts with no protection for cyclists, one of which crosses the A75. Major roundabout being used by a large timber lorry

Heading up the hill out towards Lochmaben there is again room on the side of the main road to add a shared-use path which would make the experience of heading to Lochmaben much better. The Lochmaben to Lockerbie Community Access Group are already working on options for a safe active travel route between Lochmaben and Locerkbie, and we leave the choice of the best route for this stretch to them as the people with the best local knowledge

Of the options proposed above, the direct route along the A709 wwould be the best, but some combination of either of the other two might be more achievable with signposting and construction of some shorter linking cycle routes.

Progress

View the full history of progress on this Missing Link

Red - No progress

3 gaps in this category

Lockerbie Road - crossing the bypass

Any route along the A709 towards Lockerbie would have to cross the bypass which at the moment involves using a large, busy, multilane roundabout. There are farm crossings to the north or south (including a bridge right by the roundabout) which could be incorporated into a route.

A709 - Catherinefield Road to Torthorwald

It is possible to bypass some of the A709 by using the tracks through Heathhall Forest, but from Catherinefield Road to Torthorwald, there is no alternative except to cycle along the A709, which is a very hostile road for cyclists.

A709 - Torthorwald to Lochmaben

The A709 forms the most direct route between these two villages, and from Dumfries, but is a busy fast and winding road that has no safe space for cyclists or pedestrians. A shared use path along its length would open up a large number of direct locations to destinations to the north east of Dumfries

Amber - Some progress

1 gap in this category

Lochmaben to Lockerbie

Connecting Lochmaben to Lockerbie opens up cycle access to the mainline station at Lockerbie but because of the need to cross the River Annan, at the moment the only direct route is along the A709, which is busy, fast, and hostile to cycling

Green - Closed Gaps

No gaps have been closed yet