GREAT DRIVES

Take that ruddy mask off and get an uninhibited lungful: the South West Coastal 300 is a true breath of fresh air, taking in miles of beautiful coastline along quiet country roads, with widescreen, Vistavision scenery scrolling into view around every curve of the tarmac.

Sheltered sandy bays, rocky stretches, charming coastal towns… Everything you’d ask of a foreign holiday can be found on this spectacular roadtrip – admittedly, without the guarantee of weather.

Circumscribed by Visit Scotland’s tourism gurus, the circular route follows roads along the coast of Dumfries and Galloway and into southern Ayrshire, an area which takes in part of a UNESCO-recognised ‘Biosphere’ and one of Scotland’s best preserved coniferous expanses – the Galloway Forest Park.

The route can be started from any point, but if you’re coming from Dumfries, consider making your first stop Sweetheart Abbey, a now-ruined religious hub that offers history and romance in equal measure. Lady Dervorgilla founded the ornate abbey in the late 13th century in tribute to her beloved husband, John Balliol, whose embalmed heart she carried with her in an ivory casket.

The pretty harbour town of Kirkcudbright has been drawing painters and makers for well over a hundred years; so much so, that it’s known as Scotland’s Artists’ Town. Just north, you can get your landscapist’s eye in over nine holes at the Gatehouse of Fleet Golf Club set in the beautiful Fleet Valley. It rewards you with a challenge and a view at each tee. See if you can spy Wigtown Bay, the Clints of Dromore or the massif of Cairnsmore of Fleet before you select your iron.

Gulf Stream means leafy palm trees, fuchsias and African daisies flourish at Logan Botanic Garden, offering a surreal technicolour juxtaposition to the rugged coastline.

Back north, via the brooding clifftop ruins of Dunskey Castle, you’re on the home stretch of your clockwise tour of the SWC300 – via Sanquhar. It’s on the River Nith, one of Scotland’s top salmon rivers, and makes a great base for exploring Upper Nithsdale and beyond. When you think about Scotland’s highest places, most wouldn’t consider the south, but you’re less than 10 miles from the two highest villages in Scotland – Wanlockhead and Leadhills. If you can resist the Lead Mining Museum, the countryside to the east is genuinely spectacular, with three beautiful passes, Crawick, Mennock and Dalveen just begging to be driven.

Mennock Pass is pictured here, and it’s as remote, thrilling and freeing as that winding strip of tarmac looks. High time to test the full capabilities of your Range Rover Velar’s electric supercharger…

visitsouthwestscotland.com/swc300

Which Car?

RANGE ROVER VELAR

Jaguar Land Rover’s mid-size luxury SUV sits between the bijoux Evoque and growly Sport in the Range Rover family, offering an ideal balance of comfort, technology, performance and – let’s face it – all-out panache, as you cruise the route’s 300 sweeping miles. The new 2.0-litre four-cylinder P400e plug-in hybrid offers a smooth and refined drive, with an impressive 0–60mph in 5.1 seconds. The battery can be charged to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes using a fast DC charge point, while you relax in the Velar’s calming sanctuary of an interior, with new Pivi infotainment and Cabin Air Filtration.