The Invention of the Bicycle - Kier to Dumlanrig

Fellow villagers thought Kirkpatrick MacMillan mad for dreaming up the idea. He rode his cumbersome machine 68 miles over rough roads from his home to Glasgow to visit his two school teacher brothers. In June 1842 the inventor was fined 5 shillings for speeding at 8 mph into the Gorbals and knocking down a little girl. The magistrate was sufficiently impressed to ask MacMillan for a figure-of-eight demonstration in the courtyard, and is said to have slipped him the money for the fine. Before you ride away from Keir you might also like to look for MacMillan’s gravestone in Keir Mill graveyard. It's in the old graveyard which is on the right down a lane, 50 metres beyond the church leaving the village - the only grey coloured gravestone.

Join a commemorative cycle ride leaving from Drumlanrig Castle, seat of the Duke of Buccleuch, taking in a circular route to Penpont and Keir, to celebrate the invention of this world-changing machine here in Dumfries and Galloway in 1839. You will be guided by Rik Alsopp (of Rik’s Bike Shed) along quiet lanes from Drumlanrig Castle and visit the tiny village of Keir Mill, where Kirkpatrick MacMillan worked in the Smithy which now displays a brass plaque in remembrance.

On return to Drumlanrig Castle you can visit the Cycle Museum, situated within the old stableyard of the castle. The museum has a superb collection of bicycles ranging from a replica of Macmillan’s original bicycle, an 1868 velocipede, several Victorian tricycles and penny farthings, early safety bicycles, a 1912 Dursley Pederson and a display of the progressions over the years up to the modern bicycle.

Helmets and safe, roadworthy bikes are necessary although bikes are available for hire from Rik if booked in advance.

The Cycle Ride is on Saturday and leaves Drumlanrig at 10am from the car park. Please book your place/s with Rik Alsopp on 01848 330080.