Outlander star Sam Heughan will lead over 100 motorcyclists through his home region of Dumfries and Galloway this weekend. The two-day event will kick off and conclude at the actor's Galloway Distillery near Newton Stewart, with places still available for additional riders wishing to take part.
The 46-year-old told the Press Association that he hopes Ride Galloway will draw attention to the region he calls home. He said: "It's a celebration of Galloway. I've ridden in Nepal, in Mexico, in America and all over, but actually some of the best riding is here in Scotland – and not many people really know the south-west of Scotland. So what we're trying to do is encourage people to come down and spend some time with us over the weekend."
The Ride Galloway event will take motorcyclists on a 130-mile journey through Dumfries and Galloway, allowing participants to discover the stunning scenes of south-west Scotland. The actor added: "Part of the wonderful thing of Scotland is that tourists come here and they love it and they know a lot about it, especially from the show that I was in - Outlander - but they go north. They always go up to Glencoe, the Isle of Skye and the NC500, and actually they're missing out on a huge part of Scotland. It is quite different. (The south-west) has got rolling hills, it's very green, it has ancient history. It has a really interesting history with Catholicism and with the Romans coming there, and also the Irish and the Vikings. There's so much to explore."
Best known for his portrayal of 18th century Scotsman Jamie Fraser in the Outlander television series, Heughan revealed he is a "huge motorbike fan", but it is a new hobby of his. Heughan told PA: "I never thought I would be. I kind of got into it just after Covid. I have had the most amazing experiences, whether it's riding down the Florida Keys to Key West or riding in Mexico in the highlands of Jalisco, to going up the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in Los Angeles or riding around Scotland. Actually, Scotland has got some amazing roads and it's a really wonderful way to sort of see the country."
Having grown up in the region, Heughan co-owns the Galloway Distillery alongside business partner Alex Norouzi. Ride Galloway kicks off on Saturday, featuring food, live music and bike displays at the distillery in Newton Stewart, before participants set off on Sunday morning. The route spans more than 130 miles across two loops: the first circling the Machars peninsula, offering coastal views towards the Galloway Hills, while the second heads east along the A75 through Newton Stewart and into the Galloway Forest.
