Walking Routes
Cycling is a great way to see wildlife. Dumfries and Galloway has miles of minor roads with very little traffic, all of which pass through a variety of habitats. Being on a bicycle allows you to see and hear much more, with the added bonus of stopping whenever you want. For further information on cycling check out www.gallowaycycling.co.uk
Galloway Kite TrailRating: Fairly easy Distance/Time: Depends on location, but most fairly short. A drive around Loch Ken with various options to stop off for a walk and hopefully see Red Kites. This includes a feeding station at Bellymack Hill farm. A leaflet is available from various outlets locally.
Carlingwark Loch Circular WalkRating: Easy Distance/Time: Allow 2 hours Small map on light pole beside car park in Lochside Park
Castle Douglas Town Trail
Rating: Easy Distance/Time: 1 hour Parking is available at the Tourist Information Centre at Market Hill car park. NX767626. Town Walk
Sculptures in the Galloway Forest ParkRating: Easy/moderate Distance/Time: 2 hours Interesting man-made sculptures within the Galloway Forest Park
Galloway House to Cruggleton CastleRating: Moderate Distance/Time: 4 Miles round trip Woodland and part along a clifftop path
Almorness PeninsulaRating: Moderate Distance/Time: 3-4 hours Forest Track down to a beach overlooking the Solway. Small car park (with limited spaces) at the end of the public road. Do not block the farm access.
Short Walks on the Southern Upland WayRating: Moderate to Hard Distance/Time: Half to Full Day Walks Short Walks on the Western section of the Southern Upland Way. Free Booklet for the price of two first class stamps.
National Trust for Scotland, Threave Estate WalkRating: Moderate to strenuous depending on detours taken Distance/Time: Depends on route taken Circular estate walk with optional detours to Lamb Island bird hide, Threave Castle and bird hide 4km/2.5miles, extra 1.5km/1mile to Lamb Island bird hide, extra 4.75km/3miles to Threave Castle and bird hides and extra 2km/1¼miles to Threave Castle only. Allow 1½ hours, or more for detours Minor road, woodland paths, tracks, dismantled railway, stone paths and grass paths with some steps. Moderate to strenuous depending on detours taken Boots or stout shoes recommended
Cycling/Walking an excellent way to see wildlife.Cycling is a great way to see wildlife. Dumfries and Galloway has miles of minor roads with very little traffic, all of which pass through a variety of habitats. Being on a bicycle allows you to see and hear much more, with the added bonus of stopping whenever you want. For further information on cycling check out www.gallowaycycling.co.uk |
Trusty's Hill and Rutherford's MonumentRating: Circular woodland and farmland walk. Distance/Time: 5.5km/31/2 miles Allow 2 hours Circular woodland and farmland walk. 5.5km/31/2 miles Allow 2 hours Roadside pavement, minor roads, beaten earth and grass paths. Stiles. Moderate Stout shoes or boots recommended.
Waterside HillDistance/Time: 5 miles, allow about 3 hours? Circular Hill Walk Fairly easy walk on country roads and low hill ground. SUW is waymarked.
Kirroughtree Forest Walks
Rating: Easy to moderate Distance/Time: Various colour coded walks. Various waymarked forest walks through a variety of habitats. Walks vary in length from 1 to 5 miles.
Doach Wood, near Castle DouglasRating: Easy/moderate Distance/Time: 2 hours Forest walks leading to a viewpoint.
Castramont Wood. Scottish Wildlife ReserveRating: Moderate Limited car parking. Around 10-12 cars. Site not accessible to buses. Information Board at start of the walks. The wood is on the side of a hill so there are steep paths in places. During the main tourist season from April to September information and guidance can be obtained from the Gatehouse of Fleet Tourist Information Centre. The Centre is closed during the winter months. Please park sensibly and don’t block access.
Criffel Hill
Bennan ViewpointRating: Moderate to strenuous Distance/Time: Option A -3miles/4.5km (return), Option Circular/linear forest walks with viewpoint PARKING is available at the Forest Enterprise car park approximately 5.5km/3½ miles south of New Galloway and approximately 19km/12 miles north of Castle Douglas on the A762.
Screel HillRating: Strenuous Distance/Time: 5.6km/3 1/2 miles. Allow 2-3 hours At 1126ft (344m), Screel Hill is smaller than its neighbour Bengairn. However, it provides an excellent, short hill walk with some fantastic views. Despite its relatively low height, conditions at the top may be far worse than at the car park so warm clothing, a map and a compass are advisable.
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These webs pages have been put together by Keith Kirk. Keith is a semi pro natural history photographer and writer. He is the wildlife feature writer for D&G Life magazine and also writes a monthly Nature Notes column for the Galloway News. His day job is a countryside ranger with Dumfries and Galloway Council, something he has been doing for over 24 years. Keith also has another web site which promotes him as a photographer, whilst this site is more about Dumfries and Galloway, an unknown part of Scotland. www.dumfriesandgallowaywildlife.co.uk
Also check out www.flickr.com/photos/keithkirk8 which he updates on almost a daily basis with his latest images.
You can also find me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/keith.kirk.906
Keith is also a photographer who has tested many types of photography kit for manufacturers . At the moment he is testing Bushnell and Spypoint wildlife/trail/stealth cameras. Checkout the link at the top of the page or go to www.scottcountry.co.uk for more info. Also coming soon will be a report on a new outdoor clothing manufacturer (Ridgeline) that is producing good kit for Wildlife Photographers and Birdwatchers.........so watch this space. Here's a quick preview.
A clothing brand in New Zealand has now hit the shores of the UK. Featuring technical fabrics, and membranes that are ideal for photographers and birdwatchers in the changeable UK Climate. Life is about experience and choices, those between you and your environment, you and the gear you wear. Ridgeline's products are affordable, rugged, durable and comfortable, and allow you to get on with the task at hand whenever you need to and wherever you are.
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