Walking

Dumfries and Galloway is a real paradise for walkers, covering an area of almost 2,500 miles with over 200 miles of spectacular coastline. The region is home to fewer than 150,000 people but it’s packed with sites of scientific and historic significance and it hosts a number of rare and protected species.

Here are just a few of the outstanding walking opportunities in this beautiful region.

Southern Upland Way

Britain’s first official coast to coast path covers 212 miles from Portpatrick in the west to Cockburnspath in the east and a long stretch passes through Dumfries and Galloway.
It can take anywhere between 10 and 20 days to walk the entire length of the Way so it’s best to plan how many miles you intend to cover every day.

The Red Kite Trail

This trail covers 24 miles around Loch Ken and offers some of the best opportunities to spot Red Kites in their natural habitat. It has six viewing points, nine walks, four hides and a summer only feeding station with CCTV so you can watch the young in their nests.

Glenkiln Reservoir

This is a walk with a difference which gives art-loving walkers the opportunity to get up close with sculptures by Auguste Rodin, Sir Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore. The sculptures were collected by local landowner Sir William Keswick who had them placed in a natural environment for the delight of locals and visitors alike.

Galloway Forest Park

300 spectacular square miles of varied landscape ready for you to explore. The park was recently awarded Dark Sky status, the only one outside of America and an ideal place to do some serious star gazing.

Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate

From short to more strenuous waymarked paths, walking is one of the many ways to really enjoy the outdoor experience that makes Drumlanrig so special. Rediscover the newly opened Victorian pathways and the original 19th Century tracks which will enable you to explore the splendour that is Drumlanrig. Read more on the Drumlanrig website.