Newton Stewart Accommodation

Mountain Biking, 7 Stanes, Galloway Forest Park

Galloway Forest Park & Glenkins Mountain Bike Trails, Dumfries & Galloway

Galloway Forest Park, Newton Stewart, Mountain Biking, Fishing Scotland

Newton Stewart is the main gateway into the Galloway Forest Park and a key base for walkers and hikers, mountain bikers, and fishing holidays in the area. Affectionately often referred to as the Highlands within the Lowlands, the Galloway Forest Park is actually Britain's largest forest park (300 square miles) and pushes right up to the Ayrshire Border from the Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries and Galloway. The forests and mountains in Galloway Forest Park are a sharp contrast to the low-lying farmlands along the Solway coast. On the eastern side of the park sits the Glenkins river valley pushing down towards Castle Douglas. Loch Ken is a booming watersports playground and the red kite trail is here. New Galloway serves as the main accommodation base in the east.

The contrast is good news for mountain bikers and keen walkers, as well as trout and salmon fishing fans, as the Galloway Forest Park is tailor-made for all three. Some of the best UK Mountain Biking trails are here. Three visitor centres across the park, at Glentrool, Clatteringshaws and Kirroughtree, serve as excellent information points for maps and information. See also the long list of Galloway Forest Park weblinks right for fishing, walking and mountain biking in the area. The Galloway Forest Park is a challenge for lovers of outdoor leisure pursuits. There are 24 peaks here, with the highest - The Merrick, which climbs 2,765 feet above Loch Trool.

Newton Stewart & the Galloway Forest Park

Newton Stewart has become such a huge centre for walking and hiking in the Galloway Forest Park that it now hosts an annual Walking Festival every year in Mid-May (weblink right for details). The Galloway Hills and Forest Park are still a bit of a 'best kept secret', and don't get the crowds of the Lake District. The Galloway Hills area sits within the Southern Uplands range and includes six mini ranges - The 'Awful Hand' with the highest peak Merrick, the Dungeon Range from Craiglee to Macaterick, The Kells from Darrou in the south to Black Craig above Loch Doon, The Minnigaff Group between the Water of Trool and Clatteringshaws Loch, The Carsphairn Range to the north east which incorporates Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and finally The Solway Hills along the Solway Coast stretching from Cainsmore of Fleet near Newton Stewart all the way to Criffel south of Dumfries.

The area is still relatively remote, and little served by public transport, so four wheels is recommended to appreciate the Galloway Forest Park in full. The peaks are high here, and walkers pushing into the depths of the park are advised to take the usual care regarding good footwear and waterproofs, ample suplies and a compass (see the Forestry Commission's guide to Galloway Forest Park website right for a comprehensive guide to walking precautions).

The main town base to the west of the park is Newton Stewart (see webguide right). The town and surrounding area is renowned for its salmon and trout fishing. It sits on the River Cree and offers a good choice of B&B, hostel and hotel accommodation plus the odd attraction which includes a Dolls House Museum. Newton Stewart also has its own quaint cinema, plus a scattering of restaurants and pubs. North of Newton Stewart, the central point for walkers and hikers tends to be Glentrool - one of the park's three visitor centres is here (see below for details) alongside some of the most dramatic trails including part of the Western stretch of the Southern Uplands Way with views of Loch Trool One of a selection of Bruce Stones across the Galloway Hills is here near Loch Trool. The Bruce stone about half way up Loch Trool is thought to be the site where in 1307 he ambushed an English force after already defeating the English at Solway Moss. The Glentrool visitor centre is also the main centre for access on to the park's highest peak Merrick - the ultimate challenge for walkers. Another visitor centre is at Kirroughtree.

To the east in the area of the park known as the Glenkins (the Glenkins Valley), New Galloway is the main centre with a small choice of accommodation. Smaller than Newton Stewart, it's a charming little base with tearooms, a couple of hotels and a main high street. The Glenkins eastern area of the park contains Loch Ken, popular for water skiing, windsurfing and sailing, plus the Galloway Kite Trail (see weblink right) guarantees sightings of red kites in the area. The small village of Parton also hosts the annual Scottish Alternative Games (weblink Right). The main Galloway Park visitor centre in the Glenkins area to the east is Clatteringshaws situated adjacent to Clatteringshaws Loch and close to the Southern Upland Way.

Galloway Forest Park and Glenkins Visitor Centres

The three visitor centres in the Galloway Forest Park are invaluable points for maps, refreshements, general information on the park on historic sites such as the Bruce Stones, gift shops, tea rooms, fishing permits for fishing in local Lochs, toilets, parking areas, sites for park events and educational workshops, picnic areas and trail maps for walks and cycling.

The big one to the West of the park is at Glentrool is north of Newton Stewart (OS Grid Reference. NX 372 786. It sits in a beautiful spot alongside the water of Minnoch and falls and has a tea room and lots of information. Loch Tool and Bruce's stone are nearby (around 3 miles). To reach it take the A714 from Newton Stewart, signposted for Girvan. The road continues for around 8 miles, turn right at Bargrennan following the sign for Galloway Forest Park, then next right past Glentrool village where you see a sign for Glentrool Visitor Centre. You can download a map via the Forestry Commission's website linked right. Tel. The Recreation Ranger on 01671 402420.

The second visitor centre also to the West of the Galloway Forest Park is Kirroughtree, located near Newton Stewart and Creetown at OS Grid Reference. NX 452 646. A good visitor centre for families is Kirroughtree, with a children's playground on-site, plus tea room, gift shop, and numerous walking and cycling routes in the surrounding area. To reach Kirroughtree visitor centre, from Newton Stewart follow the A75 to Dumfries for about 3 miles, take a left turn at Palnure which is signposted Kirroughtree Visitor Centre. Coming from the other way and New Galloway, follow the A712 to Newton Steard, left at the T-junction onto the A75, then left at Palnure as above. Tel. 01671 402 165. You can download maps and get more information on Kirroughtree via the Forestry Commission's website right.

Finally on the Eastern side of the Galloway Forest Park (nearest town New Galloway) sits the Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre, OS Grid Reference. NX 552 764. It sits right on the edge of pretty Clatteringshaws Loch and is deep in the park, surrounded by spectacular scenery. The Southern Uplands Way winds on to Sanquhar nearby. Clatteringshaws has a tea room, an interactive wildlife exhibition, toilets, parking and picnic area on-site. Another of Robert Bruce's Stones is nearby, and numerous walking and cycling trails branch out from the centre. It also sits on the Galloway Red Kite Trail (weblink right). Clatteringshaws is conveniently just off the A712 Queen's Way Road (a fine driving road for views of the park from you car).Tel. Recreation Ranger on 01671 402420. Maps and more information on Clatteringhshaws Visitor Centre can be found on the Forestry Commission's weblink right.

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