The Bonnie Galloway Tour - 7 Days

Places of Interest - Castle Douglas Food Town; Sulwath Brewery, Carlingwark loch; Threave Castle and Garden (Options on Walk 1) Tea Rooms, Pubs and Restaurants recommended. Places of Interest.
Price -  

This tour combines what we think are some excellent walks for a week-long tour in different areas of the region – but still accessible by car within a reasonable time each day.  

Day 1: Balcary Bay - 1.5 to 5.5 miles – Coastal. 
This is a very popular walk in the area due to Balcary Bay being a beauty spot and the coastal being designated as a National Scenic Area. The main feature is the cliff side walk with captivating views over Heston Island. There is a short and long walk option  with woodland and countryside features. The four star Hotel looking out over the bay is an ideal end of walk stop, maybe whilst enjoying a wee dram!
Accommodation in Castle Douglas or area.

Day 2: The Colvend Circuit – 5 miles – Countryside, Lochs and Woodland.
A change from the coastal scenery takes you from Rockliffe inland to the village of Colvend with its small Information Centre, shop, restaurant and nearby craft shop. The fairly flat walk in this glorious setting takes you past two lochs and through the woods before passing a hamlet with a hotel detour for lunch if you prefer. The last part takes you through a forest and onto paths back to the shoreline.
Accommodation in Castle Douglas or area.

Day 3: Brighouse Bay – 4.5 miles – Coast and Countryside.
Brighouse bay is a popular scenic area often used by the Scottish Colourist artist E.A. Hornell from Kirkcudbright in the early 1900’s as backdrop to his paintings. One side of the Bay is a caravan site and golf course. The walk follows the rocky shoreline  along the edge of the Bay and then rises along beside the golf course with magnificent views across Wigtown Bay to The Machars region and the Isle of Man. After reaching Borness Point you leave the shoreline and head inland and gradually uphill to Cairniehill where the vistas are even more expansive. Passing through Cairniehill Farm, still on the way-marked route, you arrive back at the Bay with options for refreshment nearby.
Accommodation in Castle Douglas or area.

Day 4: Big Water of Fleet Viaduct - 4 miles – Moorland.
The start of this upland walk is beside the Moneypool Burn at the old Gatehouse railway station – unusually 6 miles from the town! Scottish Natural Heritage have created the area as a nature reserve and operate a working farm here. The walk follows the old disused railway line and has the majestic granite crag, The Clints of Dromore, as a backdrop. The striking viaduct is the focal point of this peaceful area which has picnic facilities and is popular with visitors. On the way back along a track on this circular walk, a small visitor centre has been made in farm building.  Here you can learn about the wildlife of the area.
Accommodation in Newton Stewart or area.

Day 5: River Bladnoch Walk – 2 or 4 miles – Riverside and Woodland.
Although the walk is a total of 2 miles, walking from Wigtown to the start will make another 2 miles. This an easy pleasant walk by the side of the River Bladnoch. At the end of the walk a tour of the Distillery – limited opening – and a refreshment in the Bladnoch Inn would top off your walk.
Accommodation in Newton Stewart or area.

Day 6: The Minnoch – 5 miles – Riverside and Woodland.
This is a little known walk popular with locals. It follows the River Minnoch upstream with the option of linking to Stroan Bridge and Glentrool visitor centre. It is at a beside this river that the body was found in the Galloway set fictitious murder mystery book, The Five Red Herrings, the subject of  one of our themed walking tours. The return route joins part of the well known Southern Upland Way cross Scotland walking route.
Accommodation in Newton Stewart or area.

Day 7: Blawquhairn Walk – 5 miles – Hills, Road and River.
Departing from the centre of Dalry you walk through the town and into the upland countryside on the way-marked Southern upland way walking route. Bout half way you join the National Byway Cycle Route back towards the town. From here you get glorious views over Earlstoun loch and the surrounding hills. There are different options back but we suggest returning via the riverside.
No accommodation provided tonight unless requested.