Luxury Walking Breaks
By Luxury Walking Breaks, we mean walking breaks including accommodation in the best hotels or country houses of the region. We also have the knowledge and organisational ability to collaborate with other businesses to arrange any other luxury requirements you may wish.
We have arranged luxury cycling breaks in the past and tailored the accommodation and other aspects to suit. Apart from reasonable distance walks, there are always other things to see and do in the area – which we can advise on at a welcome meeting.
Please note, our service includes arranging the full walking and accommodation package for you, as well as providing advice or making any other arrangements you require e.g. booking golf tee times, spa and therapy centre bookings etc. can advise on at the welcome meeting at your accommodation.
As there are a limited number of top hotels and country houses in the area, please contact us as early as possible if you are considering one of our Luxury Walking Breaks - we can then discuss your requirements and secure accommodation bookings if desired. We can also arrange National Trust and other top quality self-catering cottages in the area if preferred.
To ensure you are aware of the standard of accommodation offered, we provide information, including websites addresses, on the 4 star hotels and country houses we have used.
The Cally Palace Hotel, Gatehouse of Fleet - with golf course. A wide selection of walks nearby for all abilities.
www.callypalace.co.uk
Other Macmillan Hotels in our area which we are familiar with are the Kirroughtree at Newton Stewart, the Northwest Castle in Stranraer and the Fernhill in Portpatrick. We have knowledge of walks in reasonable close proximity to all these hotels and can devise a package as required.
www.mcmillanhotels.co.uk/
Cavens Country House – near the coast with some excellent walks nearby.
www.cavens.com
Craigadam House – a country house and farm with one large dining table. A prominent Covenanters monument walk is nearby with equal distance to other hills and coastal walks.
www.craigadam.com
Barons Craig Hotel - we have a large selection of walks of different distances around this coastal area.
www.baronscraighotel.co.uk
Balcary Bay Hotel – again a popular walking area on the coast but also with a good hill and woodland walk nearby.
www.balcary-bay-hotel.co.uk
We can also arrange accommodation at any other top quality hotels in the region which you may have been recommended or prefer to stay at.
4 Day Luxury Walking Break
We have selected 4 excellent coastal walks for a 4 day tour.
Accommodation - We will arrange accommodation in the most suitable top quality hotels for this walking break.
Places of Interest - Castle Douglas Food Town; Sulwath Brewery, Carlingwark loch; Threave Castle and Garden; Dalbeattie museum; Sandyhills beach; Mersehead RSPB Nature Reserve; John Paul Jones visitor centre; Sweetheart Abbey; Pubs and Restaurants recommended. Places of Interest List.
Price - Price on application.
Walk 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 coast being designated as a National Scenic Area. The Balcary Bay Hotel is one of the selected hotels suitable for this walking break. 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. In addition to the hotel, we know of several good quality pubs/restaurants in the area for an evening meal.
Walk 2: The Jubilee Path – 2.5 to 4 miles – Coastal.
This is a popular walk between the delightful coastal villages of Kippford and Rockliffe. Being a National Scenic Area, the recent scrub clearance work done by the National Trust for Scotland has created a reasonably short loop path - possibly ideal to walk off a pub lunch at a nearby popular pub! As you wind your way round the well used path, walk in the footsteps of King Rheged, 5th century, and take in the wonderful panoramic view from the old fort known as the Moat of Mark. There are other walks in this area, e.g. The Muckle Walk – 3 miles and even further to Castle Point – 4 miles – all of which we can advise you of at a welcome meeting.
Walk 3: Almorness – 5.5 miles – Countryside and Coastal.
This peninsula is an excellent remote walk and mostly used by local waling enthusiasts. There is a track to follow to begin with but then you have to find your way round the rugged point using what you can find of a path or sheep tracks. The reward for this longer walk is two secluded beaches, Horse Isles Bay and White Port which has a stunning setting. Almorness Point gives views across the Solway including Heston Island. There is an unusual pub nearby for a pub lunch or refreshment.
Walk 4: Rockliffe to Sandyhills – 6 miles – Coastal.
This is a truly spectacular walk mentioned in several Scottish walking books. Firstly following the shore to Castle Point with spectacular views over the
7 Day Luxury Walking Break
For a 7 day walking break, we have added 3 easy/moderate difficulty hill and woodland walks to the 4 day walks.
Accommodation - may be at the same hotel for your duration or the remaining 3 nights may be at another 4 star hotel nearer to these hill walk locations.
Additional Places of Interest - Cardoness Castle; Cream o' Galloway ice cream farm; Kilt making centre; Mill on the Fleet; Newton Stewart museum and cinema; Wigtown Book Town nearby; Butterflies and Carnivorous Plants centre; New Galloway, Dalry and Balmaclellan towns; Clog & Shoe Workshop; Loch Ken; Clatteringshaws Loch & V.C.; Galloway Kite Trail. Places of Interest List.
Walk 5: Murray’s Monument – ½ mile to 5 miles – Hill and Woodland.
The Murray’s Monument is a popular walk beside the A712 road to New Galloway. The surrounding area is full of natural beauty with a wild goat park and red deer range nearby. Although the monument walk is only ½ a mile, a detour gives you the option to walk a longer distance to the Old Edinburgh Road or further through the forest. The Grey Mare’s tail burn with dramatic waterfalls and nearby Black Loch sculpture all add to the spectacle.
Walk 6: Waterside Hill - 4.5 miles - Riverside; Moderate Hill.
The hillside of St. John's Town of Dalry in the Galloway Hills. This is a popular way-marked walk often walked by locals. Firstly follow the Water of Ken river upstream to Earlston Hydro electric power station. You then join the Southern Upland Way signposted walking route uphill for a relatively short distance and detour a short distance to Waterside Hill which has expansive views over Earlstoun loch and The Glenkens countryside. Re-join the SUW and downhill to the peaceful Garroch Glen and follow the road beside the Coom Burn to join the Water of Ken back upstream to Dalry. Refresh youirself in a good end of walk pub in Dalry at the end of your walk.
Walk 7: Loch Trool - 5.5 miles - Lochside and Woodland.
This is another Forestry Commission location including a visitor centre and tea room. The popular and stunningly beautiful area around Glentrool could be said to be the most like the Scottish Highlands having craggy hillsides, a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees, and tumbling waterfalls. with the highest mountain of the region, Merrick 843m nearby. Bruce’s Stone, beside Loch Trool commemorates a battle in 1307 when Robert the Bruce scored a victory over an English Army. The walk around the loch has an information board showing how the battle was won using the natural features of the area.