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Copyright | | Galloway
Forest Park in the Scottish Borders is huge with 300 square miles of mountain,
forest, lochs and rivers. It's the biggest
forest park in the UK, and the scenery is so rugged and dramatic, it's known as
the 'Highlands of the Lowlands'. | |  | Our country houses and estates are great places
for nature. Find out how you can get really close to some fantastic animals.
| |  | - Estates and parks offer great wildlife watching opportunities
in the autumn including birds and squirrels.
| | | Galloway
Forest Park - Visitor Guide | | Address: | Galloway
Forest Park, Dalry St Johns Town, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Bellymack
Hill Farm and Feeding Station, near Laurieston, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. | | Postcode
| Forest Park - DG7 3
Bellymack Hill Farm -
DG7 2 | | Telephone: | Recreation
Ranger - 01671 402420
Visitor Centre on 01644 420 285
Red Kite information
- the Red Kite officer - RSPB Crossmichael - 01556 670464 | | e-mail |
lucy.hadley@forestry.gsi.gov.uk | | Map: | and
Ìý | | Ordnance Survey: | Grid
Reference: NX 552 764 | | Key attractions: | Birds
of prey. Red Deer. | | Essential kit: | Sensible
footwear, tree guide. | | Nature watching: | Clatteringshaws
Visitor Centre is a good place to start your visit - it is located on the shores
of Clatteringshaws Loch.
The Polmaddy burn and surrounding the woodland
opens up to offer good views of the countryside. Ìý Deer watching. The
Forestry Commission Scotland, who manage the park, run an annual red deer rutting
event, which almost guarantees that two stags will fight. They remove the dominant
stag a few days earlier and keep him in a smaller enclosure. On the event day
they release him. If this is a bit too stage-managed for your taste, then put
aside some time to watch the herd. If you try the first two weeks in October,
your chances of seeing the rut are good. Ìý Galloway Red Kite Trail
along Loch Ken - a good spot for bird of preys riding the thermals.
Red
Kite feeding: Farmer Ann Johnstone feeds the kites at 2pm every day at Bellymach
Hill Farm near Laurieston. They'll continue to feed on and off for a few hours.
Ìý Bird watching - moorland specialists including Red Grouse. Ìý Activities:
Horse riding - open access on all forest roads in Galloway Forest Park. Cycling
- loch cycle route. Hiking and walks - numerous trails. | | Facilities: | Visitor
centre. , toilets, visitor centre and cafe.
Education facilities and events. | | Access: | Disabled
access to parking, toilets and Visitor Centre. | | Getting
there: | The nearest towns are Dalry St Johns
Town and Carsphairn. Take the A712 from Newton Stewart signposted to New Galloway.
Then take the A713 towards Carsphairn. Or follow the A712 to Newton Stewart. Ìý Parking. | | Opening
times: | Bellymack Hill Farm and Feeding Station,
near Laurieston - the hide is open 8am - 4pm in summer and 10am - 4pm in winter.
| | Charges: | Bellymack
Hill Farm and Feeding Station, near Laurieston - £2.50 for use of the car
park and hide. |
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