A day out in Galloway

W e start out from the cottages and drive to Newton Stewart. At the A75 roundabout we turn right towards Dumfries and visit Creetown and the award winning Gem Rock Museum. Here we all enjoy the truly astonishing display of natural minerals in all shapes and sizes. We also visit the shop, lapidary exhibition, and cyber-cafe.

Returning on the A75 towards Dumfries again and a short distance away we visit Carsluith Castle, with it's 'Smokehouse Cafe' and views over Wigtown Bay.

Back on the A75 we turn right again and perhaps turn left and visit Kirroughtree Forest Park Visitor Centre (signposted), see the red squirrels feeding, and explore the forest trails. There is an excellent childrens play area here by the Visitor Centre.

Towards Dumfries again and take the left signposted turn a few miles further on, driving up into the hills to see Cairnholy Cairn, a 4,000 year old burial cairn set on a hilltop overlooking Wigtown Bay and here admire the views.

Coming down the hill we see a sign to the Kirkdale Water Driven Sawmill and Nature Trail. kirkdale-sawmill.org.uk Here (open Mon.- Fri.) we are shown the old sawmill (1830's) restored to it's former glory, and take the nature trail up to the pond, along a wooded path, with many wild flowers and are lucky enough to see the Kingfisher and some Dippers hopping from stone to stone in the river.

Leaving the sawmill and turning not back towards the A75 but branching left up the old road we proceed up into the hills again with magnificent views over the Solway Firth and come out on the A75 by Auchenlarie. Here we turn right and after a few hundred yards see the sign to Mossyard beach on the left.

Turning left and over the cattle grids we proceed towards the farm and there take a sharp left down the hill to Mossyard beach car-park. Here we take our picnic and walk down to this charming beach, the children enjoy seeing the thousands of shells and paddling in the sea.