WILDLIFE WALK - CASTRAMONT WOOD AND ITS ENVIRONS

The main purpose of this lovely walk is to look at some of Galloway’s diverse wildlife in a mixture of different habitats – woodland, moorland and farmland.

We will be accompanied by at least one of Galloway’s professional Wildlife Rangers (hopefully two) who will give an expert’s view of what we are seeing. The walk goes through Castramont Wood – one of the loveliest stretches of deciduous woodland in Galloway – home to a thriving population of bats, pied flycatchers, redstarts and other returning migrants such as chiffchaff and willow warblers, as well as many of our native mammals.

Clearly it isn’t possible to predict exactly what wildlife we will see on the day, but this is a delightful walk at any time of the year and the wood is renowned for its wild flowers and especially for its wonderful show of bluebells at this time of year.

Leaving the shelter of the wood we then climb through rough grassland above the course of a mountain burn onto more open ground – an area fringed by coniferous forest and frequented by Merlins and other avian predators. Next we climb higher over a stretch of rough heather and blaeberry moorland – no footpaths here and the deep tufted grass and heather make conditions awkward underfoot.

We will climb (steeply for one short section) to a hilltop summit which gives fine views of the surrounding area, before dropping to Loch Whinyeon, a natural loch which has been dammed to create a reservoir.

Finally we descend through bracken to follow a farm track and ‘stane dykes’ back to our starting point – a distance of about 10 kilometres altogether. There will be plenty of time to stop and look on this walk, so do bring binoculars if you have them, but bear in mind that the walk ventures onto rough, slippery and possibly boggy terrain so it should not be regarded as a particularly short or gentle walking option.

Walking boots essential. Bring a packed lunch.