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Monday 14th May
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Walk
4-1 Darnaw to Cairngarroch
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Route Summary
This walk covers new ground
and links several tops.
Starting at Clatteringshaws
Loch, the road along its
south edge leads to a
forest road that allows
easy access to Low Craignell.
The aircraft accident
memorial is visited on
the way to Darnaw then
along the plateau to Bennan.
A steepish descent to
Munwhul, and then onto
the high point of the
day, and superb westerly
views, at Millfore. The
route then passes the
Buckdas of Cairnbaber
to Cairngarroch and the
descent to a pick up at
Craigencallie.
Distance: 13km (8 miles)
Ascent: 1150 metres
Difficulty: strenuous
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 4.30pm
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of this route 
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Monday 14th May
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Walk
4-2 The Silver Flowe
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Route Summary
The raised bog of the
Silver Flowe is a Site
of Special Scientific
Interest and is home to
a wide variety of flora
and fauna. In the company
of a wildlife expert,
this is a unique opportunity
to explore one of Galloway’s
wild areas. Starting at
Loch Dee, the route heads
north along the lower
slopes of Craiglee, Snibe
Hill and Craignaw, providing
views of the whole Silver
Flowe. Dropping down to
the Dungeon Lochs, the
route then crosses the
Flowe itself before turning
south along its eastern
flanks to finish at the
Black Water of Dee. Note:
Much of route is rough
and on wet ground therefore
walking boots are essential.
Distance: 14km (9 miles)
Ascent: 300 metres
Difficulty: moderate plus
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 5.30pm
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Get-a-Map
of this route
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Monday 14th May
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Walk
4-3 An Evening Coastal Forage
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Route Summary
Join Mark Williams of
Galloway Wildfoods (www.gallowaywildfoods.com)
for a coastal plants and
shellfish foray near Gatehouse
of Fleet followed by a
beach barbecue of your
foraged foods, plus a
few others.
Distance: 4km (2.5 miles)
Ascent: 100 metres
Difficulty: moderate
Registration from 5.30pm
Depart at 6.00pm.
Return by 9.30pm
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Tuesday 15th May
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Walk
5-1 Corserine to Loch Trool
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Route Summary
This big walk includes
the Corbett of Corserine
and links east with west
via the Silver Flowe.
Access to Corserine is
from Forrest Lodge. The
route westerly is by Meikle
Craigtarson, forest rides
to Gala Lane and the steep
climb to the summit of
Mullwharchar, and its
wonderful views. Descending
to Loch Enoch the route
passes the Grey Man and
then along the Buchan
Ridge with its airy aspect
and superb views. The
final two tops of Buchan
Hill provide the most
beautiful approach to
Loch Trool with the pick
up at Bruce’s Stone.
Distance: 20km (12 miles)
Ascent: 1500 metres
Difficulty: very strenuous
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 5.30pm
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Get-a-Map
of this route
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Tuesday 15th May
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Walk
5-2 The Glenkens Villages
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Route Summary
A relatively long but
not too strenuous day
in the lovely countryside
of the Glenkens and a
chance to understand more
about how people, past
and present, have used
the natural resources
of the Galloway uplands
to make a living. Starting
at Balmaclellan, the route
is a horseshoe passing
through St John’s Town
of Dalry and ending in
the Royal Burgh of New
Galloway. Short climbs
to viewpoints at Mulloch
and Waterside Hills and
a variety of landscapes
including woodland paths,
open moor, streams and
lochans all add interest
to this route.
Distance: 18km (11 miles)
Ascent: 500 metres
Difficulty: moderate
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 5.30pm
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of this route
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Wednesday 16th May
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Walk
6-1 Cairnsmore of Fleet
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Route Summary
Another chance to climb
one of Galloway’s best
known summits. Starting
from Bardrochwood, a forest
road leads to Mill Burn
and a forest path before
a rough, steep climb towards
Eastman’s Cairn and the
top of Cairnsmore. Some
of the finest views in
Galloway can be enjoyed
from here. The route then
crosses the plateau to
the South Top before a
straight forward descent
towards Knocktim and the
finish at Muirfad
Distance: 15km (9 miles)
Ascent: 850 metres
Difficulty: strenuous
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 5.15pm
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of this route
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Wednesday 16th May
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Walk
6-2 Clatteringshaws and Old
Edinburgh Road
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Route Summary
A linear walk through
Galloway Forest Park in
the company of a Forestry
Ranger, providing excellent
views and gentle ascents
largely on forest roads
and paths. Starting at
Clatteringshaws Loch the
route skirts the loch
side before joining a
forest road leading to
Lillie’s Loch. The road
becomes a path at Strife
Rig and follows Black
Strand to Black Loch where
a good forest road is
followed passing Talnotry
Hill and Loch of the Lowes
to the pick up point on
the A712 Queens Way.
Distance: 13km (8 miles)
Ascent: 300 metres
Difficulty: moderate
Registration from 9.15am
Depart at 9.45am.
Return by 4.00pm
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Get-a-Map
of this route
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Wednesday 16th May
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Walk
6-3 Drannandow to Glenshalloch
(Evening)
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Route Summary
This linear route explores
two tops a short distance
from Newton Stewart and
is perfect for an evening
walk. Starting at Drannandow,
the farm track soon becomes
a path across moorland
to Benaisla and onto the
high point of the route
at Garlick Hill. A pleasant
walk from Garlick picks
up a forest road that
leads to the finish at
Glenshalloch.
Distance: 12km (7 miles)
Ascent: 500 metres
Difficulty: moderate plus
Registration from 3.45pm
Depart at 4.15pm.
Return by 9.30pm
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Get-a-Map
of this route
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Thursday 17th May
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Walk
7-1 The Mighty Merrick from
Palgowan
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Route Summary
The final big walk of
the festival returns to
its traditional home of
the Merrick. Starting
at Palgowan the route
climbs to Benmore before
joining the path at Benyellary
to the summit of Merrick.
The descent to Loch Enoch
is by Redstone Rig, following
its south side to the
Nick of Dungeon and then
along the Dungeon ridge.
Crossing the Devil’s Bowling
Green, there is a scramble
up Craignaw before dropping
down via loch and burn
side to the finish at
Bruce’s stone.
Distance: 20km (12.4
miles)
Ascent: 1250 metres
Difficulty: very strenuous
Registration from 8.15am
Depart at 8.45am.
Return by 5.30pm
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of this route
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Thursday 17th May
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Walk
7-2 Carsluith Wild Flowers
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Route Summary
Starting on the shore
at Carsluith, and including
the summit of Cairnholy
Hill, this route takes
in a great variety of
wild flower habitats including
deciduous woodland, rich
marsh, acid bog, a bluebell
glen, flower-rich grassland,
a ferny ravine and heather
moor. An extra bonus is
the spectacular views
of Wigtown Bay, the Machars
and the Galloway Hills
unfolding as we climb
via Cleughhead to Bagbie
Farm, California, Cairnholy
and ending at Kirkdale
Bridge.
Distance: 14km (8 miles)
Ascent: 500 metres
Difficulty: moderate plus
Registration from 9.15am
Depart at 9.45am.
Return by 4.00pm
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of this route
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Walk Gradings
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Very strenuous
- A true mountain adventure, often
with difficult walking underfoot
in Galloway's wildest locations.
Distances are usually at least
16km (10 miles) and there is usually
around 1000m of ascent.
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Strenuous
- Open hillside with some steep
sections. Distances typically
10km (7 miles) to 15km (9 miles)
with between 500 and 850m of ascent.
Suitable only for those with a
good level of fitness.
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Moderate +
- Generally on lower land across
farm land, through forests or
on the coast, usually on paths,
but with some difficult sections.
Distances of around 10km (7 miles)
with typically around 300m of
ascent.
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Moderate
- Generally on lower land across
farm land, through forests or
on the coast, usually on paths.
Distances are generally 7km (4
miles) to 10km (7 miles) with
only minimal levels of ascent
but may include some exposed sections.
A number of these walks are led
by historical or wildlife experts
and hence are taken at a slower
pace to allow for items of interest
along the route to be discussed.
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