Group and Guided Walks
Our Guided Walks are self explanatory with pickup from your accommodation to the walk start and return back again.
Our Group Walks are self-led walks set on specific dates with the holiday itinerary and walk route, information and transport provided by us.
Guided Walks
In 2012 we are offering 2 and 5 day Guided walking breaks which can be combined to
make a 7 days break.
The 5 day Monday to Friday breaks include the Wednesday as a self-guided circular walk or rest day. The two days breaks are on weekends after the 5 day breaks and can make a 7 day walking holiday.
We normally require a minimum of 6 walkers for a guided walking holiday to take place to take place.
Guided Walks include -
Transport – to and from walks
Packed lunches - or allowance for pub food.
Local information pack - about places of interest
Services of a Guide – for 4 days (Wednesday self-guided with maps and route provided)
End of Walk Refreshment (on one day of the break) - A free beer at Sulwath real ale brewery or nearby coffee shop in Castle Douglas
Excluded –
Evening meals - we can book for you or arrange to be part of the tour cost.
Extras – Massage and other treatments with local providers.
List of Guided Walk Itineraries
The Galloway Explorer – a 5 day Guided break - moderate grade - Ref. GW1
- Cost £545 p.p. assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement £65).
Includes - 5 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES – April 30; July 23; September 24.
Itinerary –
This 5 day guided walking break comprises 4 days guided walks with a Wednesday mid week rest day or information provided for a self-guided walk. Each day’s walk departs from and returns to Castle Douglas using our minibus transport.
Monday begins with a walk in Dalbeattie Forest and on to ‘The Scottish Riviera’ villages of Rockliffe and Kippford.
On Tuesday you take to the hills and walk part of the Southern Upland Way cross country walking route before ending in the Glenkens villages.
Wednesday allows you to walk yourself to Threave Estate from Castle Douglas along the old railway line path. You can visit Threave Castle by boat, the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Garden and we advise on routes back by Carlingwark loch and also refreshment options at Threave or back in the town – including Sulwath brewery which does tours.
On Thursday we take you to Brighouse Bay for a coastal walk with the option to stay in Kirkcudbright for a ‘Scottish tapas’ evening meal and town open air ‘Scottish Night’ in midsummer.
Lastly, on Friday we go further west to the Fleet National Scenic Area and Gatehouse of Fleet where we do a coastal circuit ending with an ice cream at the popular Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm.
The Taste of Galloway Walk – a 5 day Guided break - moderate grade - Ref. GW2
- Cost £545 p.p. assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement £65).
Includes - 5 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES – May 28; June 18; August 27.
Itinerary –
This Taste of Galloway combines walks with some good eating places!
Monday begins with a walk beside Loch Ken at Ken Dee Marshes to the Black Water of Dee river with a variety of wildlife and bird hides.
The following day, Tuesday, you head for the coast and after a hill walk up Screel Hill, with magnificent views over the Solway Firth to the Lake District of England on a clear day. You also visit nearby Balcary Bay.
Wednesday allows you to walk yourself to Threave Estate from Castle Douglas along the old railway line path. You can visit Threave Castle by boat, the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Garden and we advise on routes back by Carlingwark loch and also refreshment options at Threave or back in the town – including Sulwath brewery which does tours.
On Thursday we move to the coast near Kirkcudbright and take a coastal walk back to the town with views over Ross island with lighthouse and visit the lifeboat station before ending in the town. There is the option to stay in Kirkcudbright for a ‘Scottish tapas’ evening meal and town open air ‘Scottish Night’ – happens 6 nights in midsummer.
Friday is an ‘arty’ day when we take you to visit the famous Glenkiln hillside sculptures by Moore Rodin and Epstein. We continue to a peaceful glen near Moniaive village to the Striding Arches sculptures by world famous Andy Goldsworthy.
Solway Coast Stroll – a two day Guided weekend break - moderate grade - Ref. GW3
- Cost £295 p.p. assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement £30).
Includes - 2 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES – June 30; September 8; October 6.
Itinerary –
If you would like two separate day coastal walks of 11 and 6 miles (6 miles can be extended but allows for an early Sunday departure) you would cover the best parts of a 20 miles coastal stretch between the Nith Estuary and East Stewartry Coast National Scenic Areas.
Features are the small village from where thousands emigrated by boat to USA, Australia and New Zealand in the early 1800’s. Following the coastal theme, you visit the cottage museum where John Paul Jones, the founder of the US Navy lived. After a pub lunch option near a lighthouse, you continue by the sandy shore beside a golf course to a bird nature reserve with bird hides other wildlife and a small visitor centre which serves excellent coffee where you wait for the minibus to take you back to Castle Douglas to your B&B with swim spa.
The next day, before the walk, you visit an unusual rock formation for a look before being dropped off at the best beach in the whole area. From here a rocky coastal path takes you to a mid way hamlet before a tea room at the next village. After another mile, and some interesting local features, you end your walk at a pub to await the minibus.
Old Paddy LIne Weekend Walk – a two day Guided weekend break - moderate grade - Ref. GW4
- Cost £295 p.p. assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement £30).
Includes - 2 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES – May 5; July 28; September 29.
Itinerary -
This two day walk mostly follows the route of the old railway line between Stranraer and Dumfries – de-commissioned in 1968.
You walk west to east, beginning at Kirroughtree forestry visitor centre and soon joining the old railway line which is also the National Cycle Route. After a coffee break at Creetown Gem Rock museum you continue to follow the line of the railway to Cairnsmore of Fleet Nature Reserve visitor centre. This beautiful area, 10 miles from the start inspired significant aspects of the stories in John Buchan’s The Thirty Nine Steps and also Dorothy L, Sayers’s Five Red Herrings. We collect you and take you to Gatehouse of Fleet for a refreshment if desired before returning to Castle Douglas to your B&B with swim spa to ease your weary legs.
On the Sunday you see the imposing Big Water of Fleet viaduct before continuing east following the old railway line past two lochs and an old railway stop to Mossdale village, the site of the station. You are likely to see red kites around the sky and we take you to a nearby red deer compound complete with stag before heading back to Castle Douglas to end your weekend walking break.
Galloway Hills and Fleet Valley National Scenic Area Weekend Walk – a two day Guided weekend break - moderate grade - Ref. GW5
- Cost £295 p.p. assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement £30).
Includes - 2 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES – June 23; August 11; Septrember 22.
Itinerary -
The first day we drop you and your guide off on the Southern Upland cross country hill walking route. A wood land and countryside walk uphill takes you into a peaceful glen with a track and tarred road as you head to St John’s Town of Dalry where you have the option of a pub lunch before the easier riverside part of this 10 miles walk ending at another riverside pub where we will pick you up to return to Castle Douglas by Loch Ken.
The second day is a completely different coastal walk where you are likely to see some others on this fine stretch of coast. We drop you off at a little known field gate which provides access to join a new footpath and virtually continue north to Gatehouse of Fleet. There are several features, including a beach house, viewpoint, beaches, ice cream farm, old folly and woodland walks before arriving in Gatehouse and a good pub to await the pickup.
Group Walks
In 2012, mostly on the first Monday of each month between May and October we are able to offer the Galloway Explorer 5 day walking package as a self-guided walk for those who want to walk in a group. We require a minimum of 4 people for a Group Walk.
List of Group Walk Itineraries
The Galloway Explorer – a 5 day Group walking break - moderate grade - Ref. GRW1
- Cost - £295 p.p. , assuming two sharing accommodation (single supplement - £65).
Includes - 5 nights 3 or 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided, walk transport.
TOUR START DATES - June 25; August 6; October 8.
Itinerary
– each day includes walks around 5 to 8 miles walks lasting ½ to ¾ day with the opportunity to explore surrounding areas places of interest during transport to and from the walk start point. This 5 day group walking break comprises 4 days guided walks with a Wednesday mid week rest day or information provided for a self-guided walk. Each day’s walk departs from and returns to Castle Douglas using our minibus transport.
Monday begins with a walk in Dalbeattie Forest and on to ‘The Scottish Riviera’ villages of Rockliffe and Kippford.
On Tuesday you take to the hills and walk part of the Southern Upland Way cross country walking route before ending in the Glenkens villages.
Wednesday allows you to walk yourself to Threave Estate from Castle Douglas along the old railway line path. You can visit Threave Castle by boat, the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Garden and we advise on routes back by Carlingwark loch and also refreshment options at Threave or back in the town – including Sulwath brewery which does tours.
On Thursday we take you to Brighouse Bay for a coastal walk with the option to stay in Kirkcudbright for a ‘Scottish tapas’ evening meal and town open air ‘Scottish Night’ in midsummer.
Lastly, on Friday we go further west to the Fleet National Scenic Area and Gatehouse of Fleet where we do a coastal circuit ending with an ice cream at the popular Cream o’ Galloway ice cream farm.
