The Walks

Set route or bespoke, it’s up to you!

We offer a number of walking tours in the region which have been tried and tested many times. But if you are feeling adventurous or you have a particular interest, place,bird or animal you would like to see, there is the option of booking a bespoke tour.

Half Day Walks

THE CLIFFS OF BALCARY BAY

A half day walk up the cliffs of the Balcary Heughs to witness some wonderful views over the Solway Firth all the way to the peaks of the Lake District. Plenty of seabirds as well as insects, reptiles and sea mammals.

This half day walk takes you along the top of the cliffs from Balcary point to Rascarrel. The cliffs are teaming with seabirds at breeding season and moths and butterflies in great numbers, attracted by the wildflowers at the top of the cliffs. Expect to come across lots of seabirds such as guillemots, fulmars, cormorants and razorbills. The walk follows narrow paths through the clifftop wild flower meadows with views over the Solway Firth, perfect for spotting seals and dolphins if you’re lucky! On the shore we will explore edible plants, take a close look at rock pools.

Viuew of cliffs and rocks jutting into the sea, clouds and blue sky. Vegetation on top of the cliffs

Cliffs with vegetation in Balcary. Outdoors nature walk on the Solway firth.

Details

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate (Not suitable if you have a fear of heights)

Price: 25£ per person / 200£ per group of 10 people

Where: starting from Balcary Bay Hotel.

Food and drink is not included in the price.

TYNRON DOON & THE KINGDOM OF RHEGED

A half-day walk up the hill of Tynron Doon. Expect sweeping views of the Nith Valley and stories of ghosts and Celtic Britain. We will also come across lots of bird and animal species along the way.

A short but strenuous walk up Tynron Doon will take us back in time to the reign of the Celtic and Briton tribes and the mysterious kingdom of Rheged. We will avoid being there at dusk except if you are keen to look out for the unwieldy ghosts said to be roaming the hill! Before climbing the hill, we will visit Tynron churchyard, with its graves dating back to the 17th Century, including some Covenanter graves.

Tyron Doon iron age hill fort looking out over the Nith Valley in Dumfries & Galloway

Details

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Intermediate (Strenuous climb)

Price: 25£ per person / 200£ per group of 10 people

Where: Starting in Tynron, Dumfriesshire

Food and drink is not included in the price.

WOODLANDS AND HUMANS THROUGH TIME

A half day exploration of an ancient woodland, investigating the signs of human and tree cohabitation over the centuries.

This half day walk takes you right into the woods and back into time, discovering the link between woodland and humans, how the landscape as been shaped by humans and the benefits of these interactions for biodiversity. A sensorial experience among the trees, we will touch, smell, look, listen and even taste the landscape.

Details

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Price: 25£ per person / 200£ per group of 10 people

Where: Starting in Wallaceton, Dumfriesshire

Food and drink is not included in the price

SCOTTISH RAINFORESTS, PAST AND PRESENT

This half day walk will take you back in time when most of western britain was covered in temperate rainforests.

Armed with hand lenses, we will take a close look at the trees and the hundreds of creatures that grow and live on them, from beetles and bugs to lichen, fungus and mosses. By exploring this patch of temperate rainforest, we will imagine what the country used to look like, and what it could look like in the future.

Details

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Price: 25£ per person / 200£ per group of 10 people

Where: Multiple locations in Dumfries and Galloway.

Food and drink is not included in the price

Full Day Walks

ANDY GOLDSWORTHY’S STRIDING ARCHES

A full day walk up the Dalwhat Glen, starting North of the picturesque village of Moniaive. We will walk to 3 of world renowned landscape artist Andy Goldworthy’s striding arches.

On this walk, we will mix history, art and nature. We will take in the sweeping views from the hill tops on which the arches are set, talk about the clearances that occurred in the area, the impact it had on the landscape and the population. We will also look at the wildlife and flora on the way up the hills.

Details

Duration: 5-6 hours

Difficulty: Intermediate/Difficult (Steep and long walk up)

Price: 50£ per person / 300£ per group of 10 people

Where: Meeting point in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire. Start of walk a few miles away.

Food and drink is not included in the price.

DURISDEER AND THE DALVEEN PASS

This full day walk is a wonderful wonder through the high hills around the village of Durisdeer, a place teeming with ancient history, magnificent views and rife with wildlife.

Starting in the small village of Durisdeer, we will visit the 18th century church (built on the ruins of a medieval kirk) and the Queensberry Marbles before heading out to the uplands. This walk will take us over a number of hills teeming with wildlife and offering wonderful views of the Dalveen pass and the Lowther hills. Expect views for miles, high hills, roman fort, lots of upland birds such as grouse, stonechat, curlew, lapwing, wheatear as well brown hare, red kite and many more.