Kilsture Forest Walks, Machars

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
6 kms	01:30 (hrs:mins)	50 metres	Explorer 311: Wigtown, Whithorn & the Machars

Description

Start both walks from the car park. To use the Woodpecker Trail follow the yellow waymarkers. If you are following the Deer Trail use the white waymarkers. The end loop of the Deer Trail takes you to a car park at the far end of the forest, cross this in order to pick up the continuation of the trail. When the path rejoins the outgoing path remember to turn right to return to your car. The forest trails of Kilsture are shared with cyclists and horse riders and take an interesting meandering line through the thinned hardwoods. Look for the fine specimen larch trees and the views out to lush pasture from the margins of the forest. In spring the constant birdsong is punctuated by the alarm calls of cock pheasants and the overhead mewing of buzzards. Look out for the attractive group of Dawn Redwood trees on the end loop of the Deer Trail. These graceful trees are natives of the Western Seaboard of the United States and have thick spongy fireproof bark.

Access Info

To reach Kilsture forest travel south from Wigtown on the A714/ A746, pass through Braehead and Kirkinner and at the fork take the B7004 Garlieston Road. After a half mile turn right into the forest car park. The information board provides route details