galloway ranger 2011

www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

What’s Inside?Dark sky at night,stargazer’s delight

The return of theOspreys

Creating the Carrick Way

The changing face offorestry

& more ...

www.forestry.gov.uk/scotlandThe Galloway Ranger2

Contents2 Welcome2 Glentrool’s new woodland

fringe garden3 Hydro powered perfection4 Dazzling visitors4 Dark sky at night,

stargazer’s delight5 Keeping the Dark Skies dark6 Maddening March Hares6 Events to look out for in 20117 The return of the Ospreys7 Go wild!8/9 Fishing and Horse Riding10/11 Forest Park map12 Creating the Carrick Way12 Making memories13 Walking in Galloway14 Trails ahead15 The changing face of forestry 16 Forest fun18 In focus: Queen’s Way19 Festivals, events and useful

contact details20 Forest walking trails

WelcomeWelcome to the 2011 Galloway Ranger, the freeannual newspaper of the Galloway Forest Park.

What does the Galloway Forest Park meanto you and how will you enjoy it during2011? This year the Galloway Ranger talks

to the people who have helped create and managethe Forest Park and those who help many thousandsof people every year enjoy all that it has to offer.

We talk to a recently retired forester whodescribes how mechanisation transformed forestryand the lives of foresters, and indeed howtechnology is continuing to transform the industrytoday. We discover how the power of water wastamed and harnessed in the Galloway Hills. Wespeak to individuals and groups who are working

with Forestry Commission Scotland to improveaccess through initiatives like the Carrick Way andGalloway Trail Riders. We meet individuals who arehelping people enjoy the natural bounty of theforest, including wild food forages and volunteersrecreating vanishing habitats. And our Rangers tellus what they find inspiring in the Galloway ForestPark – from fishing to rewarding walks to starrystarry nights.

The Galloway Forest Park is here to be enjoyed.We hope the articles in this newspaper will inspireyou to make 2011 the year you discover somethingnew to do in Britain’s largest visitor attraction.

Glentrool’s newwoodland fringe garden Visitors to Glentrool can now discover an

almost vanished Scottish habitat – mountainwoodland – as a project that’s inspiring a

new woodland fringe in the Galloway Forest Parktakes shape.

Mountain woodland is the zone of dwarf treesand shrubs that links the forest to openmountaintops. It’s a habitat that has almostvanished from Scotland along with much of thespecial wildlife that lived there. The Action forMountain Woodland project is involving the public in restoring this important habitat. In the GallowayForest Park volunteers have surveyed existingmountain woodland sites, mapped the native treesand shrubs on the Galloway hills and gathered seedand cuttings to grow new planting stock.

The project has also cleared conifers from theuppermost part of the forest where the Merrick hill

path emerges onto the flanks of Benyellaray.Rowan, birch, aspen and downy willow have beenplanted to demonstrate the potential of treelinewoodland and a raised garden close to the GlentroolVisitor Centre has been built by volunteers fromCree Valley Community Woodlands Trust. This willmean visitors can experience a mountain woodlandhabitat in an accessible and informative way.

Created from local rock and soils the raisedgarden has been planted with a range of mountainspecies including mountain herbs, woolly willow,downy willow, creeping willow, juniper, aspen andmossy saxifrage. New interpretation boards are inplace to inform visitors about this montane scrubenvironment. Next time you visit Glentrool spendsome time finding out about this important,threatened and very interesting habitat which iswell worth conserving and expanding.

Front Cover Image: Carina Nebula – NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

Design & production by: Ian Findlay DesignEditorial by: Indigo Words

The Galloway Ranger 3www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland

Hydro powered perfectionThe man-made reservoir Clatteringshaws Loch

is a well-visited area in the Galloway ForestPark. Its tranquil atmosphere and beautiful

setting give it an eternal feel which belies it recentorigins.

Clatteringshaws Loch was created as part of theGalloway hydro-electric scheme in the 1930s, whenmarshland was flooded by building a dam across theBlackwater of Dee.

Submerged beneath the loch are the ruins of abridge across the River Dee dating from around1700, the original Craignell farmhouse and thebattlesite where King Robert the Bruce defeated theinvading English army in 1307. The nearby Bruce’sStone commemorates where he is said to haverested following his victory.

With 8 dams, 7 1/2 miles (12 km) of tunnels,aqueducts and pipelines, and 6 power stations the

Galloway hydro-electric scheme is an impressive featof engineering. It continues to generate ‘green’energy today by harnessing the power of the fastmoving water through the series of power stations.

The main storage reservoir, Loch Doon, sits at thehead of the scheme in the north. A natural loch, itswater level was raised by the construction of a dam.When the downstream power stations need extrawater it is released through Drumjohn power station,flowing into Kendoon reservoir to supply Kendoonpower station. Further downstream dams builtacross gorges provide water for the power stationsof Carsfad and Earlstoun.

Water from Clatteringshaws Loch travels toGlenlee power station along the 3 1/2 mile (6km)Glenlee tunnel, one of the greatest challenges in theconstruction of the Galloway hydro-electric scheme.The 11 feet (3 1/2 m) diameter tunnel was created by

Fast FactsWhen was the dam built? 1930-1935

How high/long is it?The dam is about 178m (584 feet) above sealevel and it is 457m (1500 feet) long.

Can you walk across it? No, it's not open to the public and onlyScottish Power staff can walk across the dam.

Why is the level of water in the loch solow/high? The water level varies seasonally. Like anyother natural loch rainfall is the main factor.

How deep is the water?The deepest part of the loch is about 21m (70 feet) when the dam is full.

You can find out more about the GallowayHydro Scheme on the Scottish Power websiteat www.spenergywholesale.com/pages/galloway_and_lanark_hydro_schemes.asp

blasting the solid rock with gelignite. It took thegangs of workmen around 18 months to complete,with an average of 108 feet (33m) being excavatedeach week.

In excess of 1500 workers were employed acrossthe whole scheme, travelling from all over Scotlandto work here in Galloway. Living in constructioncamps they endured harsh conditions and carriedout dirty and often dangerous work with only verybasic health and safety precautions. A memorialstone near Glenlee power station commemoratesthe lives lost during the construction of the scheme.

Water from the first five power stations gathers in scenic Loch Ken, a natural loch that acts as astorage reservoir for the final power station in thechain at Tongland. From here it’s released into theRiver Dee where it flows along the estuary and intothe Solway Firth.

Thanks to everyone who completed avisitor centre questionnaire in 2010! Your feedback is really important to

the Forestry Commission.All the completed questionnaires were

entered into a free prize draw and the 2010winner of a Forest Holidays cabin break wasMrs Cordiner, from Dundee who was a visitorto the Queen’s View Visitor Centre in June 2010.

Forest Holidays are again working withForestry Commission Scotland to offer a 3

Discover what Yogi, Raptacon and Andrew are blogging about atgallowayforestpark.blogspot.com

Tell us what you think Want tokeep upto date?

night, Friday to Monday, weekend stay in aCopper Beach cabin at Strathyre for up to 6people. Close to Callander, Strathyre is watchedover by towering Ben Ledi, with cabinsoverlooking the pine-fringed Loch Lubnaig ornestling close to the tree line.

At the end of the year all the completedquestionnaires are analysed. Your comments areread, discussed and where possible changes areimplemented as a result of your feedback.

So have your say and complete a 2011questionnaire at any of the visitor centres.


Dark sky at night,stargazer’s delight

Dazzlingvisitors

The Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park is home tosome of the world’s darkest night skies andthe contrast between city skies and the dark

sky here is staggering. While in a city you mightsee only a few dozen of the brightest stars, here,on a clear night, you will be dazzled by literallythousands.

The dark skies above Galloway Forest Dark SkyPark will amaze and delight, so here are some handyhints to help you get the most out of yourstargazing.

What do you need to observe?Nothing - the dark skies will look stunning to your

naked eye. However you should make sure youreyes are ‘dark adapted’ – in other words, that youreyes have got used to the dark. This takes around10-15 minutes. Binoculars or a telescope will helpyou see in greater detail.

What equipment should you take?Warm clothing including hat, gloves, scarf, thick

socks, stout footwear and a warm jacket becauseeven in summer it can be cold outside at night. Ahot drink from a thermos and some snacks can helpkeep you warm. A torch is vital, but cover it with ared filter so you don’t spoil your dark adaption. Astar chart is a good way to begin learning your way

around the night sky and a blanket or deckchair canmake your observing much more comfortable.Finally, before you set off, remember to leave a noteof where you’re going with someone, as well as anindication of when you plan to return.

What will you be able to see?Things you can see from Galloway Forest Dark

Sky Park that you’ll never see from a city sky includethe detail within the grey band of the Milky Way,other galaxies and nebulae, which will appear assmall fuzzy patches to the naked eye, dozens ofshooting stars, the northern lights, and, of course,true darkness! Other things to look out for areOrion, the Pleiades and the Plough.

When’s the best time to come?Any time the sky is clear! The best observing

conditions are generallybetween October andMarch, during the twoweeks either side of aNew Moon.

Pick up a copy of the newDark Sky Park leaflet whichis now available.

Over a year has passed since thecreation of the Dark Sky Park inNovember 2009 and visitors have

travelled from near and far to attend dark skyevents. Keith Muir, Head of Tourism andRecreation in the Galloway Forest District,says he’s delighted with the interest shown inthe initiative.

“We held our first Dark Sky Weekend inNovember last year with some inspirationaltalks and the Dark Sky Scotland planetarium toguide visitors around the night sky in thecomfort of a heated room. A short drive awaymembers of the Galloway Forest AstronomicalSociety hosted stargazing at their observatory.We wanted to gauge interest and the publicappetite for stargazing. How many wouldcome, from where and would they come back?

“Excellent talks on topics as varied as theimpact of Scots on astronomy, dark matter anddark energy and light pollution, as well as clearskies on two of the three evenings resulted inover 300 attendees – a resounding success.

“We followed up the weekend with otherastronomical events, such as observing theGeminids meteor shower, the moon and aplanetary watch. We’re looking forward todeveloping our Dark Sky events programmeover the next few years and we’re verygrateful to funding from the RoyalAstronomical Society and the Institute ofPhysics Scotland for their support of theseevents.

“The potential that the Dark Sky Park has toboost tourism is very exciting and with thework being done to control lighting it’s verylikely that the south west of Scotland willbecome established as the best place in the UKand possibly Europe to observe the night sky.

“So far hundreds of peoplehave discovered why this issuch a magical place to visit atnight to see, for many peoplefor the first time, the wondersof the Milky Way.”

Light Echoes From Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis – NASA, ESA and H.E. Bond (STScI)

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Keeping theDark Skies darkThe Forestry Commission Scotland is leading by

example and converting as many externallights as possible to dark sky friendly fittings.

The residents of the only village within the Dark SkyPark boundary, Glentrool, are similarly enthusiasticabout making the dark sky above them even darkerand they are working on getting dark sky friendlystreetlights installed.

With the support of Dumfries and GallowayCouncil, South Ayrshire Council and the highways agency AMEY, the Dark SkyPark is looking forward to a bright future where glittering stars dazzle in avelvety dark sky.

Could your sky become darker? Take a look at the lights outside your house, wherever you live, and ask yourselfsome simple questions: Do they spread light everywhere? Do they stay on all

night? Do you need a light on all night? Can your light be alteredto point down where you need the light? Do you need such abright light?

Burning lights, especially big lights, costs you money andcreates CO2. Leaving a hundred watt bulb on all night for a yearcreates 1/4 tonne of CO2. Consider instead ‘fully cut off lights’ -dark sky friendly fittings that do not shine into the sky. And

remember, smaller wattage lights mean both savings to your purse and darkernight skies. www.britastro.org/dark-skies


Though not as numerous as their smallercousins, the brown hare is found throughoutDumfries and Galloway. In fact we probably

have one of the more healthy populations in thecountry – but like so many animals in Britain, theoverall number of hares is on the decrease. If youwant to watch hares then the Galloway Forest Parkis a good place to start.

The brown hare is larger than the rabbit and haslong black tipped ears. It runs with a loping gait andhas longer limbs but at a distance it is not alwayseasy to tell them apart. Unlike rabbits the hare isgenerally a solitary creature and does not burrow,preferring to live above ground. It sleeps in a denknown as a form, which is usually just a shallowdepression in open fields or sometimes under coverof long grass or in a hedgerow.

The brown hare is predominantly nocturnal but ismoderately active during the day, preferring earlymornings and late evenings. Hares feed on grassesand agricultural crops as well as the bark from young trees.

Watching (and photographing) hares requires afair amount of patience but it is well worth the effort.One successful way to find hares is to go out early inthe morning and drive around the quieter publicroads that cross the Forest Park, looking for thepatchwork of fields bordering the trees. An OrdnanceSurvey map can be of great help in deciding where togo. Drive slowly (preferably have two people in thecar – one to drive and one to look) and be preparedto stop and scan fields. Check for brown lumpsparticularly at the edges of fields, though if you arelucky you will spot one standing up or even running.

To photograph this behaviour involvessitting quietly, perhaps up against a wallor hedge and waiting for the hares to

come to you. If they are busy chasing each other and you

are down wind they will often come quite closeallowing some really exciting photoopportunities – but try walking towards themand all you will see is very distant hares as theydisappear over the horizon.

Hares give wonderful wildlife watching andare well worth the time spent looking for them.Happy searching!

Maddening March Hares

Out & about

Once you have found a hare, sit quietly in your carand enjoy watching it feed, wash and, on a brightday, sunbathe! Early Spring is a very good time tolook for hares because this is when they gettogether to find a mate and of course it is thisactivity that has given rise to the mad March harebehaviour. During March and early April male hareswill be much more active during the day time asthey search for a female and you will quite often seeseveral hares together. If you are lucky you mighteven witness the boxing that goes on. Originallypeople thought that this was rival males fighting butgenerally it is unreceptive females fighting off overzealous males! A bout of boxing with both hares upon their hind legs usually ends in a chase withseveral males following a female. This chase can goon for several minutes and is thrilling to watch.

Photographs by Mick Durham

Events to look out for in 2011Celebrate the International

Year of Forests 2011 with somespecial photography events.

Spring Colour Photography20-April 1.30pm – 4pmJoin photography enthusiastsAndrew Jarrott and Lucy Hadley ona walk through the Glentrool oakwoods looking for signs of spring.Venue: Glentrool areaCost: £15 per adult includes a tea orcoffee upon return to visitor centre.Booking essential

Macro Safari30 May 1.30pm – 4pmJoin Lucy Hadley, our Ranger andphotography enthusiast, on aphotographic safari. Search fordragonflies such as the 4 SpottedChaser, butterflies, moths andflowers. Venue: Glentrool areaCost: £15 per adult includes a tea orcoffee upon return to visitor centre.Booking essential

Wildlife Photography Summer Club24, 31 July, 7, 14, 21 August 2-3pm Budding young photographers areinvited to join Ranger Lucy Hadley for

this 5 week photography club.Suitable for 11 – 16 year olds. Venue: VariousCost: £12 per person for the 5 weeks.Please bring a digital camera with afully charged battery, an emptymemory card, warm waterproofclothing, gloves and a hat.

Wildlife Photography Exhibition27 and 28 August Pop in and view a selection ofphotographs taken by youngsters whoattended the Wildlife PhotographySummer Club. Venue: TBCCost: Free


Go wild!The Galloway Forest Park is here to be explored

and enjoyed, and wild camping can offer theresponsible camper some truly unforgettableexperiences. Wild camping takes you right back tobasics – you, some lightweight gear and the naturalworld. Normally done solo or in small groups,staying no more than 2 nights in the same place, thegolden rule of wild camping is to leave no trace.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code providesdetailed guidance on enjoying Scotland’s outdoorsresponsibly, including your responsibilities as a wildcamper. We’ve boiled it down to 5 wild campingguidelines for the Galloway Forest Park.

1 Choose your spot carefully – away frombuildings, fields, car parks and roads.

2 Take all your litter away with you, includingfood scraps.

3 Avoid lighting fires, use a stove instead. Neverlight a fire during prolonged dry periods.

4 Ensure you toilet at least 30 metres from waterand carefully bury any toilet waste.

5 Leave the Galloway Forest Park as you found it.

Know the code before you go. Detailedinformation on Scotland’s access legislation and wild camping can be found at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com

For the dedicated forager the Galloway ForestPark offers a veritable feast of delicious wild

foods, local expert Mark Williams of Galloway WildFoods says:

“You can spice up your salads with wood sorrelor wild radish all year round, while the spring bringselderflowers, pignuts and carpets of wild garlic –great for making pesto with a real kick! In summerlook out for sweet ciceley and meadowsweetdecorating and perfuming the hedgerows while theforests start to swell with gourmet mushroomssuch as ceps and chanterelles. Autumn is foragingheaven as the fungi are joined by blaeberries, sloes,crab apples and, of course, millions ofblackberries.”

If you want to try wild food foraging for yourselfMark recommends the following.

1 Get a good guide book and carry it with youwhen you’re out exploring the forest.

2 Don’t be too ambitious, start by learning a fewspecies that don’t have any sinister lookalikes,such as wood sorrel, wild garlic and hedgehogmushrooms.

3 Spend time getting to know your local area –the natural world is teeming with ediblespecies, including common weeds!

4 Go out with an expert, it will help give youconfidence in species identification.

5 Most important of all – never eat any wild foodwithout being 100% certain of its identity.

For more information about foraging in Gallowayvisit www.gallowaywildfoods.com

Wild Camping

Wild Food

In 2007 more than 60 square miles of grass and trees were destroyed during a forest fire which is thought to have been startedaccidentally by campers. Follow these simple guidelines to prevent further fires in the Forest Park. Do not light fires in the Forest ParkDo not throw away cigarettes or glass. If you see an unattended forest or hill fire call 999 and ask for the Fire Brigade

FireDanger

Ospreys were once a common sightthroughout Dumfries and Galloway, butthey suffered heavy persecution in the

19th century. The last known breeding at thistime was around 1870 on a remote hill loch.

The birds recolonisednorthern Scotland from the1950s, and then migrants werespotted passing throughDumfries and Galloway ontheir journeys to and fromWest Africa. The frequency ofthese sightings increased andby the late 20th century someyoung birds began to stay here throughout thesummer.

A pair of ospreys have bred successfully inWigtownshire since 2002, and these birds can beviewed on CCTV in Wigtown. The local population

is slowly increasing as new pairs of young birdssettle each year. In 2009, four pairs raised six chicksbetween them.

Ospreys build huge stick nests that last for manyyears. Nest-building can be encouraged by providing

starter platforms on the top ofsuitable trees. Platforms have beenprovided in the Galloway Forest Parksince 1990. In 2010 six platformswere taken up by either single orpaired ospreys and some of thesebirds are expected to return to nestin 2011.

The actual locations of the nestsites cannot be revealed, but ospreys can be seenfishing on any large water bodies in the GallowayForest Park from April to August, and close-up viewscan be obtained through the cameras at Wigtown(wigtownbayospreys.co.uk).

The return of the Ospreys


Two years ago a group of horse riders gottogether to find safe off road riding insouth west Scotland, and to share their

finds with like minded people. The group,named Galloway Trail Riders, is affiliated to theBritish Horse Society Scotland and works closelywith staff from Forestry Commission Scotland toidentify trails and access points within theGalloway Forest Park. For example, clearing ashort section of forest to enable access fromKirroughtree forest across the A712 created alovely long ride from the Visitor Centre into theAuchinleck area of forest.

A friendly and sociable atmosphere is at theheart of the group. Galloway Trail Riders haveorganised a variety of different events, from shortsocial rides such as a treasure hunt and a beachBBQ to dismounted evening talks, including onefrom Helene Mauchlen, the British Horse SocietyDevelopment Officer for Scotland.

The photos here show a recent outing in CallyWoods, Gatehouse of Fleet where there is adesignated horse trail (see side panel) of around 5 miles that is well-marked with horse shoe posts.The group is working to get this trail areaincreased as there are many more tracks suitablefor riders as well as walkers.

If you’re interested in finding out more aboutGalloway Trail Riders contact the group secretaryAnnie Walker [email protected] ormembership secretary Sheila [email protected]

Jim Newall, the Ranger charged withresponsibility for fishing in the forest, describesthe Galloway Forest Park as “a paradise for

anyone who is into trout fishing.” The 10 lochs and2 rivers in the forest offer excellent natural browntrout fishing and coarse fishing at very reasonablecosts. For local people trout is the big attraction,the brown trout a contrast to the more commonrainbow trout found throughout Dumfries andGalloway, while those travelling from further afieldtend to be looking for coarse fishing.

The scenery, atmosphere and the ease of accessare of the main attractions of the Galloway ForestPark says Jim:

“Our lochs and rivers are very tranquil, normallyyou’ll feel as though you have the place to yourself– it’s a magical place to fish.”

Riding theGalloway Trails

Fishing in the forest

The forecast was for rain by theafternoon, so off we went. The routewas a designated horse route, in the

Galloway region near Gatehouse of Fleet. Afine little ride, hardly ever used, and in need ofmore riders.

To get to Cally WoodsFrom the east leave A75 (Gretna/Stranraer Euroroute) turning right on to B727. Continue forapprox 2 miles and turn left into Cally PalaceHotel Drive (just before town). From the westleave A75 turning left on to B796, continueright through town passing the clock towerand turn right at the gatehouse into CallyPalace Hotel Drive. There is limited parking onthe left near a holiday chalet at the start of trailwhere there is also an information board.

Between the Rain

Heading off on the trail inCally Woods.

An open, well managedroute that’s waiting to bediscovered by others.

Time for tea, biscuitsand a friendly chat.

The youngest rider ofGalloway Trail Riders,riding a 22 year old mare.

While still relatively undiscovered, fishing in theforest is becoming increasingly popular, in partbecause of the very successful Fishing Open Daysorganised throughout the summer by Jim and theRanger team. From night fishing to fishing forchildren and beginners, including rod and bait hire,taking part in an open day is the perfectintroduction to fishing in the forest. Fishing eventstake place on the following dates on Loch Grannoch,meeting at Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre. Booking is essential, call 01671 402 420. • Friday 20th May 4pm-10pm (over 18s only)• Saturday 25th June 9am-4pm• Sunday 17th July 9am-4pm• Saturday 13th August 9am-4pm• Sunday 4th September 9am-4pm• Sunday 18th September 9am-6pm


More details, fishing availability, and online booking can be found on the Fish Galloway website at www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Galloway


Winding its way through hills and valleys,over forest and coastal stretches,around agricultural landscapes and

upland stretches, the Carrick Way is a new circularlong distance walking route that goes throughnorthern areas of the Galloway Forest Park.

The idea for the route grew from the SouthCarrick Walking Festival which started in 2002.Drew Moyes, one of the directors of the CarrickWay Community Interest Company said:

“We wanted to create a walking festival with abroad variety of walking routes that would appealto all types of walkers, including experiencedwalkers. Since most of the established walks in thearea were between 3 and 8 miles we looked at howwe could connect them to create longer, morechallenging routes.

“We soon realised that the existing path network

Creating the Carrick Wayoffered tremendous scope for linking not only walksbut also communities in south Ayrshire and the ideaof the Carrick Way began to take shape. Theproposed route, which is over 100 miles long, linksabout a dozen communities from Ballantrae andBarrhill in the south up to Maybole and Dunure.Having been put together by linking establishedwalks the Carrick is ideal for short walks or single dayroutes, as well as long distance walking.”

Supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and SouthAyrshire Council the Carrick Way has been designedfrom the outset as a sustainable access resource,developed and managed by local people and onethat will appeal to walkers of all ages and abilities.

Plans for the route were formalised three yearsago and the five directors and twelve volunteers arenearing completion of the northern half, with theremainder of the route expected to be finalised

in 2012. Drew added:“We are working very closely with landowners,

using known routes and existing paths wherepossible, and we’re monitoring use of the paths tomake sure we preserve and conserve the landscapesas needed. A lot of the work, like installing waymarkers, is being done by our volunteers and it’s veryrewarding to see it all taking shape.”

In 2008 the South Carrick Walking Festival becameCarrick Way Walking Festival, attracting around 80walkers and providing the ideal launch pad to unveilthe Carrick Way as Scotland’s newest long distancewalking ro ute. The 4th Carrick Way Walking Festivaltakes place on 24-25 September 2011 and this year willalso see the introduction of a series of mini-festivals –walking days – held at communities on the Way.

For more information about the Carrick Way andevents on the route visit www.carrickway.co.uk ordirect specific queries to Drew [email protected]

Making memoriesIwant to give families a chance to feel normal, to

reconnect in a healthy place where they canmake memories together,” says Hazel Mynard.

Giving others an opportunity to escape toDumfries and Galloway is a dream that Hazel ismaking a reality. Teaming up with Glentrool HolidayPark, House of the Hill Hotel, Forestry CommissionScotland and many other local businesses to helpmake it happen, Hazel organised memorableholidays for two families last year and she has bigplans for her small voluntary organisation, Hazel’sMemorable Holidays.

Having battled through both leukaemia andthyroid cancer Hazel has serious ongoing healthproblems of her own and well understands thetrauma that cancer and its treatments cause tosufferers, their family and friends.

“When your whole life revolves around hospitalsgetting some time away is absolutely essential. Iknow how it made me feel, getting a week away in

Dumfries and Galloway whenI was going through mycancer treatments. The reliefof being away from hospitalsin this magical place wherewe could laugh together andforget about cancer.”

Hazel says she’s overjoyedwith the support she’s received from businesses andorganisations in Galloway.

“Glentrool Holiday Park and House of the Hillhave both helped with accommodation, ForestryCommission Scotland has given the families veryspecial forest safari trips, local food and drinkproducers have donated products for welcomehampers, the local newspaper ran an article to tellpeople what we were doing. I’m so grateful foranything anyone can offer to help give thesefamilies an opportunity to make memories.

“If I could give the whole of Dumfries and

“

Galloway a big hug I would. The people who live inDumfries and Galloway, the landscape, thecommunities, the stars in the sky – it’s magical, it’s avery healthy place and there’s no other place like it.I hope we can help more and more cancer sufferersand their families experience it.”

If you would like to support Hazel’s MemorableHolidays in any way please contact Hazel on 07771458530 or email [email protected] will launchin mid 2011.


Walking in Gallowayis ‘the gateway to the Galloway Hills’ and provides aperfect base from which to explore the area.

Chair of the Walking Festival committee, JoanMitchell, said “Now in its ninth year, NewtonStewart Walking Festival provides a week longprogramme of guided walks exploring the wild hills,rugged coastline and rolling countryside ofGalloway. We are delighted to welcome walkersback year after year to enjoy the diversity ofGalloway’s landscapes .”

The 2011 Newton Stewart Walking Festival runsfrom 6th to 12th May. A full programme of walksand other festival events can be found atwww.newtonstewartwalkfest.com or by calling01671 404500.

Galloway is great walking country. Whetheryou enjoy a short afternoon stroll or a fullday mountain hike, those with a love for the

great outdoors will not be disappointed.The winding trails through the forests and

woodlands, the waymarked rambles around theattractive market towns and villages, the cliff toppaths hugging the beautiful coast, and the hill topwalks into the remote heart of the Galloway ForestPark combine to offer a wide variety of walkingopportunities.

For those looking to enjoy Galloway with friendsor likeminded individuals one of the region’s largestwalking events is a must visit. The Newton StewartWalking Festival takes place in May on the southernedge of the Galloway Forest Park. Newton Stewart

There is a wide variety of walking and cyclingavailable in the Galloway Hills. Here are a fewsafety pointers to keep in mind.

Plan Ahead – Choose your route so that it isappropriate for you and your group’s fitness level,experience, navigation skills, and knowledge ofthe area.

Weather – Before setting out check the weatherforecast. The weather in the Galloway Hills canchange rapidly. For a detailed mountain forecastfollow the link on the Galloway Mountain Rescuewebsite’s weather page.

Clothing and Footwear – Conditions at thesummits can differ significantly from those at thebase, so warm, windproof, waterproof clothing isessential. Hillwalking boots with good anklesupport and a firm grip are recommended.

Equipment – A map and compass are essential –and it’s vital that you know how to use these.Also carry emergency equipment such as atorch, whistle and first aid kit.

Food and Drink – Take plenty of supplies for thegroup, and additional emergency rations.

Route Notification – Leave a clear indication ofyour proposed route with someone reliable,together with an estimate of the time youexpect to return. As an additional safetymeasure use the Galloway Mountain Rescueonline route notification service.

On Your Walk – If you get lost don’t panic. Ifconditions allow try to seek a landmark whichyou can identify on the map. If not, and if youhave shelter and warm clothing, then stay inyour position until help arrives.

For more information, take a look at theGalloway Mountain Rescue website,www.gallowaymrt.org.uk

Hill Safety

Enjoying a walk in the forests of Galloway during Newton Stewart Walking Festival 2010


Whether you want to work off winter’sextra few pounds or shape up forsummer the best thing you can do is get

on your bike.The region has hundreds of miles of cycle paths

and five of the world famous 7stanes mountain biketrails so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

In the west there’s Glentrool, nestled in the heartof the Galloway Forest Park its 58km of green andblue graded routes are ideal for families, beginnersand wildlife watchers.

A little farther south is Kirroughtree, home tosome of the best red and black graded singletrack inthe country it also features family friendly trails, aseasonal cafe, bike shop and a kids’ play area.

Travelling west along the coast road brings you toDalbeattie where families make the most of themagnificent views and experienced riders enjoy thethrills of rocky red and black routes and 1.5km oftesting skills trails.

Further along the coast is Mabie, home of theregion’s very first mountain bike trails where youget an ideal introduction to the sport and thechance to practice techniques in the skills areabefore moving up a level.

Inland to the north there’s Ae where the gentlerroutes offer disabled access and the Shredderprovides a wild downhill ride to test the mostexperienced riders.

As well as these five 7stanes sites, why not top itoff at Drumlanrig Castle, the ancient Clan Douglas

stronghold, where swooping trails and quiet countryroads are nestled together with challengingtechnical singletrack in beautiful countryside.

Choose your trail, dress for the weather, don'tforget your helmet and enjoy the thrill of the trail!

For information on the businesses in Dumfries andGalloway that offer goods and services to mountainbikers please visit the essential website atwww.eat-sleep-ride.com and follow us on Facebookand Twitter for news, offers and events.

Trails aheadNEED TO EAT?HAVE TO SLEEP?GOT TO RIDE!for Dumfries & Galloway you must visit:


The changingface of forestry

In the length of time it takes a tree to reachmaturity the forestry industry has beencompletely transformed through technology

and communications. Retired forester JimmyWilson says that amid all the change, the lure ofworking outdoors means forestry remains one ofthe best jobs in the world.

“Working in harvesting before mechanisationwas a hard, tough job, heavy labour and working inall weathers and conditions. But the camaraderiewas great, a real family atmosphere within themany small Forestry villages. At first we worked infelling teams – one man with a chainsaw, five menfollowing behind with axes and a tractor or horse,hauling the felled trees to the roadside where theywere cut and stacked by hand.

“Over time chainsaws replaced axes but the workwas even harder. Mechanisation in the shape ofharvesters and forwarders changed all thatcompletely. Where a man could fell 30 to 40 trees ina day, a modern harvester can fell 30 to 40 in anhour, replacing whole teams of men with twoskilled operators.”

Jimmy started his forestry career at BuccleuchEstates 45 years ago, heading to Forestry School inPitlochry a couple of years later. Back then forestryeducation was very general and very practical.Students spent 4 days working and 1 day in the

classroom, earning the princely sum of £4 per week.Jimmy says mechanisation has been a good thing forthe industry, but it meant big changes for thoseworking within it.

“People were a bit nervous of harvesters whenthey first came in - in fact the first ones that came toGalloway had to be practically given away! It wassuch a change from the traditional way ofharvesting, but as soon as people saw what thesemachines could do that was it, forestry was adifferent industry.”

The speed of change within the industry isaccelerating even now, as ever more sophisticatedtechnology is applied to the challenges of planning,managing and harvesting swathes of forests. More

recently technology in forestry has taken to theskies with LiDAR, a sophisticated laser based 3Dmapping system which can measure a forestcanopy to astonishing accuracy. Jimmy, whospecialised in forestry planning, was thrilled to takepart in an EU Life LiDAR project recently in Sweden.He said:

“The technology is amazing now. It will be veryinteresting to watch how such developmentstransform commercial forestry in the future. A career in forestry is a great life, and it’s been toobig a part of my life to simply walk away from justbecause I’ve retired. There was nothing quite likehaving to walk up the Galloway Hills on a beautifulsummer day – what job could be better than that?”


If you are aged 10 or under thenenter our colouring competition for your chance to win a £10 booktoken. Drop your entry off at any ofthe visitor centres in the GallowayForest Park. Closing date: 31stOctober 2011.

Name:

Age:

Address:

Postcode:

Our chosen winners last year were:Nellie Machling, aged 4 from St Albans and Sheila Sanderson,aged 6 from Drummore.

ColouringCompetition

Calling all the budding young photographersout there! Come along and join Ranger and

photography enthusiast Lucy Hadley for this 5week photography club. Suitable for 11 – 16 yearolds. Sessions take place at various venues, everySunday from 2pm - 3pm, from 24 Jul - 21 Aug.Cost is £12 per person for the 5 weeks. Pleasebring a digital camera, an empty memory card,warm waterproof clothing, gloves and a hat.

Wildlife PhotographySummer Club

buzzard

cally horse trail

camping

carrick way

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clatteringshaws

dark sky park

fishing

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lade trail

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raiders road

wild garlic

wood sorrel

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Word Search

Galloway Forest Park in focus:

Queen’s Way


Walk: Talnotry Head to Murray’s Monument for somespectacular views. For a short walkpark at the Gre y Mare’s Tail car parkwhere within half an hour you’ll beenjoying the views from Murray’sMonument. If you’re keen on taking alonger route, visiting the Quorumfaces and the ‘Eye’ (the spire at BlackLoch), then please pick up ourGalloway Forest Park Visitor Guidefrom any of our visitor centres.

Family: Wild Goat ParkThe goats here are very used topeople so you’ll enjoy some really

good sightings of this ancient rarebreed of wild goat – park your car andthey’ll bound down to greet you.

Wildlife: Golden-ringed DragonflyDumfries and Galloway’s largestdragonfly is well worth spotting.You’ll see them flying back andforth across the Raider’s Roadfrom May and at the Otter Pool.Identify one and you’ll soon seethem everywhere!

Wildlife: Red Kite Secret CagesThere’s a good chance to see RedKites whilst exploring the Raider’s Roadon you visit to the secret cages. This iswhere the first birds of the breedingprogramme were raised and released.

Hidden Gem: Murray’s BirthplaceIt’s just a short walk from the Queen’sWay to the ruined cottage that wasAlexander Murray’s birthplace. You’lldiscover lots of history and a reallygood story, plus a lovely walk.

Red Kite Secret Cages

Otter Pool

Highlight: Raider’s RoadSpot Roe Deer, Buzzards, Herons, RedSquirrels, Red Kites and visit the OtterPool on this fantastic 10mile two-wayforest drive. There’s so much to seeand do on the Raider’s Road that it’s a must see, and it’s open from Easterin 2011.

The Queen’s Wayoffers a wealthof things to see

and do at any time ofyear. Ranger LucyHadley shares herphotography andsome of her favourite places alongthis popular drive.

Family: Red Deer RangeThe Red Deer Range is an amazingplace to take children, where theycan come face to face with Scotland’slargest land mammal. There are toursfrom June to September and RoaringStags in October is unmissable.

Walk: Bruce’s StoneA 1km flat, easy walk fromClatteringshaws Visitor Centre. It’s perfect for stretching your legsand as a short dog walk.

Picnic Spot: Otter PoolOn a lovely sunny day the Otter Pool is one of the best picnic spots inGalloway. A lovely place for a familyday out with all the facilities youneed.

Winter: Clatteringshaws Loch On a calm, clear, frosty morning inNovember the Loch is stunning.

Spring: LarchI love the vibrant greens as the newleaves of the larch trees start to show.

Summer: BirdsongCuckoos and Willow Warblers singtheir very distinctive songs in summertime around Clatteringshaws.

Autumn: Forest ColoursThe Queen’s Way explodes into colourin Autumn, it’s a beautiful time todrive it.

Seasonal Highlights

WalkFestFri 6 – Thu 12 May 2011Newton StewartA week long programmeof guided walksexploring the wild hills,rugged coastline androlling countryside ofGalloway, this is thebiggest walking festival in the south of Scotland.www.newtonstewartwalkfest.co.uk

Dumfries & Galloway Arts FestivalFri 20 – Sun 29 May 2011Dumfries and Galloway, various venuesGrowing in size every year this annual 9 day festivalincludes music, dance, theatre, children’s events,plus visual arts and films held in a variety of venues,across the whole region.www.dgartsfestival.org.uk

Castle Douglas Food Town DaySat 28 May 2011 Castle Douglas, various venuesCastle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway’s FoodTown, bursts into life on Food Town Day with stalls,cookery demonstrations, tastings and general funshowcasing high quality local produce. www.cd-foodtown.org

Spring FlingSat 28 – Mon 31 May 2011Dumfries and Galloway, various venuesFollow one of the open studios trails and meetartists and makers whose doors are not usuallyopen to the public. The wide range of disciplinesbeing showcased includes ceramics, glass, mosaic,painting, photography, textiles and furniture.Additional events for 2011 are likely to include tasterexhibitions, a film programme, bus tours, a studio-to-studio bike ride and a Saturday night ceilidh.www.spring-fling.co.uk

Galloway Forest Park Visitor CentresKirroughtree – 01671 402165Clatteringshaws – 01644 420285Glentrool – 01671 840302

Forestry Commission ScotlandGalloway Forest Park Office,Newton Stewart, WigtownshireDG8 6AJ Tel: 01671 402420

Useful Contact DetailsPoliceNon-emergency – 0845 600 5701Emergency – 999 (For MountainRescue dial 999 and ask for Police)

Galloway Mountain Rescue Detailed mountain weather forecastfor Galloway available online atwww.gallowaymrt.org.uk

NHS 24 - 08454 24 24 24

Creetown Country Music FestivalFri 16 – Sun 18 Sep 2011Immerse yourself in Scotland’s wild wild west!Scotland’s largest country music festival brings 3days of live music to picturesque Creetown. Withthe festival site, street fair and live music in thetown square there’s lots to enjoy. www.creetown-countrymusic-festival.co.uk

Wigtown Book FestivalFri 23 Sep – Sun 2 Oct 2011Wigtown, various venuesA 10 day literary celebration in Wigtown, Scotland’sNational Book Town, home to more than 30 bookshops, book dealers, publishers and book relatedbusinesses. The annual book festival is nowrenowned as one of the best autumn festivals in theworld, with an impressive line-up of readings,performances and other events.www.wigtownbookfestival.com

Kirkcudbright Jazz FestivalThu 16 – Sun 19 Jun 2011Kirkcudbright, various venuesA 4 day celebration of Trad NewOrleans, Dixieland and Swing Jazz, theKirkcudbright Jazz Festival is now itsfourteenth year. Alongside moretraditional gigs, you can also enjoy astreet parade of decorated brollies and

the Sunday jazz church service.www.kirkcudbrightjazzfestival.co.uk

Kirkcudbright Arts & Crafts TrailFri 29 Jul – Sun 31 Jul 2011Kirkcudbright, various venuesA three day family friendly event that takes you intohidden gardens, artists’ studios and homes, whereyou can to talk to artists and find out what makesKirkcudbright so special to them. Trail venues areopen daily from 11.00am until 5.00pm.www.artandcraftstrail.co.uk

Wickerman FestivalSat 22 – Sun 23 Jul 2011Kirkcarswell Farm, nr. Kirkcudbright2011 marks the tenth Wickerman Festival, withmultiple stages, a campsite, a children’s area, afancy dress theme and a widely eclectic mix of musicto suit everyone, culminating in the burning of a 25foot high Wickerman sculpture at midnight onSaturday. www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Flavour FortnightSat 3 – Sun 18 Sep 2011Dumfries and Galloway, various venuesOrganised to coincide with Scottish Food Fortnight,Flavour Fortnight is a celebration of local produceand a showcase for the people behind the region’squality food and drink. A diverse range of eventsincludes open days, special menus, talks,demonstrations and tours, taking place throughoutthe region. www.savourtheflavours.co.uk

In partnership with

VisitScotland Information CentresCastle Douglas* – 01556 502611Dumfries – 01387 253862 Gretna – 01461 337834Kirkcudbright – 01557 330494Moffat* – 01683 220620Newton Stewart* – 01671 402431

Southwaite – 01697 473445Stranraer – 01776 702595(*seasonal)

Information Point (in partnership with VisitScotland)Gatehouse-of-Fleet – 01557 814212

VisitScotland Information Centres have details of everything to see anddo in Dumfries and Galloway and throughout the rest of Scotland. Ourfriendly experts can tell you about hidden gems, arrange accommodationor book tickets for events, activities and transport across Scotland. Sowhatever you’re looking for, there’s only one place to go

Festivals & Events


There are many fantastic walks within the Galloway Forest Park, each offering aslightly different experience. Some are short, flat and suitable for families withpushchairs and for wheelchair users, whilst other walks are much longer in lengthwith uneven tracks and steep climbs. Here are three walks out of many, each withsomething really special about it.

Forest walking trails

Penninghame Pond is an easyfavourite, and great if you

have a dog with you. The walk itselfis short and follows the perimeter of the pond on aflat, wide path. In early spring, March time, you canoften hear frogs calling to one another in pursuit oflove. This lasts for about a week or so and there areoften frogs everywhere so watch where you walk!

The walk only takes about 15-20 minutes if youdon’t hang about but there is a picnic table at thewater’s edge half way around if you want to spendlonger. You may see Jays, Long Tailed Tits, Buzzards,Moorhen, Coot and dragonflies. If you’re lucky youmay also see a Red Squirrel, although I’ve only everseen nibbled cones on the ground, a sure sign thatthey are about.

Please note that the path does go close to thewater’s edge in some places and the picnic table isloch side so please take extra care if you have youngchildren with you.

Family walk –Penninghame Pondallow 15-20 minutes

History trail – The Lade Trail, Kirroughtreeallow an hour and a half

This is a relatively new trail and another favouritefor spotting wildlife. At 2.5km it’s longer than

the Penninghame Pond walk and starts off with asteepish section. However it’s well worth the effortas the path levels off and meanders through mixedwoodland with a high chance of seeing Red

Squirrels navigating their waythrough the tree canopy above you.

This trail takes you back 200 yearsto the time when Kirroughtree wasan active lead mining industry andhad a very different landscape tothe one you see today. There are anumber of interpretation panels tofind along the trail highlighting

features of Kirroughtree’s past thatcan still be seen today.

Ask younger members of your party to keep theireyes and ears open for Jays, Roe Deer, GreaterSpotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch and Goldcrests. Ifyou hear scuffling about in the leaf litter under thewoodland tree canopy it could be a Wood Mouse ora Short Tailed Field Vole in search of a tasty morselfor their lunch!

Muscle stretcher – Glentrool, Loch Trool walk 8.9 km / 5.5 miles allow 3.5 hours to complete

Avery enjoyable walk at any time of the year butduring the summer you have the added treat of

seeing a variety of wildlife. If you keep your eyespeeled you could see dragonflies, butterflies, wildgoats, Roe Deer and an abundance of birds including, if you’re really lucky, Pied Flycatchers!

There is a good sized car park at the start located a few minutes drive towards Bruce’s Stone fromGlentrool visitor centre. It’s also worth noting thatthere will be some walking on a minor public road soif you have children or dogs with you keep them closeon these sections. Walking boots required.

For details on otherwalks within the parkpick up the ‘Out andAbout’ leaflet entitled‘Walkers Trails’.

Why not share your experience on our blog, we would love to hear what you’ve got to say:www.gallowayforestpark.blogspot.com

2011 has been declared theInternational Year of Forests bythe UN to raise awareness ofconservation and the sustainable

development of forests throughout the world. Did you know... Forests are home to 300 million

people around the world? Forests cover 31% of theworld’s total land area? The livelihoods of 1.6 billionpeople depend on forests? Forests are home to 80%of our terrestrial biodiversity?

We’re celebrating International Year of Forests

throughout 2011, find out more by visitingwww.forestry.gov.uk, by visiting one of ourVisitor Centres or by reading Lucy’s newmonthly column in the Stranraer Free Press.

Supported by:

galloway ranger 2011

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