Wildlife, Birds & Country Parks
The vast majority of Southern Scotland is unpopulated so it is inevitable that great swathes of the landscape are unspoilt and teeming with wildlife. You don't have to drive to the Highlands to see Ospreys, Eagles and Kites, they are right here.
The Falls of Clyde - Lanark - Adjacent to New Lanark, this reserve is home to the famous Pergrine Falcons and provides wonderful opportunities for wildlife watching and the East Walk leaves from New Lanark and covers part of the Clyde Walkway. The reserve is home to badgers, otters, red squirrel and a breeding pair of peregrines. The latter are a conservation success story: after an absence of 200 years they returned in 1997. Website Falls of Clyde
Loch Lomond - Approx 1 hour away - Surely one of the most famous 'must visit' sites in Scotland. Loch Lomond has the largest surface area of fresh water Loch in the UK. The Loch is 24 miles long and five miles wide and at its deepest point is some 600 feet deep. On the Loch there are approximately 38 Islands, some of them inhabited and there is even a Hotel on one, Inchmurrin. Loch Lomond must be the worlds most famous Loch and has been much written about, both in song and verse. The area is renowned for its beauty and tranquility and offers picture postcard views around every corner. The Loch is crossed by the Highland Boundary Fault and exhibits the physical characteristics of both highland and Lowland Scotland. Some 200 species of birds and over 25% of Britain's wild plants have been recorded in the area. Website Loch Lomond
Culzean Castle and Country Park - Maybole Ayrshire - Culzean is a typical Scottish lowland estate covering around 600 acres. Its heritage status is due to the exceptional designed landscape and Robert Adam's magnificent clifftop castle. In addition to the fifty traditional buildings, Culzean has 300 acres of mixed mature woodland, 130 acres of farmland, two major gardens, freshwater ponds and five kilometres of coastline. The sandy bays, rocky shoreline and hundred foot cliffs are part of the Maidens to Dunure Site of Special Scientific Interest, the best example of coastal deciduous woodland in Southern Scotland. Following a survey by the Scottish Wildlife Trust's wildlife sites team the Country Park was confirmed as a Listed Wildlife Site because of its significant wildlife interest. Website Culzean
Ailsa Craig - Ferry from Ardrossan (1 hr away) - Ailsa Craig lies nine miles off the shore of Ayrshire, rising to 1,109 feet. The dramatic seacliffs are home to the third largest gannetry in the UK - comprising 36,000 pairs - with a supporting cast of guillemots, razorbills, black guillemots and increasing numbers of puffins. The island is uninhabited and is best viewed from the sea. Regular boat trips run from Ardrossan, Troon, and Girvan Website Ailsa Craig
Southern Upland Way - East Coast to West Coast - Opened in 1984, the Southern Upland Way is a 212 miles (341 km) coast to coast walk in Scotland between Portpatrick in the west and Cockburnspath in the east. If you don't want to do the entire walk you can pick up the section south of Craigend. The path visits Castle Kennedy, New Luce, Bargrennan, St John's Town of Dalry, Sanquhar, Wanlockhead, Beattock, St Mary's Loch, Traquair, Galashiels, Lauder and Longformacus en route. Website Southern Upland Way
Glentress Forest Park - Peebles - This forest park - one of the top mountain bike destinations in Britain, is well known for its superb range of specially built trails. A shuttle service by landrover takes bikers from the Hub café to the top of the hill. Visit one of two Osprey Watch centres (Glentress Forest and Kailzie Gardens) and see live footage of ospreys and other wildlife. Volunteer guides will be on hand to give you the latest news on the birds' progress. Glentress forms part of the much larger Borders Forest Park which includes many different habitats and forms of wildlife. Website Glentress
Galloway Kite Trail - Galloway Forest Park - 2001 saw the beginning of a project to restore Red Kites as a breeding species in Dumfries and Galloway after an absence of well over 100 years. The result of a partnership between the RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forest Enterprise, Dumfries and Galloway Raptor Study Group and local land-owners, the partnership has released 90 kites over three years in order to establish a breeding population in the region. In 2003, the first chick successfully fledged in Galloway for the first time since around 1870. The 'Galloway Kite Trail' was launched on the 6th of October 2003, a feeding station plus other interpretation points provide an excellent opportunity to view these special birds at close quarters. Website Kite Trail
Galloway Forest Park - Dumfies and Galloway - Galloway has some of Scotland’s most amazing wildlife - but without the long drive north! Red Squirrels, Otter, Pine Marten, Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Red Deer and even Nightjar. The Forest Park covers 300 square miles of mixed landscape with trails, visitor centres and activities all over. Much of the Galloway Hills lie within the boundaries of the park and there is good but rough hillwalking and also some rock climbing and ice-climbing within the park. Within or near the boundaries of the park are several well developed mountain bike tracks, forming part of the 7stanes project. Website Galloway Forest Park
Drumlanrig - As mentioned in our Art, Castles and Gardens pages - It really does have it all! Website Drumlanrig
