The best walks and hikes in Dumfries and Galloway

The UK’s largest forest park

Many of the best hiking trails in Dumfries and Galloway explore Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s largest. Sprawling across much of the west, it boasts a range of wonders covering around 300 square miles (480 km2) of sparsely populated woodland, glens, lochs and hills. The UK’s first ever dark sky reserve, it’s the perfect place for a spectacular wild camp.

The park is criss-crossed by trails for all ages and abilities. Enjoy a woodland ramble, circular Lochside routes or explore ancient battle sites. The challenge of taking on the Merrick is a wonderful experience. At 2,766 feet (843 m), it is the highest hill in Southern Scotland, offering sublime views across this gorgeously wild landscape.

Some of the UK’s best kept hiking secrets

Dumfries and Galloway contains some of the UK’s best kept hiking secrets. The Moffat Hills in the east reward your curiosity with majestic waterfalls, sumptuous native woodland and high mountain lochs. There are a number of possibilities for horseshoe routes here amongst a wavy sea of green rising from a network of uninhabited glens.

Hikes in Dumfries and Galloway can also take you onto 200 miles (322 km) of captivating coastline. The ornithologist in you will marvel at the majestic Solway Firth’s rugged shore: a magnet for migratory birds. For a unique vantage of the Solway and the distant Lake District, an ascent of 1,870-foot (570 m) Criffel’s heather slopes is delightful.

In the far west, The Mull of Galloway boasts breathtaking cliff views, secret sandy beaches and stonking sunsets across the Irish Channel. Trek your way to Scotland’s most southerly point and keep an eye out for dolphins and porpoises amongst the waves.

A land teeming with wildlife

Inhabiting this vast region of beautiful forests, untamed glens, windswept hills and serene lochs is a plethora of wildlife. Classic Scottish sights are numerous during walks in Dumfries and Galloway. Mountain hares, grouse, deer and goats are all common, whilst the red squirrel is protected in the Galloway Forest Park. The skies are patrolled by all manner of fascinating birdlife, such as hen harriers, ospreys and skylarks. Nothing compares to the sight of the huge golden eagle riding the thermals, prospecting the land below for its next meal.