The New Galloway Burgh Walk

An easy circular 30 minute walk around New Galloway.
Assuming you start at Carson’s Knowe car park (but you could start anywhere as it is circular!), cross the bridge over the Mill Burn and bear left up the hill to the clock tower which is the Town Hall (L) Cross the road here to the bottom of the West Port (L) and turn right down the High Street, passing Kitty’s tearoom on your left and the Kenmure Arms Hotel on your right. Further down there is the Cross Keys Hotel (L) and the community shop (L) on your left and the small Post Office on the right.
Continuing down the High Street, you come to the Smithy café (L) and then the CatStrand (L). Between these two you will notice an old milestone. (L) Further along you pass the doctors’ surgery before the junction where you will cross over both the Newton Stewart Road and the Kirk Road. Between these there is the sign with the coat of arms of the Royal Burgh of New Galloway. (L)
Staying on the pavement on the left of the main road you pass what used to be the bank and then arrive at the lychgate of St Margaret’s Church. (L) Taking care, you should now cross the road and go through the small gate on the other side of the road. The path leads down to the War Memorial. (L)
After this you have a choice. You may turn left at the memorial, walk down the hill to a gate which opens on to the Old Edinburgh Road (L) at which you turn right and continue along to the Carson’s Knowe car park where the walk begins.
Alternatively, turn right at the memorial and go through the little gate on to the park. Walk across the grass to the gate opposite the CatStrand and bear left along the pavement. Take the first turning left down the steep Wylie’s Brae passing the little houses called Sunnyside until you arrive once more at the Carson’s Knowe car park.

New Galloway Golf Course Woodland Path

New link path through to core path 177

This recently opened path starts from New Galloway Golf Course car park or from the layby a few hundred yards south.  It follows an existing path through the Golf Course woods.  Exit the wood through a new gate and follow the sign left.

At a fork in the path bear right and continue descending until you see a signpost pointing right to a steep descent with mature pine trees on the left.  At the bottom, cross the wide track diagonally and continue to descend through young trees until you reach the new Kirsten Bridge crossing over the Knocknairling Burn.

Follow the direction across the field as signed and look ahead for the next signpost directing you up into a wooded area. Take a rest on the wooden bench and contemplate life on the small loch, once a water supply to the nearby castle ruins.

As you proceed look carefully for a signpost on your right directing you into old pine trees. This section winds around a bit, but is signposted at intervals and exits across a boardwalk to the rough vehicle track leading up to Knocknairling House.  The signpost directs you left to join Core Path 177 into the Galloway Forest Park at some cottages further down the track where another signpost directs you right.

If you are returning to New Galloway and wish to extend your walk to 4.2 miles, turn right up the track towards Knocknairling House and enter the third farm gate on your left. This track leads upward with a fishing lochan on the right and exits through another farm gate on to a forestry logging road. Follow this track left and keep left until you join the Knocknairling track by the cottages mentioned earlier.  A right turn leads to the A762  road and a left turn takes you back to the point where you first joined the Knocknairling track and you can retrace the Link Path back to New Galloway.