Clatteringshaws
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Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries &
Galloway, Scotland
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Images,
information & links for the Clatteringshaws area including
Clatteringshaws Dam, Loch & Visitor Centre, Grey Mare’s Tail, Loch Dee, Murray’s
Monument, Queen’s Way, Raiders Road, Red Deer Range, Red Kite Trail, Wild
Goat Park.
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Contents
Directions Gazetteer (Places of Interest) What’s On
Links
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Directions
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Clatteringshaws
is situated in the Galloway Forest Park on the
A712 (known as the Queen’s Way) between New Galloway and Newton Stewart.
The Galloway
Forest Park was created
in 1947 and has marked cycle and walking trails, picnic areas and interpretation
centres. It covers an area of 293 square mi / 759 sq. km.
The
nearest bus services (520 & 521) are at Dalry and New Galloway. The nearest main railway stations at Ayr
and Dumfries, and the nearest civil airport is Prestwick.
Ordnance Survey maps for the area are Landranger Map No.77
(Dalmellington & New Galloway) 1:50 000 scale; and the two Explorer
Maps: No.318 (Galloway
Forest Park North) and No.319 (Galloway Forest Park South) 1:25 000 scale.
Philip’s Street Atlas of Dumfries & Galloway (June 2006) is available in
pocket [1⅓ inches to 1 mile] and spiral-bound [1¾ inches to 1 mile].
For
details of services and facilities in the Glenkens (Balmaclellan, Carsphairn,
Dalry, New Galloway) see our Glenkens
web page.
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Selection
of road distances from Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre (to nearest
mile/kilometre):
New Galloway: 6 mi / 10km
Dalry (St Johns Town of Dalry): 7 mi / 11km
Balmaclellan: 8 mi / 13km
Newton
Stewart: 12 mi / 19km
Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Galloway Forest Park: 14 mi / 23km
Wigtown: 19 mi / 31km
Castle Douglas: 21 mi / 34km
Glen Trool Visitor Centre, Galloway Forest Park: 22 mi / 35km
Gatehouse of Fleet (via
Laurieston): 25 mi / 40km
Kirkcudbright:
25 mi / 40km
Dumfries: 30 mi / 48km
Stranraer: 37 mi / 60km
Ayr: 40 mi / 64km
Prestwick Airport: 44 mi / 71km
Carlisle:
65 mi / 105km
Glasgow: 74 mi / 120km
Edinburgh: 92 mi / 148km
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Clatteringshaws Gazetteer
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Clatteringshaws Dam & Loch
Clatteringshaws Loch reservoir was created 1929-1935
over the Black Water of Dee to feed Glenlee Power
Station via a 3.5mi/5.63km tunnel, 370ft/113m below. Clatteringshaws Dam is
the largest on the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme, a gravity structure
1562ft/476m long.
Below the dam, next to the A712 bridge is the
original Dee Bridge (1790). The ruins of an earlier
bridge (c.1703) are submerged by the reservoir.
Clatteringshaws Dam Quarry is a site of special
scientific interest.
West of Clatteringshaws is White Cairn, a burial
cairn on the Rig of Drumwhar; nearby is Lillie’s Loch.
Galloway Hills around the loch area include Millfore (2152ft/656m) and Meikle Millyea (2448ft/746m).
On Darnaw Hill
(1548ft/472m) there is a memorial to the Daily Express ‘Dragon Fly’ plane
that crashed in 1937 with the loss of 4 lives.
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Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre. Tel: 01644 420285
Open Mon 17 March to Sun 26 October 2008 (10.30am-4.30pm
to 6 July & from 22 Sept; 10.30am-5.30pm 7 July-27 Sept).
Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre has a car park,
souvenir shop, tearoom, toilets and an excellent interpretive centre,
explaining all about the wildlife of the Galloway Forest
Park.
In the porch is a fine stained glass (‘Galloway Window’) by B Thomas, flanked by verses by R L
Stevenson and Hugh MacDiarmid. It was made for just
the cost of the materials.
Information board in car park.
Close to the centre is a reconstruction of a 1st-2nd
century iron-age roundhouse.
Opposite the Centre is the start of the cycle route
and track leading up to Benniguinea viewpoint (1269ft/387m).
The wooden bungalow east of the Visitor Centre is the
former Clatteringshaws
School, closed in 1947.
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Black Loch
The car park is a short walk from the loch. The tall
conical art construction, named ‘Eye’, is covered with a mosaic of small
pieces of stone. A further 5-7 minutes walk along the Old Edinburgh Road
leads to the Grey Mare’s Tail burn, with the ‘Quorum’ Stone Head carvings on
the left (within a complex of sheep pens); and the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall
on the right - with further cascades higher up. Further on is the ‘Prolonged Exposure’
artwork.
Northeast of Black Loch,
the Tonderghie Burn may be crossed by rough
stepping-stones; upstream is a fine waterfall.
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Bruce’s Stone
A National Trust for Scotland site. This stone is on
Moss Raploch is where King Robert the Bruce is said
to have rested after defeating the English here in 1307.
The battlefield site near Craignell
is submerged by the reservoir.
There is also a Bruce’s Stone at Glen Trool that
commemorates the Battle
of Trool (also in 1307).
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Craigencallie
A former farm and hunting lodge, now an outdoor
activity centre. A car park below the lodge is a suitable starting point for
the 1-hour walk to Loch Dee.
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Galloway Kite Trail
A 25 to 38 mile marked route around Loch Ken with the summer (April-October) route
including Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre and Raiders Road. Red Kite viewing and information areas -
the nearest to Clatteringshaws being at Bennan Hill Viewpoint, near the
eastern end of the Raiders Road.
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Gatehill
Road
Ancient Whithorn pilgrims’ way from the
Queen’s Way (Clatteringshaws Forestry Depot), later descending from
800ft/244m down to Glenlee.
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Glen of the Bar
Car park, information board, picnic site and
overhang-viewpoint on the A712 southwest of Talnotry.
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Grey Mare’s Tail (Talnotry Waterfall)
Buck
Loup (visible from the car park on the A712) and Grey Mare’s Tail are two of a
series of waterfalls along the Grey Mare’s Tail Burn.
A marked trail
(on the opposite side of the burn to the car park), lead up to the Stone
Heads carvings and the Grey Mare’s Tail, although easier access is via Black Loch (see above).
Relics of
lead and nickel mines in the area.
West Galloway
Wildlife Trail information board at Grey Mare’s Tail/Murray’s Monument car
park.
It is
possible that this area may become a NNR (National Nature Reserve) in the
future.
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Loch Dee
Loch
Dee is a scenic Galloway hill loch with
views across the Silver Flowe to Craignaw and
Dungeon Hill. The shoreline has several fine beaches.
White Laggan, a former steading under the slopes of Curly Wee,
is now a bothy for the Southern Upland Way.
Access to
Loch Dee is by forest track/cycle track/Southern Upland
Way. The nearest car parks are at [a] Craigencallie, situated at the end of
road via Craignell (west side of Clatteringshaws):
about 2.8 mi/4.5km; and [b] Bruce’s Stone, Glentrool: about 4 ml/6.4km via Glenhead.
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Loch Grannoch
Access
by forest tracks and cycle route south of the Queen’s Way. Small sandy
beaches are made up of moraine deposits. At the northern end of the loch is
Eagles Isle, an Iron Age crannog.
A former
shooting lodge at the south end is approached by a track that runs above a
small ravine (vehicles not permitted beyond gate before ravine). On the east
side of the track is a memorial to “Maggie”, the last packhorse.
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Murray’s Monument
Prominent
obelisk (1835) commemorates Alexander Murray, the shepherd boy who became a
professor of Oriental Languages in 1812 and died the following year age 37.
A steep path
leads up from the Grey Mare’s Tail/Murray’s Monument car park to the obelisk
for fine views.
To the east
near Craigdews (south side of A712), are the
remains of Dunkitterick Cottage, Murray’s birthplace.
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National Cycle Route (Lochs & Glens Cycle
Route) and National Byway
The
Glasgow-Carlisle section of National Cycle Route 7 has a mainly off-road
alternative section through the Galloway Forest Park between Glen Trool and
Gatehouse Station. This wild and remote 24.5mi/39.4km alternative route
passes Loch Trool, Glenhead, Loch Dee,
Clatteringshaws Loch (west side), Loch
Grannoch and the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct.
The National
Byway cycle route runs for 194mi/121km in Dumfries & Galloway, and passes
through the Glenkens and Clatteringshaws area via Dalry, Gatehill Road and Clatteringshaws.
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The Queen’s Way
A
17mi/27km scenic road (A712) between New Galloway and Newton Stewart. Named for the Queen’s
Silver Jubilee in 1977 by the then Princess Anne.
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Raiders Road
The Raiders Road
is open Mon 17 March to Sun 26 October 2008.
This is a
seasonal 10mi/16km two-way forest drive (£2 toll) between the A712 (below the
Clatteringshaws Dam) to the A762 at Bennan near Mossdale. It winds along the
banks of the Black Water of Dee. This route
was popularised by S R Crocket in his 1894 novel of cattle rustling entitled
‘The Raiders’.
Clatteringshaws
Picnic site has a short riverside walks and the strenuous 1.5mi/2.4km
Clatteringshaws Fell walk.
’The Path’ is a 50 metre labyrinth by Jim Buchanan.
The Otter
Pool has a car park, picnic site and toilets. Otter statue by Gilliam Forbes.
Stroan Loch
has a car park and picnic site by the Stroan Viaduct that once carried the
‘Port Line’ (Dumfries-Stranraer railway line). Walks include a 1.5mi/2.4km Riverside Walk
and the 2mi/3.2km strenuous Buzzard Walk via the remains of Clachrum village and ‘Seats’ an artwork by John Crosbie. Coarse
fishing is available on the loch.
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Red Deer Range (Brockloch)
A short walk from the car park on the A712 leads to viewing
areas.
Guided
tours available 1pm-2.30pm from Tue 17 June to Thur
11 Sept 2008 (except Fridays & Saturdays) £3.50 adults, £2.50 conc/under 16s, £10 family (2 adults/2 children). Additional events are “Roaring Stags” (Sun
5 Oct 10am-12noon) and “Rutting Week” (Mon 6 to Fri 10 Oct, 10am-12noon),
price for these additional events are £4 adults, £2.50 conc/under
16s, £10 family (2 adults/2 children).
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The Silver Flowe
A NNR
(National Nature Reserve) and a fine example of an upland blanket bog on
undisturbed and varied acidic peat land. It is also a breeding site for the
rare Azure Hawker dragonfly. This NNR may later expand onto the Merrick.
The name of
the reserve is derived from the shining reflections on the surface of the
concentric pattern of pools between its hummocks of wet sphagnum moss. It is
perhaps best viewed from above from the top of Craigeazle
or Corserine.
A walkway
provides limited and safe access on to the reserve from the forest track that
leads north to Backhill of Bush bothy - a former shepherd’s house.
The nearest
car park is 5mi/8km southeast at Craigencallie, which is situated at the end
of road via Craignell (west side of
Clatteringshaws).
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Southern Upland Way
A
212mi/341km long distance walking route from Portpatrick to Cocksburnspath.
The long 22.5mi/36.2km Bargrennan/Glen Trool to Dalry section passes Loch Dee
then later the north west
side of Clatteringshaws Loch. From the Garrary Road it continues eastward via Clenrie and Garroch to Dalry.
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Talnotry
Three
trails, providing fine views, start from the small parking area off the A712
(between Grey Mare’s Tail/Murray’s Monument car park and Glen of the Bar).
Trails include the Grey Mare’s Tail, stone head carvings (see Black Loch) and
Murray’s
Monument (see above).
Talnotry Mine
(no access) is a site of special scientific interest.
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Wild Goat Park (Craigdews Hill)
Since
1970, captured feral goats have been released within this enclosure, where
they can be seen and can do no damage to the trees and rare upland plants
species of the Forest Park. The enclosure boundary is by the A712 and
has a car park for viewing.
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What’s
on in the Clatteringshaws area – 2008
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For red deer guided walks and events (17 June-10 October
2008) see details under Red
Deer Range
gazetteer entry above.
Thur
22 May: Evening Fishing: Loch Grannoch
3pm-9pm. £5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP.
Booking essential: 01671-402420.
Fri
13 June: Nightjar Night 10pm. £4 (£2 conc). Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Sat
21 June: Nightjar Night 10pm. £4 (£2 conc). Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Mon
23 May: Fishing Day: Loch Grannoch 9am-4pm.
£5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Sat
28 June: Nightjar Night 10pm. £4 (£2 conc). Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Sat
5 July: Nightjar Night 10pm. £4 (£2 conc). Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Mon
21 July: Fishing Day: Loch Grannoch 9am-4pm.
£5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Wed
23 July: Nature
Detectives Academy:
Red Deer Range 2pm-3.30pm. £2 (Children must be accompanied by
parent/guardian).
Thur
24 July: Hill Walk – Corserione & Carlin’s
Cairn (strenuous) £15. 9am to approx 4.30pm. Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Thur
14 Aug: Hill Walk – Craiglee & Rig of the Jarkness (strenuous) £15. 9am to approx 4.30pm. Meet
Clatteringshaws CP. Booking essential: 01671-402420.
Mon
18 Aug: Fishing Day: Loch Grannoch 9am-4pm.
£5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Thur
21 Aug: Hill Walk – Dungeon & Craignairny
(strenuous) £15. 9am to approx 4.30pm. Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Thur
28 Aug: Hill Walk – Mullwharchar (strenuous) £15.
9am to approx 4.30pm. Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking essential:
01671-402420.
Mon
1 Sept: Fishing Day: Loch Grannoch 9am-4pm.
£5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Sat
6 Sept: Fishing Day: Loch Grannoch 9am-4pm.
£5 (£3 conc). Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking
essential: 01671-402420.
Fri
19 Sept: Fishing Competition: Loch Grannoch
9am-4pm. £10. Meet Clatteringshaws CP. Booking essential: 01671-402420.

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Links to
selected websites
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The Bruce Hotel, Newton Stewart
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Galloway Mountain Rescue Team
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CatStrand (Glenkens Community
& Arts Trust)
Clatteringshaws area map (Multimap)
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Hill Walking in South West
Scotland
Kirkcudbright Community Website: Galloway Hydros
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Clatteringshaws
weather: Craigencallie (Weather Ch)
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National Trust for Scotland
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Dumfries & Galloway Accommodation Directory: New
Galloway
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New Galloway Golf Club
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Dumfries & Galloway: Gazetteer with summary of places
of interest
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Newton Stewart
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Dumfries
& Galloway On Line
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Robert the Bruce Commemoration
Trust, Dumfries
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Dumfries
& Galloway Tourist Board
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Scottish National Heritage: Dumfries & Galloway
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Dumfries & Galloway Visitors Guide
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Scottish Power: The Tongland Tour
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Fishing in Scotland: Clatteringshaws area
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Southern
Upland Way (SUW Ltd)
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Forestry Commission Scotland
Galloway Kite Trail
Glenkens: Services & facilities (Dalry/New
Galloway etc.)
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Sustrans: National Cycle Network
Walking Wild
Scotland
Visit
Southern Scotland (SUW Ltd)
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The Glenkens: Welcome to the Glenkens
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Suggestions/amendments/omissions?
– Our email is: cast@btconnect.com
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Last update 8 May
2008
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