Kirroughtree, Galloway Forest

Out In the Wild

On the 5th of September 2020, Myself and my helper took a trip down to Kirroughtree visitor centre in Galloway Forest 1.5 miles from Newton Stewart. The drive took 1 hour 40 minutes from where I live. Visitors coming from Glasgow it will take over 2 hours to get there. The country roads are windy and dangerous as there is a lot of blind corners, please be careful driving and make sure to check the weather forecast before your departure. When we arrived my helper and I felt a bit motion sickness with all the twists and turns. When we got out of the car, I went straight to the visitor centre to buy a sandwich and a can of Tango to put energy back into my body and prepare myself for a long walk through the forest.

Galloway Forest is located on the South West of Scotland which is currently owned by Forestry and Land Scotland surrounding 299 square mile of woodland in Dumfries and Galloway, it is known to be the largest forest in the UK. The parks were established in 1947 attracting over 800,000 visitors per year and have three visitor centres Glentrool, Kirroughtree, and Clatteringshaws. Galloway Forest has parks which are great for stargazing and have been given Dark Sky Park status (Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park) back in November 2009 and it is the first area in the UK to be designated.

Kirroughtree is the gateway to start your adventure through the picturesque forest. There are 4 walking trails to choose from Little Bruntis Trail, Wild Watch Trail, Anniversary Cairn Trail and Larg Hill Trail, some of the trails are connected to each other. Supposedly, the Wild Watch Trail is an easy trail and is suitable for wheelchair users and those with other mobility requirements. I decided to give that trail a miss as I wanted to experience being a little more adventurous, doing off road electric wheelchair driving. It felt like I was reliving my youth being a Scout again out in the wild.

So, we done a bit of the Anniversary Cairn Trail, Little Bruntis Trail and Larg Hill Trail. These trails that I went on have firm gravel paths with muddy sections, uneven ground which can be a bit of an obstacle for wheelchair users. There are some wide forest roads and small steep narrow hills throughout the trails. Some wheelchair users and other mobilities may struggle to navigate through the forest without assistance, especially if it is raining wheelchairs or mobility aids can get stuck in the mud. Throughout my walks I had to stop to look around to admire how beautiful the forest surroundings were.

Accessibility and Facilities

Kirroughtree Visitor Centre – The visitor Centre is spacious and has lots of room to manoeuvre which is great for wheelchairs and others mobility aids. They is information boards on wildlife and stars that you can see from the forest. The visitor centre has shower cubicles round the back of the building for those who get absolutely drenched in dirt while walking or cycling through the forest trails. There is also a cafe within the centre where you can purchase hot and cold food and beverages. The customer service was of high standard, willing to help and advise us on information about the trails and car park.

Accessible Toilet – There are two disabled toilets, I only used the one around the back of the visitor centre. It was big and spacious plenty of room to move around which is good for wheelchair users and other mobility requirements. Everything was within reach such as toilet, handrails, sink and soap. However, the hand paper towel dispenser and hand dryer are place at the other end of the cubicle. By time I got to them my hands were dry.

Disabled Parking – There is plenty disabled parking spaces and are free to use with a blue badge. There is also a parking meter at the premise with various charging fees. Tourist or visitors who are traveling around in a motor home can pitch their vehicle at a reasonable price.