| Start from Lochside Park in Castle Douglas and follow the path through the park out onto Whitepark Road. Turn right and follow the road out past the cemetery and on out towards Gelston. Take care on this section, fast moving traffic. Turn right at the ‘Footpath’ sign at Cuckoo Bridge and follow the path, pass over a boardwalk and on through some fenced off farmland until you reach a minor road near Mid Kelton Farm. The boardwalk section crosses marshland which is, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its botanical and wildlife interests. Areas of semi-natural woodland can be seen within the wetland area supporting lichens, plants and breeding songbirds. At the bridge halfway across the boardwalk look down into the water and you should see whirligig beetles scurrying across the surface film of the water. This area also offers excellent views south towards Screel and Bengairn Hills.
At the end of the countryside path turn right and follow the minor road back towards Castle Douglas passing the Douglas Mausoleum and Threave Gardens along the way. The Douglas Mausoleum was built around 1830 to house the remains of Sir William Douglas and members of the Douglas family. In 1792 Sir William, acting under Royal Charter, changed the name of the small village called Causewayend to Castle Douglas. Return to Castle Douglas using the pavement/cycle path along the edge of Carlingwark Loch. The loch is renowned for its birdlife, including breeding great crested grebes, mute swans and many others. The loch also hosts many wintering ducks and is well known to birdwatchers. An information Board is located in Lochside Park near the car park to help you with identification.
In the 1868 two fishermen hooked a bronze cooking pot full of old bits and pieces of metalwork, which can be viewed in the Scottish National Museum in Edinburgh. Decorations on some of the objects showed them to have been used at the time when Roman armies were in the area some 1800 years ago.
During the main tourist season you should be able to get a leaflet for the walk and loch from the Tourist Information Centre on the Market Hill.
For a map of the area click to view agree conditions on first page, on the second page in the top left box and type in NX7661 for the start point.
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