Forest bathing at Kirroughtree, Galloway Forest Park

Kirroughtree is the gateway visitor centre for Galloway Forest Park, about a mile and a half east of Newton Stewart off the A75 at Palnure. The forest around it is mixed woodland with mature stands and some big beech trees, crossed by quiet forest roads and waymarked walks. The Wild Watch Hide looks out for red squirrels and woodland birds, and great spotted woodpeckers nest in dead trunks along one of the roadsides.

The Wild Watch Hide path is short, about half an hour on firm, mostly flat ground, and works in any weather. For longer, slower time, the Bruntis Lochs route climbs through the beech woods to the lochs on firm gravel with some fairly steep stretches; allow an hour and a half. The visitor centre, café and play areas are the busy end. Kirroughtree is also a mountain bike centre and some walking routes share sections with riders, so the paths away from the bike trails are the quieter choice.