The Real Galloway Tourist Route The Machars

4. From Creetown, head along the A75 towards Newton Stewart. At Palnure, visitors will see the Kirroughtree Visitor Centre signposted. The Centre is part of the Galloway Forest Park, the largest forest park in Britain and the centre, which is operated by Forestry Commission Scotland, features a tea room, various walking trails and an adventure play area for children. Kirroughtree is also a mountain biking centre along the 7Stanes Mountain Biking Trail and is one of the best mountain biking trails outside North America.

From here, continue along the A75 to Newton Stewart, the first turn-off for which is signposted A712 'Minnigaff' and 'New Galloway'.

For Newton Stewart, take this turn and take an immediate left turn.

5. If you continue along the A712, which is also recommended, you will be driving along what is known as The Queen's Way Galloway Forest Park to the stunning through the Clatteringshaws Loch. However, before you reach the Loch, there are several places of interest along the 7-mile route including a viewing platform, the Murray Monument (it's an easy climb to the top, taking someone reasonably fit no more than 10 minutes) from where there are stunning views across the valley, a deer park and a wild goat park.

At Clatteringshaws Loch, the view across this large expanse of water is outstanding and a more typically Scottish scene is hard to imagine. This is the perfect place to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of this location as well as refreshments provided at the Foresty Commission-run visitor centre there which also houses a small wildlife exhibition area.

6. Return back towards Newton Stewart and drive into the town via Minnigaff, crossing the Cree Bridge. Turn right just after the bridge and head northwards on the A714 signposted Girvan to Glentrool village and the Loch Trool Visitor Centre.

From the visitor centre, continue past the car park for around 2 miles to Loch Trool itself and Bruce's Stone, which marks Bruce's first victory over the English forces led by the Earl of Northampton in 1307. From the monument, there are spectacular views over the Loch and indeed, this location if considered to be one of the jewels in the crown of the Galloway Forest Park.

7. Return to Newton Stewart along the same route.

This busy small town (population 4,500) is one of the few towns in Britain to have a Cinema and is known as the Gateway to the Galloway Hills. The Cinema excellent facility is community-owned and operated. Entering Newton Stewart, visitors cross the pictureque Cree Bridge over the salmon river which once marked the boundary between the Stewartry and Wigtownshire.

Newton Stewart has a range of shops and supermarkets including The Co-operative, Aldi and the recently opened Sainsbury's. There are also several outdoor shops supplying camping equipment, walking boots, fishing tackle and fishing licences. The River Cree is popular with anglers and the Riverside Walk is the perfect place to access this river. Each year in July, the town hosts The Galloway Pageant when the Queen of Galloway is crowned. The nearby Galloway Forest Park is an official dark skies park, perfect for stargazing on a clear night and, the park also has some of the best mountain bike trails outside North America.

8. From here, continue through Newton Stewart towards Wigtown signposted the A714. Wigtown, once the County Town of the shire bearing its name, has a population of just 990, but woe betide anyone who suggests this quaint little town nestling on the shores of Wigtown Bay is a village! Despite its diminutive size, this is a town.

Wigtown's former status is illustrated perfectly by the imposing and magnificent County Buildings, built with French and Flemish Mediaeval influences using Cumberland sandstone, which dominates the town's Main Square.

Wigtown itself is Scotland's National Book Town and a haven for bookworms with around 15 book businesses represented here. The town also hosts an annual Book Festival. Wigtown Bay is Britain's largest local nature reserve. This estuary, with large areas of saltmarsh and mudflats, is internationally important for its pink-footed geese population in the winter and many other species which use the wetlands at Wigtown Harbour. The County Buildings houses a LNR visitors' room with video links relaying pictures of Galloway's ospreys which have successfully returned to the area in recent years. There is also a new RSPB reserve here, The Crook of Baldoon.

A mile further on is the tiny hamlet of Bladnoch on the banks of the River bearing the same name. This is also the location of Scotland's most southerly distillery which came back into production 10 years ago. The Distillery uses the original stills and vats and guided tours are available throughout the year.

9. From Wigtown, take the A746 sinposted Whithorn. After travelling through Kirkinner, take the B7004 signposted Garlieston, a small harbour village which played a crucial role in the successful D-Day Landings of World War II.

It was here, under top secret conditions, that the Mulberry Harbour, a massive floating pontoon used for landing equipment and vehicles for the Normandy Landings, was tested.

Garlieston was chosen because of its remoteness and because coastal conditions are similar to those in Normandy. A plaque outside the Temperance Hall and an information board tell the history of the Mulberry Harbour.

10. From Garlieston, take the B7052 then the B7004 to Whithorn, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. This mediaeval city (population 950) is steeped in history which is charted at The Whithorn Trust Visitor Centre. Archaeological sites abound from Mesolithic and Iron Age Forts, Standing Stones and Ring Markings, an 11th Century Chapel and Castles from the era of King Robert The Bruce. Archeologists have also uncovered evidence for the earliest Christian community in Scotland and St Ninian's Church is likely to have been founded more than a century before St Columba's Church at Iona. The town hosted a mediaeval fayre in recent years among whose players could be found Jill and David Sumner, founders of the nearby Swallow Theatre. In a restored and converted byre at Moss Park, Ravenstone, about three miles from Whithorn and seating just forty-eight people, The Swallow is one of the smallest theatres in the country and is well worth a visit when in Whithorn.

11. Continue along the B7004 following the signs for the Isle of Whithorn. This picturesque harbour village hosts the annual Hamefairin' - a showcase of the very best in locally produced food and drink -now held every June.

From the Isle of Whithorn, leave the village along the A7004 and continue straight until you reach a crossroads signposted St Ninian's Cave to the left. The Cave, which is associated with St Ninian, is around half a mile's walk from the car park through small woods and a shingle beach and is the site of an annual pilgrimage.

12. The B7004 turns into the A747 to Port William, hugging the rugged coastline from Monreith where children and adults alike will enjoy a visit to Monreith Animal World with its varied collection of otters, owls, miniature donkeys and Shetland ponies, to name but a few of its inhabitants. Port William is a popular destination for visitors with a community-owned caravan site, places to eat and enjoy the stunning views across Luce Bay. On the green is a statue of the Man and a finger post with distances to various places around the world. Beneath this spot is Port William in New Zealand!

13. Continue along the A747 all the way to the junction with the A75. Cross the A75 towards Glenluce following the signs for Glenluce Abbey. The abbey was founded around 1192 by Roland, Lord of Galloway, as a Cistercian retreat.

Continue the route into the Rhins by clicking into the next page here.

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