Dumfries & Galloway is full of pretty little villages, each with their own unique atmosphere and setting. From the lovely farming town of Castle Douglas, to the pretty Kircudbright with its boats bobbing in the harbour. One of my favourite towns in the entire region is Gatehouse of Fleet.
Based on the A75 between Castle Douglas and Newton Stewart, Gatehouse of Fleet is a picturesque village with a main street filled with white cottages, little shops and a few hotels. The Water of Fleet flows through the town and on a warm summer day the little village is mobbed with tourists.
I have an extra soft spot for Gatehouse of Fleet as my mum used to holiday in the village when she was a little girl and to say she goes ‘doe-eyed’ whenever we pass it is an understatement.
The Walk
I’ve been ticking off many wonderful walks in Dumfries & Galloway since I started this blog and when my dad suggested I do a walk at Gatehouse I scrunched up my face and asked “What walk?”.
“There’s a lovely big wood in Gatehouse, you can walk for miles” he replied.
I headed to WalkHighlands and sure enough, there was an intriguing walk listed. ‘Gatehouse of Fleet to Sandgreen’, a 7.75 mile walk through the Cally Woods, down and under the A75 before arriving at the big, sandy beach at Sandgreen. A wonderful summer or winter walk.
What followed is me doing the walk, and me loving it. I would go on to walk it multiple times. It has genuinley become one of my favourite walks in the region and one I have done in all seasons and I never get sick of it. It is also close to one of my other favourite walks at Brighouse Bay, so if you are in the area on holiday both are well worth doing during your stay.
Over multiple visits I have settled on my own version of the route (which differs slightly from the Walk Highlands version) and I have shared it below.
Please note, some of the images are from different visits (as you wil notice with the tide being in and out at the beach!) but all are from the same route.
The Cally Woods
The Cally Woods at Gatehouse of Fleet are huge and you can spend hours just walking through them on a wide variety of routes. I like to park at the first carpark in the woods (there are multiple), the ‘Cally Woods Carpark’ which is situated just beyond the ‘East Cally Lodge’ and the large stone gates that make an impressive entryway into the woods.
Paths cut through the woods in all directions, meaning you can make a walk as long or as short as you want. As a result, this part of the woodland is usually sprinkled with walkers. It really is beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere: birds sing while a little burn flows through the tall trees.
One particular highlight is a wonderful wildlife hide, nestled deep in the woods. It’d be a great spot for spotting deer, red squirrels and foxes (along with all the birds!) and I do plan on heading over to it, perhaps on a summer night, to see what I can get with my telephoto lense!
The Temple
Hidden deep in the woods is a real treat: ‘The Temple‘, which stands alone in the trees. Constructed at the end of the 18th century, this little gothic tower was restored in 2015 by the Gatehouse Devlopment Initiative and is a must-see part of the walk.
Pushing on from The Temple, the path comes to a large dairy farm, ‘Cally Mains’ and passes by a very pretty house (which has views over the fields to the hills beyond) before re-entering some light woodland. The views from this point on just get better and better, as sheep stroll in the fields and Barnholm Hill (and the surrounding summits) make for a beautiful backdrop.
The Lane
The true highlight of the walk is the wonderful beach at Sandgreen Caravan Park, with a large sandy beach and beautiful views out to sea. It’s popular with dog walkers and holidaymakers and is a ‘must-see’ spot in Dumfries & Galloway!
The final approach to the beach is a long, straight ‘lane’ that cuts through the fields, dropping down into Sandgreen Caravan Park. It’s a lovely little section of the walk and a real highlight of the day.
The Beach
At Sandgreen, the caravan park gives way to a row of houses which sit in front of a large golden beach with wonderful views out to sea. It’s a lovely spot on the Galloway coast.
The pictures below should be able to show the beauty of this picturesque spot far better than I can describe it.
The beach at Sandgreen is a very popular spot and it’s rare to find it quiet. If you want it to yourself (or close to it) I’d suggest doing the walk in winter. A cool, blue winters day will make for a fantastic walk and the caravan park should be quiet.
At low tide there is a huge amount of space to walk a dog on the mud flats and I’ve seen plenty of dogs running around enjoying the wide-open spaces.
The Return
For the walk back you have a few options. Personally, I like to retrace my steps back along the lane, through the farmyard but instead of turning for The Temple, I head north toward the Cally Palace (with it’s large golf course) which takes you back into the woods and the car park.
Or, if you would rather do something different, at the farmyard there is a small track that cuts across the open fields towards Gatehouse of Fleet before eventually crossing a small gate at the golf course (with some paths you can walk to get back to the car park).
The beauty of this walk is that the choice is yours. You can visit the woods for a short, after-dinner stroll on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Or, you can do the full 10-mile loop. Or anything else you fancy!
It’s a wonderful spot for a walk in Dumfries & Galloway and one I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area and looking for a pleasant spot for some fresh air.
Route Information
Distance: 10 Miles (route is highly customisable and can be half the distance)
Parking: FREE
Start Point Postcode: DG7 2DJ