CLINTS OF DROMORE
A FRIDAY AFTERNOON TREAT FOR THE EARLY BIRDS

The introduction of a Friday afternoon walk, for those able to arrive early, has proved so successful that a second walk has been added.

This is a gentle walk with some magnificent views of the Fleet Valley and Cairnsmore of Fleet. We include a visit to the Nature Reserve Visitor Centre as part of an afternoons walking designed to set the scene for the weekend.

As with the Drannadow walk the aim is to have a relatively easy stroll that whets the appetite for the longer walks on Saturday and Sunday, and enable walkers and leaders to meet in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere.

Transport will take this group from Newton Stewart to the start point west of the former Gatehouse station. This area is one of the Scottish National Nature Reserves managed by Scottish Natural Heritage who maintain a small, but interesting, visitor centre at Dromore. The walk will pass the centre and time will be available to absorb its information.

Dromore is an alternative start point to climb the granite humpback of Cairnsmore of Fleet, a destination for two of Sunday's walks, but our walk is a simple circuit through forest, a west to east traverse of the Clints of Dromore (a rugged rocky outcrop), dropping down to the old Stranraer to Dumfries railway line, past the viaduct over the Big Water of Fleet, following the road to the visitor centre and continuing back to the start point.

The walk is relatively easy but it does give the feeling of remoteness and excellent views of the normally hidden eastern glaciated flanks of Cairnsmore are a well-earned reward. The Reserve supports a wide variety of upland plant and animal life including peregrine, buzzard, red & black grouse, red deer, feral goats and adders.