Things To Do
What to do near Carrick Shore, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway.
While many may want to just sit and watch the weather across Wigtown Bay, there are plenty of things to do for those who need to be active or like to explore further afield than High Tide’s beach.
Here’s a list of some favourites . In the hut itself will probably be the up-to-date information for annual events, so look out for that.
Around Carrick Shore
First and foremost,look and listen out for the wide range of birds and wildlife and make a note of things you see (or hear) and let us know either in the visitors’ book or on the new High Tide Facebook page. (link here soon).
Walking– any and all shore walks can be as short or as long as you like.
Going eastfrom High Tide, there is Big Bay, Knockbrex Hill (opposite Ardwall Island*), Ardwall Island, Kirkandrews Graveyard (to see gravestones with skull and cross bones!), or a loop round to Cream ‘o Galloway and back down the Sandgreen road.
Going west,walks to Sandgreen either along the road or the shore (maybe wear Wellingtons for this one) and beyond to Gatehouse and back.
Cycling to Gatehouse of Fleet,through Sandgreen Caravan Park and then Cally Forest. A beautiful cycle of about 5 miles, great views and varied countryside.
Top it off with lunch or tea and cakes in one of the many pubs or cafes.
Tasting organic ice-cream at Cream o’ Galloway
Within cycling or walking distance, this organic farm has not only wonderful ice-cream but lovely nature walks, a zip wire, go-karts, bouncy wire, see www.creamogalloway.co.uk
Walking out to Ardwall Island – *make sure you check the tide timesbefore you go and when you are out there. Explore to find the old cottage, and see if you can find the well too. A very Enid Blyton type of an adventure!
Paddling around Murray’s Isles(opposite the hut) – just walk out and enjoy the vast space of Wigtown Bay. If you go onto the islands, be sure to check the tide times.
Bonfires on beach(allowed)
Swimming at Big Bay(ten minutes walk along the lane – ideal when the tide is coming in over hot sand, the water gets beautifully warm!)
Gatehouse of Fleet– the nearest village for groceries (Spar), post office, bank, coffee shops, bookshop, Mill on the Fleet Museum and Gallery with tea shop looking over the River Fleet. Cardoness Castle is on the outskirts of town. Cally Gardens – a lovely walled garden and nursery in the Cally Estate grounds.
Kirkcudbright Artists Town
Apart from regular festivities in the summer, this is a charming active fishing port, full of galleries and other boutique-style shops, and Maclellan’s Castle. Good restaurants. The Old Station is a favourite. Kirkcudbright Wildlife Park is on the edge of town.
Creetown Gem Rock Museum www.gemrock.net – fabulous collection of crystals, rocks and minerals.
Laggan Outdoor Ltd www.lagganoutdoor.co.uk
– the best views from the other side of Sandgreen Bay, with one of the longest zipwire in Europe, plus opportunity for two people to ‘zip at the same time. Lots of other activities and a good café.
Galloway Forest Park and Kirroughtree Visitor Centre– 75,000 hectares of land, and stunning dark skies; also forest drives and walks of all kinds.
https://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies