Dog walks near Kirkennan dog friendly holiday cottages
Find out more about our 3 cozy dog friendly self catering holiday cottages
This page gives some ideas on where you might be able to take your dog for an off-lead walk whilst on holiday at Kirkennan. Please note things can change, so it is always your responsibility to ensure that it is still appropriate to allow your dog off lead and you should always be ready to put your dog back on lead or change your route.
We encourage everyone to follow the Scottish Dog Access Code. Note in particular the following seasonal guidance:
- Don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves and other young animals.
- During April-July keep your dog on a short lead or close at heel in areas such as moorland, forests, grassland, loch shores and the seashore where there are likely to be ground nesting birds.
Walking areas where you might be able to let your dog off the lead
- Jock's Wood - our own 14 acre woodland on Kirkennan Estate is the ideal place for morning and evening exercise and great asset for guests in our dog friendly holiday cottages. We suggest you do a once round with your dog on the lead first to suss out the lie of the land. Note the wood is bounded on one side by a stock proof (not dog proof) fence separating it from a field that may have sheep, lambs or cattle in it; on another side is undergrowth and then a stream and on the third (it is roughly triangular in shape) it is bounded by trees, a bank and then the tidal Urr water - it is owners' responsibility to assess whether it is safe to let their dogs off lead. From 1st December to end Feb our fields are also stock free and guests are welcome to use them.
- Kirkennan, Ramshaw and Munches woodlands on the opposite side of the road to Kirkennan Estate Holiday Cottages - you can walk from your cottage door to enjoy the miles of paths and the four lochs here.
- Beaches near Kirkennan are all dog friendly as far as we know. If you want to be able to walk for miles along the beach try Sandyhills to Port Ling at low tide or on a receding tide (no dog restrictions). To find the long sandy stretch use the bridge to cross the stream to the right of Sandyhills beach then follow the path down to the sand. Other beaches where we have been told that you can walk dogs off-lead are Powillimount beach , Southerness beach, Rockcliffe and out to Rough Island, Mersehead (but keep on short leads 1st April - 15th Aug), Balcary Bay beach, and Doon Beach. Note it is not a good idea to walk out far from shore on the sands as they can be quite treacherous without local knowledge - instead walk parallel to the shore. The tide also comes in quite fast so if it is on the way in don't venture far away from a path that will get you off the beach.
- Various Forests of the Solway Coast including: Doach Wood; Dalbeattie Forest, Mabie Forest, Mark Hill Wood.
- The Jubilee Path between Kippford and Rockcliffe. (Walk 4 in Walking in and around Dalbeattie and Colvend)
- Threave Trail (see also Walk 4 in Walking in and around Castle Douglas)
- Screel Hill (Walk 2 in Walking in and around Castle Douglas)
- Many walks in Galloway Forest Park
This is a work in progress - so please share your suggestions and any updates on the information above using the contact form below.
All our 3 holiday cottages welcome up to 3 dogs free of charge.
Choose from The Lodge set in a large enclosed garden,
Woodsedge which has level access throughout and an enclosed rear garden or
The Mews - our smallest cottage which is great for couples.