A boat tour on Loch Ken, with a high-speed blast

Dumfries and Galloway

Loch Ken – a RIB Tour and a Blast Through the Speed Zone

A few hours.

The route

The Galloway Activity Centre takes up to a dozen people at a time out on Loch Ken in a 21-foot RIB, cruising quietly round the northern half of the loch while the skipper points out the wildlife.

Then, heading back past the centre, the boat opens up through the loch's high-speed zone for a short, thrilling blast. It's an easy hour and a half on the water for most ages, from little ones who fit a life jacket to grandparents.

Before you go

Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
PortpatrickWren's NestSleeps 2 42 miles awayRose Blair LodgeSleeps 2 42 miles awayHeritage Coachman LodgeSleeps 4 42 miles awayFern Forest HouseSleeps 6
Book Boat tour at the Galloway Activity Centre
Book the Loch Ken boat tour at the Galloway Activity Centre online or on 01556 502011 before you go, at 9am, 10.30am, 1pm or 2.30pm, £45 a head at the time of writing (£35 at 9am), and ask whether it runs on your winter date; bookings are binding.

The day

Loch Ken

A quiet cruise up the loch watching the shores for kites and otters, then a quick burst of speed on the way back.

About two and a half hours

Galloway Activity Centre
The Galloway Activity Centre is on Loch Ken at Parton, 10 miles north of Castle Douglas on the A713 (DG7 3NQ). From Monday to Saturday the 520 bus from outside Castle Douglas swimming pool drops you at the top of the drive. The boat tour runs four times a day: 9am, 10.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm, each an hour and a half. It costs £45 a head at the time of writing, or £35 for the 9am early bird. The boat is a 12-seat Highfield RIB, quiet at low speed, with two bench seats and eight jockey seats. The skipper takes it gently round the northern half of the loch, where you may see red kites, deer, cormorants and otters, with ospreys in summer. On the way back past the centre comes a short blast through the high-speed zone. There's no lower age limit if a life jacket fits, and most four-year-olds fit one. Everyone must be able to sit upright unaided, grip the rails with both hands and brace with their legs; tell them beforehand about any back, neck, bone or joint problem, or a pregnancy. Wrap up warm and bring waterproofs. Bookings are binding, with no cancellations. In winter, ring 01556 502011 first to check the tours are running.