The Wood of Cree – Old Oaks and Waterfalls above the River
The Wood of Cree is the largest ancient wood in southern Scotland, a steep bank of oak above the River Cree north of Newton Stewart.
The RSPB looks after it, and its waymarked trails climb through the trees beside burns and small waterfalls. It's a short walk, an hour or two, though a rough one in places.
- Time
- About an hour by the RSPB's waymarked woodland trail, 2 km; about two hours with the scrubland trail, 5.5 km. A short walk, very steep and rough in parts.
- The path
- Rolled stone, tarmac and grass; very steep, rough and uneven in parts, with narrow footbridges. Not for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- Where to start
- The RSPB's Wood of Cree car park, on the minor road north of Minnigaff; free, open at all times, no lighting. A second car park at Barclye, a mile before it. DG8 6RJ is the reserve's postcode.
- When to go
- All year in daylight: bluebells and summer birds from late spring, turning leaves in autumn. From November to January set off on the longer round by 1.30pm.
- Dogs
- On a short lead from 1 April to 15 August and wherever there is livestock.
- Children
- Sure-footed children; steep rough paths and narrow footbridges, no pushchairs.
- Toilets
- None on the reserve; the nearest public toilets are at the Riverside car park in Newton Stewart, about three miles away, with a charge.
- Before you set out
- Nature trails very steep, rough and uneven in parts; narrow footbridges, no stiles.
The walk
Park at the RSPB's Wood of Cree car park, on the minor road that runs north out of Minnigaff along the east side of the River Cree. It's free and open at all times, with picnic tables, and DG8 6RJ is the reserve's postcode. There's a second car park at Barclye, a mile before it. This is the largest ancient wood in southern Scotland, a steep hillside of oak cut by burns that come down in small waterfalls.
The waymarked woodland trail is a 2 km loop of about an hour, and the scrubland trail stretches it to 5.5 km, about two hours. Near the car park a boardwalk leads to a platform for watching for otters in the river, and higher up there's a viewpoint over the Cree valley and its marshes. The trails are very steep, rough and uneven in parts, with narrow footbridges but no stiles, so wear boots and leave the pushchair behind. Willow tits and tawny and barn owls are here all year.
Pied flycatchers, redstarts and wood warblers arrive from Africa in May and stay for the summer, and the bluebells flower in spring, so from October this is a walk for the turning leaves and the burns after rain. There are no toilets, no café and no staff on the reserve, and the nearest toilets and café are in Newton Stewart, about three miles back, so bring a flask. Dogs are welcome, on a short lead near livestock and from 1 April to 15 August. From November to January, set off on the longer round by 1.30pm to be back in daylight.
If it rains
The trees keep off a shower and the waterfalls are fuller after rain, but the steep paths turn slippery. In heavy rain keep to the lower ground near the car park and the otter platform.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Malcolm Haddow via Google