Bruntis Loch – A Forest Walk at Kirroughtree
Kirroughtree is the forest above Palnure, a gateway to Galloway Forest Park that's best known for its mountain bike trails.
It has good walking too, on firm paths up to the Bruntis lochs, small and quiet among spruce and big old beech trees. Bruntis Loch was made in the 19th century to power the lead mines nearby. Choose a short round of 4 km or a longer one of 7 km round Larg Hill.
- Time
- About an hour and a half by Forestry and Land Scotland's Little Bruntis Trail, 4 km; about three hours by its Larg Hill Trail, 7 km. A forest walk on firm paths.
- The path
- Firm gravel paths and forest roads with fairly steep slopes; muddy in places after rain on the longer trail.
- Where to start
- Kirroughtree Visitor Centre car park, signposted from the A75 at Palnure: £2 for up to an hour, £3 for up to three hours, £4 all day; coins, card or RingGo; Blue Badge holders free. DG8 7BE is the nearest postcode, but stay on the A75 to Palnure.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January start the short trail by 2pm and the long one by 12.30pm.
- Dogs
- Under close control on the trails; welcome in the café.
- Children
- The short trail suits children who walk well; mountain bikes share some stretches.
- Toilets
- At the visitor centre, with accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet.
- Before you set out
- The Larg Hill Trail has a signed diversion between markers 9 and 10, by Forestry and Land Scotland's notice of 8 October 2026.
The walk
Park at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, which is signposted from the A75 at Palnure, east of Newton Stewart. Forestry and Land Scotland asks drivers to stay on the A75 as far as Palnure whatever the satnav suggests, and DG8 7BE is the nearest postcode. Parking is £2 for an hour, £3 for up to three hours and £4 for the day, by coins, card or RingGo. Two waymarked walks go up to Bruntis Loch. The Little Bruntis Trail is 4 km and takes about an hour and a half, on firm gravel with some fairly steep slopes and a hundred metres of quiet public road.
It takes in both the Big and the Little Bruntis Loch and a wood of big old beech trees. The Larg Hill Trail is the longer round, 7 km and about three hours, graded strenuous, with views over Newton Stewart and a burn, or stream, tumbling beside the path. It has a signed diversion between markers 9 and 10 at present. Bruntis Loch isn't a natural one. It was made in the 19th century to power the lead mines close by, where mining began in 1764, and you may spot the old workings among the trees.
Roe deer and red squirrels live here. Both trails share stretches with the mountain bike routes, so listen for bikes. Keep dogs under close control. The toilets and the café are at the visitor centre, and the café is open 10am to 5pm daily. From November to January, start the short trail by 2pm and the long one by 12.30pm to be back in daylight.
If it rains
The paths are firm gravel and the trees give some shelter, so the short trail is fine in a shower. Keep the Larg Hill round for a clear day, when there's a view to go with it.
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 terry davison via Google