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Dumfries and Galloway

Mossyard Beach

Pale sand and water you can see the bottom of, on the Fleet.

Welcome

Mossyard is one of a string of small sandy bays along the north side of Fleet Bay, and it is the sort of beach that surprises people who have not been to this coast: pale sand, water shallow and clear enough that you can watch the ripples on the bottom, and rocky outcrops at either end with thrift growing out of them in early summer.

The islands of the Fleet lie offshore and the Galloway hills stand behind. It is reached down a farm road and it is rarely crowded, because few people driving the A75 a mile inland know it is there. Bring shoes for the rocks and check the tide: the sand goes a long way out and comes back faster than you would think.

A short drive awayGalloway Lodge PreservesThe home of Galloway Lodge's jams, chutneys and Poacher's Pickle in Gatehouse of Fleet, with a cafe and a shop.9 min by roadSee itToasted cheese sandwich with bramble jelly, knife stuck upright in the bread
Before you go
How long
An hour to three
Cost
Free
Getting there
A farm road off the A75; park considerately and walk down to the shore.
Where it is

Off the A75 between Gatehouse of Fleet and Creetown, down a farm road.

Close byThe rest of Dumfries and Galloway, near at hand.
  1. Cairn Holy Chambered CairnCairn Holy Chambered CairnTwo Neolithic tombs on a hillside above Wigtown Bay, with the sea below.3 miles8 min by road
  2. Cardoness CastleCardoness CastleA six-storey McCulloch tower above the Water of Fleet, with the estuary below.4 miles8 min by road
  3. PA Pop Up, Mill on the Fleet5 miles10 min by road
  4. A woman with grey hair and glasses smiles beside a large tree trunk in woodland, wearing a green jacket with a round embroidered badge.Freelance RangerA countryside ranger who will take you pond dipping, or out under the dark sky.8 miles13 min by road
  5. Big Water of Fleet ViaductBig Water of Fleet ViaductTwenty granite arches across an empty glen, six miles above Gatehouse of Fleet.9 miles20 min by road
Directions
Aerial view of a rocky headland jutting into the sea near a coastal villageAttractionsCarrick Bay1.7 miles over the water
Toasted cheese sandwich with bramble jelly, knife stuck upright in the breadRestaurantsGalloway Lodge Preserves5.3 miles
A woman in a black puffer jacket and floral scarf smiles at an outdoor café table, a shopfront window behind her.AttractionsKirkcudbright Art Tours12 miles
Cars parked along a row of colourful terraced houses with chimney potsAttractionsKirkcudbright12 miles
Woman stands outside Pleat, Suneeta Rathore's shop with yellow doorShoppingPleat, Kirkcudbright12 miles
Gallery interior with framed paintings, ceramics on plinths and glass display cabinetsShoppingThe Whitehouse Gallery12 miles
Jake Irving Ceramics shopfront with stone facade and small blue table outsideShoppingJake Irving Ceramics12 miles
Green-trimmed shopfront of Lily Knowles Florist at number 20ShoppingLily Knowles Florist12 miles
Paul Jones Bakery shopfront at numbers 28-30, with delivery van parked outsideShoppingPaul Jones Bakery12 miles
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