Carrick Forest Drive

📌 Scenic road in Galloway Forest Park, East Ayrshire / South Ayrshire
★★

🛠️ Drive closed to motorised vehicles under further notice – open for walkers / cyclists etc. (checked April 2024)

This six mile driving route allows visitors to explore an otherwise remote part of Galloway Forest Park between Loch Doon and the outflow for Loch Bradan, making use of private logging tracks owned by Forestry and Land Scotland. Care needs to be taken with the potholes: we found it OK in a normal vehicle but it’s probably inadvisable for those with low ground clearance. If you’re used to dramatic hill walks to Munro summits, you may be a little disappointed; if not, the expanses of brooding forest broken up by quiet lochs may be just the ticket – all seen from the comfort of your vehicle. Also check out the similar Raiders’ Road Forest Drive elsewhere in the park if this is the sort of thing that floats your boat.

🌍 Location

📌 East entrance is at minor road end, southwest bank of Loch Doon, 7 mi south of Dalmellington

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 482945

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.221569,-4.388423

📷 Best viewpoint is above Loch Riecawr

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 438940

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.215371,-4.457080

📌 West entrance is on minor road 4 mi south of Straiton

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 400981

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.251527,-4.518277

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Gravel track with some potholes / ruts – unsuitable for vehicles with low ground clearance. The public road east from Stinchar Bridge, which might otherwise be an extra access point for the forest drive, was littered with serious potholes and impassable for normal cars when we visited in 2015

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi

⌚ Daily, approximately May to October

🎫 £3 per vehicle – pay before or after at Roundhouse Cafe, Loch Doon

🔗 forestryandland.gov.scot