📌 Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★
This prominent obelisk decorates a hillock above the Queen’s Way through Galloway Forest Park in memory of Alexander Murray: a well-known, late 18th century linguist with humble beginnings as a shepherd boy close by in the glen. Climbing to the foot of the monument reveals excellent views over this attractive corner of the Southern Uplands, taking in the nearby Wild Goat Park and the Palnure Burn. The route then ascends a little further to take in a couple of foamy waterfalls (Foot Loup and Buck Loup – we didn’t visit the higher Grey Mare’s Tail but this could easily be added) and some rather unsettling rock sculptures…
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A712 6 mi northeast of Newton Stewart
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 491720
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.019960,-4.362177
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 140 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: ✞ Murray’s Monument; 🌊 Grey Mare’s Tail waterfalls
⬤ Moderate | Good tracks and paths with some steep parts; rough, very steep detour to viewpoint for upper fall.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit with several minor detours: start – Murray’s Monument – join track at 🧭 NX 484720 – leave track at 🧭 NX 492725 – Foot Loup by short detour – Buck Loup – detour to Buck Loup alternative viewpoint by west bank path – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Butterflies and moths, bees and big black slugs.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with occasional brightness and a little rain, temperature in mid teens.
July 2018
