This short walk from Creetown climbs up through the community-owned Balloch Wood - home to red squirrels and roe deer - to reach the former curling pond, a local beauty spot. The return is on quiet minor roads.
Bog Factor
Pavement, minor road and beaten earth path.
Car park by the Clock Tower, Creetown.
Bus to Creetown.
NX475589
The walk is currently closed due to forestry operations.
The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.
From the car park, turn right along Creetown's main street. Pass the shop, then take the following left turn, signposted for Kirkmabreck Church. Pass to the right of an ancient detatched cottage, then follow the road uphill, soon reaching the church. Keep on to the end of the tarmac road, then bear left on the track.
Take the next left turn, signed for Woodland Walk. The path leads past a circle of granite standing stones carved with haiku and iconography, seen on your right. Continue on the path, which runs along the left edge of the wood, giving views over the church and Creetown on your left. At a junction keep on the lower path to continue by the drystone dyke, heavily coated with moss and lichen. Eventually the path nears the ravine carved by the Balloch Burn which cuts through the ground ahead - turn right here to follow the path along the top of the steep bank.
The path climbs a little through the trees; at a junction bear slightly left to descend into the gorge and continuing upstream. On the opposite side is a 'Chalybeate' or 'Red Well', appearing as a hole in the rock - the name refers to water containing iron salts (hence the red colouring) and was often thought to have restorative properties. Soon the path bears right to leave the burn and begins to climb, with a drystone wall and a small stream on your left. A larger path is met at a junction with wooden marker posts - turn left here (marked for Pond).
Continue through the woods - with areas of tall firs and later native birches. Eventually a small footbridge is crossed, and then a minor road is met. There's a wildlife pond on the right here - it was created as a curling pond in 1838. You can walk right around it if you wish, and there's a beautifully made wooden shelter on the far side.
To return to Creetown, turn left down the minor road. At a junction by a farmhouse keep left. There are distant views across to the Cairnsmore of Fleet to your right, before the road leads back down into the village, reaching the main street very close to the car park at the start.
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