Head around the back of Auchencairn Bay to visit a bird hide and then explore a quiet peninsula with sandy beach, beautiful headland and wildlife-rich woods.
Bog Factor
Path at back of Bay can be flooded at very high tides, grassy paths on headland, boardwalk and path can get overgrown in summer.
Auchencairn.
Bus to Auchencairn from Kirkcudbright, Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas and occasionally Dumfries.
NX800515
There is a car park in Auchencairn on the Balcary Bay road (turn at the war memorial in the village), the car park is next to the bowling green. Head back along the road towards the village and just before the main road turn right through a small gate into the millennium garden. Head over the wooden bridge and turn right along a grassy path keeping to the right edge of the playing field to run alongside the river.
Follow the path through a gate and across a field to another gate leading to the back of the bay. Auchencairn Bay is a haven for birdlife, particularly waders and overwintering wildfowl. At the next gate a signed path and a short detour to the right (can be overgrown in summer) leads to a thatched bird hide with a great outlook over the bay. After visiting the hide return to the junction and turn right. Another kissing gate leads to the shore path around the back of the bay. This section can be impassable at the highest of tides and is often wet underfoot; the path is narrow with boardwalk sections through the high reeds.
Eventually turn left just before Old Torr Cottage and go through the gate into a small parking area. Turn right and go through the pedestrian gate next to the farm gate and up a rough track. After the initial slight rise, the track becomes grassy and crosses the wide field. Two-thirds of the way across take a small path on the right heading diagonally aiming for the wide gap between the trees with a view of the sea and Hestan Island ahead. Here a few steps down lead to a gate onto Red Haven beach, a lovely sandy semi-circle with good views across the bay.
To continue to Torr Point head back through the gate into the field and bear right to follow the edge of the trees and pick up the grassy track heading right and slightly uphill through a gap in the trees into a wider grassy field. There are good views to Hestan Island ahead. Continue straight ahead when a signed path leaves to the left and head downhill following the sign for Torr Point.
Eventually the grassy track narrows to a path in the woods and a gate is reached. Go through this to soon emerge at Torr Point, a lovely place to explore and marvel at the banks of cockle shells. Ahead is Hestan Island, the remains of the lighthouse keeper's cottage can still be seen. Continue the walk by carefully looking for a path just to the right (with your back to the sea) of the outward path.
You'll know you've found the right path as it passes the remains of a tar pot, where tar was once heated for fishermen to dip their nets in to preserve them. Continue on this narrow and rough path which winds delightfully through the trees with occasional views over Orcharton Bay to the right.
Ignore a path which comes in from the left and continue through the trees until a clearing is reached. Turn left to follow a grassy track down to a gate and minor road. Turn left to return to the car park near Old Torr cottage and from here turn right to go through the gate in the stone wall and return on the outward path around the back of the bay.
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