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Carrick Forest Drive


(Average user rating5 unrated 5/5)

About Carrick Forest Drive

A two way forest drive connecting Loch Doon with Stinchar Bridge. It offers one of the easiest ways of becoming more familiar with some of Ayrshire's finest mountain scenery.

Viewpoints along the length of the drive offer fantastic views of the Galloway Hills. Various picnic areas and an adventure play area at Loch Riecawr.

There is a £2.00 day tariff for using the forest drive.  The ticket expires at midnight.

 

How to get there:

Carrick Forest Drive can be started from Carrick - Loch Doon in Galloway Forest Park. Dalmellington is the nearest town or village.

From Dalmellington:

1 mile south of Dalmellington turn off the A713 - signed Galloway Forest Park. Follow this road for 8 miles along the side of Loch Doon.

OS Grid Reference: NX 956396
For details of public transport visit http://www.travelinescotland.com

What's on in Galloway Forest Park

June

  • Nightjars
    Wednesday 27 June 2012
    Wednesday 20 June 2012
  • Meet the Deer
    Thursday 21 June 2012
    Thursday 28 June 2012
    Tuesday 26 June 2012
    Monday 2 July 2012 to Thursday 5 July 2012
    Sunday 8 July 2012 to Thursday 12 July 2012
    Sunday 15 July 2012 to Thursday 19 July 2012
    Sunday 22 July 2012 to Thursday 26 July 2012
    Sunday 29 July 2012 to Thursday 2 August 2012
    Sunday 5 August 2012 to Thursday 9 August 2012
    Sunday 12 August 2012 to Thursday 16 August 2012
    Sunday 19 August 2012 to Thursday 23 August 2012
    Sunday 26 August 2012 to Thursday 30 August 2012
  • Pondlife at Knockman
    Friday 29 June 2012

July

  • Meet the Deer
    Thursday 21 June 2012
    Thursday 28 June 2012
    Tuesday 26 June 2012
    Monday 2 July 2012 to Thursday 5 July 2012
    Sunday 8 July 2012 to Thursday 12 July 2012
    Sunday 15 July 2012 to Thursday 19 July 2012
    Sunday 22 July 2012 to Thursday 26 July 2012
    Sunday 29 July 2012 to Thursday 2 August 2012
    Sunday 5 August 2012 to Thursday 9 August 2012
    Sunday 12 August 2012 to Thursday 16 August 2012
    Sunday 19 August 2012 to Thursday 23 August 2012
    Sunday 26 August 2012 to Thursday 30 August 2012
  • Moths and Insects
    Friday 13 July 2012
  • Fishing Day
    Sunday 15 July 2012
    Saturday 11 August 2012
    Sunday 2 September 2012
    Sunday 16 September 2012
    Sunday 26 August 2012
    Sunday 30 September 2012
  • Woodland Wednesday's
    Wednesday 25 July 2012
    Wednesday 1 August 2012
    Wednesday 8 August 2012
    Wednesday 15 August 2012
    Wednesday 22 August 2012
    Wednesday 29 August 2012
  • Roving Ranger
    Friday 27 July 2012
View all events
View from the Carrick Forest drive

Carrick - Loch Doon Facilities.
Parking ChargeInformation
Grade of trail:
Trail waymarking:
Length of trail:
6 miles
Approximate time of trail:
Open or closed:
open
Click here to find out what else you can do in this forest.

Contact:
Galloway Forest District

01671 402420
e-mail: galloway@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

User Comments

5 Stars 5 Stars

I use the Forrestry road quite often. I see that the gate was closed at the Loch Doon side last week. I took a detour along the Straiton route but I've noticed that the road is in bad condition some parts of the forrestry road is raised in the middle (possibly due to the machines / vehicles used recently to cut trees). I'm just wondering if the FC has any plans to open the road soon and if so, will there be any repairs made to the road?

Anonymous, 12/Apr/2012

Carrick Forest Drive opens on the 1st of May due to the intense amount of forest operations we are carrying out for the next couple of years. When it is opened it will have been graded to accommodate cars, however, for the next couple of years care will be required when using the Carrick Forest Drive due to the number of forestry vehicles that will be using the road at the same time. We will do our utmost to ensure the road is kept to a reasonable standard.

Forestry Commission Response

First time my wife and I drove from Dalmellington (after travelling from Dumfries where we were on holiday) we were met with a closed barrier. This meant that we had to return the full length of Loch Doon and making a detour via Straiton before getting to the Stinchar Bridge and reaching Glentrool. In this modern day it would be nice to have pre-warning that this Forest trail is closed which would on this occasion have prevented us from making a wasted journey and a long detour. There are signs in the market place which would allow this information to be upgraded electronically and would benefit Tourists if it were placed at the road entrance from A713. I would like to hope that this might be available for the future.

Leitch, 25/Nov/2011

Yes, we should have had a sign up just off the A713 but for some reason this was not done. We hope that this experience hasn't put you off from returning and enjoying another visit. Thanks to your comment we remedied that situation immediately.

Forestry Commission Response

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Caution: Walkers and Cyclists also use this road, please drive carefully. Please follow the 15mph speed limit along all forest roads.