Wild About The Forest
Guided Nature and Dark Skies walks
Wild Walks
Enjoy a guided walk straight from our door with experienced and knowledgeable local guide, Matt Cross of Wild About The Forest. There's no need for a long car journey to a nature reserve when you are staying a few minutes' walk from a wealth of wild animals and plants. Let Matt introduce you to the flowers, trees, mammals, birds and fish that live around Barr and explain how humans fit within their countryside world. As the seasons change, so the rhythm of life changes in the human and natural worlds too, but there are always beautiful and fascinating things to be seen if you just know where to look.
A 'Wild Walk' is an exclusive guided experience for your group at a time that suits you. The Walk takes around 90 minutes, starts and finishes at Alton Albany Farmhouse and costs £20 for a small group.
Dusk and Dark Sky Walks
As darkness falls, the river bank and woods come into their own! Shy animals emerge and Owls begin to call. Matt will teach you how to recognise the sounds of the night creatures, identify bats, and even a few stars and constellations above. There is always the chance of spotting an otter fishing or a roe deer stepping out of the forest shadow as light fades. What you see and hear depends on the time of year, the weather and how stealthy you can be, but being out at night is always a remarkable experience. A 'Dusk and Dark Sky Walk' is an exclusive guided experience for your group which starts around sunset and lasts 90 minutes. The walk begins and ends at Alton Albany Farmhouse and costs £20 for a small group.
To book, call or email Alasdair for further information
Black Grouse Lekking
In Spring (from around the 15th March), male Black Grouse compete for harems of females. There are few places left in Britain where you can watch this beautiful natural spectacle; the Galloway forest is one. Matt will collect you from Alton Albany Farm B&B before dawn and take you to a viewing spot deep in the forest where you can watch the ritual of the Black Grouse lek.
Perfect for – Stealthy people!
Provided - Hot Drinks, Transport, Binoculars, Spotting Scope
You will need - Sturdy footwear, appropriate clothes for the weather (preferably in drab colours)
Depart- An hour before dawn
Return - Three hours after dawn
Cost - £65 per Person or £160 for a group of 3 - 6 people
Fly fishing for trout (beginners )
Fly fishing for trout is a skill which takes a lifetime to master. But you can learn a lot in day. You will start with a casting lesson in a handy field then you can choose between fishing for accessible and tasty rainbow trout or striking out over the moors in pursuit of wild native Brown Trout. Either way Matt will provide tuition, kit and local knowledge. He‘ll even kill and gut the fish for you if you want. If you wish, he can start late and try and catch the elusive ‘evening rise’. From the 1st of April.
Perfect for - Individuals, groups, couples and families
Provided – Hot Drinks, Lunch, Transport, Tackle and Permits
You will need - Wellies
Depart – Around 11.30
Return – Around Dusk
Cost - £69 per Person maximum 6 people
Beginner's Birds
Barr is a brilliant place to discover a bit about birds and if you would like to learn how to identify the common species while enjoying a country walk then this is the experience for you. Matt will meet you at Alton Albany Farm B&B and then you will roam the countryside seeing and learning how to identify the different species. There are all sorts of clues which make it easier to identify birds, their behaviour, calls even how they flock and fly can all give hints as to a bird’s identity. This isn’t about spotting extreme rarities but about learning to identify the birds you will see every day. April onwards.
Perfect for - Individuals, groups, couples and families
Provided - Hot Drinks, Hearty Snacks, Binoculars
You will need - Sturdy footwear appropriate clothes for the weather (preferably in drab colours)
Depart - Whenever suits you
Return – Four hours later
Cost £45 per person maximum 6 people
Barr History and Culture
Barr is a remarkable wee place with a remarkable history. Monks, covenanters, and smugglers all passed through. The last lowland Gaelic speaker lived here as did the first British casualty of World War one. Long before the village settled into its present sleepy state it was the home of four pubs and a famously wild fair. There are tales of shepherds, poachers and even the devil himself. We will show you the places and tell you the tales. If you have the time and the fitness we can venture right out into the forest to visit Kirsty’s Cairn and the Devil’s footprints.
Perfect for – Individuals, groups, couples and families with older kids.
Provided - Hot Drinks and hearty Snacks
You will need - Sturdy footwear, appropriate clothes for the weather
Depart – Whenever you like
Return - 2 or 4 hours later (the four-hour walk will need a good level of fitness!)
Cost - £28 per person maximum 6 people
Times and Places in the Carrick Hills
From Neolithic Graves to smuggler’s haunts and murderer’s dens there are all manner of weird and wonderful sites lost in the Carrick Hills. We will take you up the Stinchar Valley and over the ancient pass called ‘The Nick of the Balloch’. From there, we will wend a winding descent to the shores of Loch Doon and its ancient castle via the Stinchar Bridge and the spectacular scenery of the Forest Drive. Stopping along the way to visit the sites that casual visitors drive past. Before heading home over the remote single track roads and forest tracks.
Perfect for – Individuals, Small Groups and couples.
Provided - Hot Drinks and hearty Snacks
You will need - Sturdy footwear, appropriate clothes for the weather
Depart – Whenever you like
Return - 4 hours after departure
Cost - £55 per person maximum 6 people
Mini Ranger Day
At Wild About the Forest we are passionate not just about showing people the wild forest, but also about spending time in it and protecting it. You can learn about the tools and techniques that make this possible; we will check trail cameras, search for tracks, inspect squirrel feeders and live catch traps. As rangers you will need to learn how to build a shelter, make a fire, identify trees and birds and find food. Every ranger needs a trusty dog so Spark the Spaniel or tracking dog Freya will be coming along too (or not if you don’t like dogs).
Perfect for – Outdoorsy families
Provided - Hot Drinks and hearty Snacks
You will need - Sturdy footwear, appropriate clothes for the weather
Depart – Whenever you like
Return - 4 hours after departure
Cost - £24 per person must include at least one person over 18 years of age