Newton Stewart Walking Festival starts on 5 May for a week. Click here to view their website and to book a place. They range from easy peasy to pretty strenuous and it’s great way to explore a new area without getting lost as all the walks are led by experienced guides. The waterfall pictured is from walk 5-1, a strenuous walk of 13.5 miles around the Clachan of Dalry.
The trail explores the attractive Glenkens landscape around St. John’s Town of Dalry. It’s a new route which combines some attractions visited on previous WalkFests but also includes a host of new additions which makes it an interesting mix of changing landscape, history and natural elements. The walk is led by  Bob Peace, a member of Galloway Mountain Rescue and a local resident who will illustrate the walk with interesting facts, figures and myths!
A finish at the Clachan Inn rounds off the day, with an opportunity for a refreshment or two!

Walkers meet at Newton Stewart, about a 40 minute drive from Straiton, before being taken to the walk start and are returned there after an enjoyable and sociable day out in the countryside.