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Parton Walk and Viewpoint
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| This 1km walk follows a footpath along the edge of pasture and woodland to reach an elevated viewpoint overlooking Loch Ken and the surrounding area. There is an interpretative board and a picnic table at the viewpoint, which is a great place to relax and enjoy the panoramic |  |
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| views. To the south lies the shining wetlands, while to the northwest lies Cairnsmore of Dee and the hills of the Rhinns of Kells in the Glenkens. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kites |
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| Kites can be seen from anywhere on the walk at any time of the year, but perhaps the best places to look are over the nearby woods and just above the skyline. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other birds The woodlands have uncommon resident birds such as nuthatch and willow tits, together with more common blue tits, coal tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, wrens, great-spotted woodpeckers, goldcrests and robins etc. In spring and summer, these are joined by spotted flycatchers, willow warblers, chiffchaffs and wood warblers. Buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks are often seen in this area, while a variety of waterfowl can be seen flying up and down Loch Ken/River Dee. Other attractions Red squirrels and roe deer are quite commonly seen in the woodland edge, especially in early morning. Well worth a visit id Parton's famous communal privy, a listed building dating back to 1902! Access is achieved from a small car park just behind the hamlet. Parton churchyard contains the grave of James Clerk Maxwell, who was an eminent physicist and great hero of Albert Einstein. Adjacent to the churchyard are the ruins of the original parish church and an even more ancient motte, the site of an early medieval fortification. |
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How to get there The footpath is about 0.5km north of Parton on the A713. Park at the lay-by beside Loch Ken Holiday Park; cross the road to reach the Galloway Kite Trail post and the start of the walk. The Holiday Park, which has a licensed grocery in the summer season, is a |
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| Galloway Kite Trail Information Point and has a display board on Kites in Flight. You can also pick up a Galloway Kite Trail guide leaflet and collect your free Kids' Kite Pack (on completion of the Wildlife Explorers' Trail (due in 2004). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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