Otter Pool
[Sq NX E59315 N73608]
From the A712, The Queensway (from Newton Stewart to New Galloway), as you reach the southern tip of Clatteringshaws Loch, turn right onto Raider's Road Forest Drive (a £2 toll is required when the road is open April to October). Follow the road sign posted 'Otter Pool', which is half way along this fantastic road through the forest. Once you have reached the Otter Pool car park an open area of roiling river is directly in front of you. This is an ideal area for paddling and enjoying a forest river environment. Keeping the river on your left, follow the footpath along the river to where a group of spruce trees are planted in short rows and on raised ridges. Ahead you will find three Rosnes Benches located within the trees.
Glen Trool
[Sq NX E36976 N78871]
From the A714 Girvan to Newton Stewart road, take the road off to Glen Trool Village on the unclassified county road to Straiton through the heart of the Galloway Hills. Go through the small village of Bargrennan, pass both the Glentrool campsite and village and to the right turn towards the Glen Trool Visitor Centre. Park in the centre car park and walk to the centre. An ideal spot to return to for a refreshing cup of tea and home baking. From the centre walk along the bank of the river, the Waters of Minnoch, on the grassed path that runs parallel to the river. Follow the path until it splits into two more hesitant paths, take left hand path, at this stage the sound of the river becomes more thunderous as it too forks around a huge bolder in the river. The site is about 20 yards further on the left. Two Rosnes Benches can be accessed via a short scramble down the side of the riverbank, where there are some flat rocks.
Stinchar Bridge
[Sq NX E39862 N95253]
Approaching Stinchar bridge (Glentrool to Staighton, unclassified road) there is a road off to the right immediately after the bridge itself where you will find a car park to your left and the river falls over boulders to the right. Using the small wooden foot bridge above the falls, cross the river and follow the path ahead of you through an amazing moss carpeted wood, keep following the path for about half a mile until you enter an opening and another small foot bridge, from the bridge you will see the two benches ahead of you, positioned under some leaning pine trees, with the river snaking around them.
Lade Holding Pond
[Sq NX E44868 N64904]
Follow all the signs for Kirroughtree and park in the main centre car park. There are two options for finding the benches.
1. For a slightly longer walk - follow the yellow trail in its entirety, however on your descent back to the centre you will pass the path known as 'the lade'. Take this small archaeological path and follow it for around 500m to some mature broadleaf trees where you will locate the four Rosnes benches.
2. For a slightly shorter walk follow the start of all the main forest walks. Just before the path rises directly below the Bruntis dam turn left and follow 'the lade' trail. You will be following in the footsteps of the lead miners many years ago. Cross the mountain bike trails and about 200m further on enter in to a large open area of broadleaf trees. You will find four benches here.
Clatteringshaws
[Sq NX E55220 N76737]
From Clatteringshaws visitor centre, take the walk out to 'Bruce's Stone', walking on the forest track in the mature conifer stand and before the path narrows which takes you out to the blanket bog area where Bruce's Stone can be found, there is a defined area of spruce trees and a large boulder. Walk through the trees towards the loch crossing a dark potentially wet ditch. Two Rosnes Benches can be seen on a raised peaty bank, with views out to Clatteringshaws loch and on days when the water is not too high, its strange Jurassic shoreline.
Cairnsmore
[Sq NX E552 N641]
From the B796 from Gatehouse of Fleet north towards New Rusko, at T junction, take right turn to the SNH visitor centre at Cairnsmore (marked Dromore on OS map), carry on beyond the visitor centre to the Big Waters of Fleet Viaduct, go under viaduct and there is a track that bends off to the left and climbs up to the height of the viaduct, travel along this about 400 yards till you see a wooden gate and path that takes you up to the Clints of Dromore. The Rosnes Bench site is about a 15 minute walk from the gate up a steep slope to the top of the clints. Marker posts indicate the ongoing route of the circula Clints of Dromore walk; the three benches can be found just to the left of this path from where spectacular views can be had of the valley through which the Waters of Fleet cavort.
Waterhead
[Sq NX E38412 N93873]
On the Glentrool to Staighton (unclassified) road, there is a summit post marking the highpoint of this wild and boggy heathland through which the road cuts a reassuring path (rectangular forest test sites can be seen from here) On the western side of the road, on the opposite side of the summit post, two benches are located positioned on a relatively high peaty mound in this thrillingly bleak location. Surrounded by the resinous smell of bog myrtle and occasionally the 'peeeee-ooow' shrill of Red kites fleeting overhead. Please do not park in the lay-bys as this road is regularly used by timber traffic and they require all the lay-bys. A small gravel excavation area is situated on the lower Southern (Newton Stewart) side of the summit where you can park off the road and out of the way of the traffic.
McMoab
[Sq NX E48963 N71436]
Travelling along the Queen's Way (A712) from Newton Stewart, take the turn off to the right just after the Forestry Commission sign for Talnotry on left, follow the forest track and just before the bridge at the edge of the field a larger area is available to park. From there on foot to the bridge, cross the bridge of the pitch black waters of the Palnure Burn. On your right you will see the 150m long spine of granite known as McMoab, a playground for mountain bikers but fun to explore on foot too. Opposite the sheer sides of the granite outcrop on the left, is a dirt track, about 100 yards up the track on the left (about 80 yards before the start of a spruce forest), two Rosnes Benches are located on a raised slab of tussocky ground, from the basin of this tranquil valley you can see the summit of Millfore, with dense forests all around and sound of Palnure river running near by.
Cally Woods
[Sq NX E60716 N55896]
From A75 Newton Stewart to Dumfries road, turn left on to the B796 towards Gatehouse of Fleet travel through the town, turn right into Cally Palace. There is a small car park on the right, from which there is a fascinating array of walks through the predominantly broadleaf woodland. To reach the bench site follow the path round to the left that goes up onto a high slope of Beech trees with one side of the slope covered in bracken, around this a small stream runs by. Three benches are located on the leafy slope, but they may need to be searched for amongst the bracken at the height of summer. Listen out for the sound of Whooper Swans flying on route to Wigton Bay and look up at the mosaic of leafs and braches over head.
Loch Dee
[Sq NX E46042 N78489]
There are two different approaches to this location, going on foot, bike or horse, as cars are not permitted in the forest. Both are fairly long walks on forest roads, but you will be rewarded with great views of the inner core of Galloway Forest Park.
1. Drive to Glentrool and follow the signs for Bruce's stone, park in one of the designated car parks. The benches are about 4km ahead of you. Follow the forest track that passes 'Bruce's Stone' and drops down in to the ancient broadleaf woodland. Keep on the track at all times as it crosses the river and starts rising out of the forest. You will come out to fantastic views over looking Loch Dee and the Rhins of Kells. You will also pass the 'Giants Axe Head' part of the 7 stanes art project. There are two benches at this site enjoying glorious isolation about a mile before the Loch (past the Axe Head Stone), to the left of the track and overlooking an open view of Loch Dee, they lie like the burial site of some ancient king and queen!
2. From the Queensway (A712) travelling North towards Clatteringshaws loch, take the 'Sustrans Off Road to Glen Trool Track' (this is about 0.5km before Clatteringshaws dam itself). Follow this public road to Craigencallie house. Just past the drive-way up to Craigencallie house you will find a small car park you have to park here. From this point it is a long walk of about 6.5km to the benches following the forest road. Keep to the left at the first junction then remain on the main forest road passing Loch Dee on your right. The benches are about 1km past the lowest section of road that passes loch Dee.
Kirroughtree
[Sq NX E45373 N65482]
From Newton Stewart travel east along the A75 and follow the signs for Kirroughtree leaving the A75 at Palnure. Park in the main car park and follow the red trail that takes you to the Anniversary Cairn. The Rosnes benches are directly below but out of sight from the Anniversary Cairn. They can be accessed by crossing the mountain bike trail below the cairn and walking over the knoll covered in young oak There are two benches at this site.
Caldons
[Sq NX E39759 N78942]
From the A714 Girvan to Newton Stewart, take the road off to Glen Trool Village; go through village looking for the sign for the right turn to Glen Trool Visitor Centre. Cross the picturesque Stroan bridge where there is a large car park on the left, carry on past the car park towards Loch Trool and Bruce's Stone (road is parallel to the Waters of Minnoch). Take a right turn (signpost - Caldon House) carry on down the track, there is a small car park to the left please park here. Cross the bridge just in front of you, and take the right hand path (the southern upland way) the site is about 50 – 100 yards from the wooden information point. The site can be found by taking the path straight ahead through mixed oaks, hazel and birch, three benches are located in a clearing in the trees.
