Enjoy an easy 3-mile walk around the tip of the Mull of Galloway in Scotland, seeking out a historic lighthouse, soaring cliffs and spectacular seabirds

By Vivienne Crow

Published: Monday, 27 March 2023 at 12:00 am

A rugged and remote finger of land reaches out into the Irish Sea at Scotland’s southernmost point.

Known as the Mull of Galloway, it commands a far-reaching outlook encompassing Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and England’s Lake District, views that can be enjoyed on this figure-of-eight walk at the peninsula’s tip.

The cliffs here are home to nesting seabirds in spring and early summer while dolphins can be spotted offshore. End your visit with a climb to the lighthouse’s lantern room (March-October) and then call in at the clifftop café to refuel.

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Mull of Galloway walk

3.3 miles / 5.3km | 2 hours | easy | 162m ascent 

1. Lighthouse

The gate in front of the café (directly below the car park) provides access to an undulating trail along the unfenced clifftop.

Turn right and, using the fence on the right as your guide for 1.1 miles, watch for fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and the occasional puffin nesting on these dramatic greywacke cliffs. Further out to the west, Northern Ireland is visible on a clear day.

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2. West Tarbert to East Tarbert

When you find yourself looking straight ahead into the small bay at West Tarbert, go through the gate on the right and follow the fence on the left to the road.

Cross diagonally left, through the wall gap opposite. Walk with an earth bank on your right until it ends in about 70 yards.

Drop steeply right, to the shore at East Tarbert, follow a track to the old quay and go through the gate between the two buildings.

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3. Mull of Galloway Trail

Having crossed the peninsula, open-sea vistas are swapped for views across Luce Bay and into the remote Galloway Hills. With good visibility, you might even spot the faint blue outline of the Lakeland fells on the eastern horizon as you follow the waymarked Mull of Galloway Trail.

This route runs alongside the fence leading uphill from behind the semi-derelict building at the quay.

4. Car park

Further progress east is halted abruptly by a wall. Go through the gate on the right now and follow the wall uphill to the car park. Before shedding walking gear though, go through the gate on the left and join the signposted ‘circular’ trail on the left.

5. Nine Tides

For the full tip-of-the-peninsula experience, including a chance to see the churning waters of the Nine Tides tidal race, turn left along the Lagvag Point trail just beyond the RSPB cottage.

Return to the circular trail and continue following it clockwise, soon reaching the lighthouse and then returning to the car park.

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Mull of Galloway map

Mull of Galloway – OS Maps walking route

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Useful information

Starting point

Free car park at tip of Mull of Galloway, DG9 9HP – 22 miles south of Stranraer. No public transport.

Terrain

Mostly grassy clifftop paths, muddy in places; some fields; second loop on partially surfaced, waymarked trail.

Map

OS Explorer 309

Eat and drink

Gallie Craig Coffee House directly below car park (www.galliecraig.co.uk, 01776 840558)

Stay

Self-catering lighthouse cottages (01776 980090)

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