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Raiders’ Road Forest Drive

Where we are

Latest forest information

  • Raiders’ Road Forest Drive will be closed to motor vehicles from Friday 1 November 2024. It will reopen on 31 March 2025. The road remains open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Open water

  • This destination contains areas of open water which can be hazardous if you are not suitably prepared. Follow our water safety advice and take care.

About

The best of Galloway Forest Park from the comfort of your car

One of two forest drives in Galloway Forest Park, this drive is an easy way to see more of the Park's woods and wildlife without having to walk too far.

It's a 10 mile two-way forest drive, which is open to vehicles between April and October and for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders year-round. There is a small fee of £3, payable by coin or RingGo.

There are various places to stop along Raiders' Road. Head for Otter Pool car park, about half way along, for the perfect riverside picnic spot with plenty of room on the grassy banks to play. Alternatively, stop at Stroan Loch for peaceful waterside views, an old viaduct and the start of the scenic but strenuous Buzzard Trail.

Activities

Seeing stars

Because it’s so dark, the Forest Park is one of the best places in the world to enjoy the stars – which is why it has been designated a Dark Sky Park. On a clear night the stars are so bright that you don’t need a telescope or even binoculars to enjoy them. 

Red Kite Trail

The Galloway Kite Trail, a scenic 24 mile (40 km) tour around Loch Ken, is an exciting way to view spectacular red kites in lovely scenery. During the summer, the trail includes the Raiders’ Road Forest Drive, so look out for red kites soaring overhead as you explore. Bennan Viewpoint car park and trails at the east end of the Forest Drive, near Mossdale, are particularly good for sightings.

Facilities and access

Easy-access facilities
Easy-access facilities
Forest drive
Forest drive
Parking (charge)
Parking (charge)
Picnic area
Picnic area
Toilets
Toilets
Walking
Walking
Stay the Night
Stay the Night

You'll find a café and a shop at Kirroughtree Forest Café.

Car parking information

The charge to park and drive at Raiders' Road is £3 payable by coin or RingGo.

Blue badge holders park free. Please display your Blue Badge clearly.

Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates. Nearby car parks with free parking can be found in our local forest list without the £ symbol. 

Annual parking passes available:

Available in advance by downloading the relevant application form and emailing to the Regional Office. The Galloway and Dumfries and Galloway Annual Pass can also be purchased from the cafes listed on the form. Please read our Annual Pass terms and conditions (PDF) before applying.

Galloway Car Park Pass - £50 per car and £110 per mini bus or coach
Dumfries and Galloway Car Park Pass - £70 per car and £125 per mini bus or coach
FLS National Car Park Pass - £100 per car and £150 per mini bus or coach

Valid at all Forestry and Land Scotland car parks except Tentsmuir.

FLS National Pass application form

More parking info

Stay the Night

Stay the Night runs through to 31 December 2024 at our Riverside car park, but only until 31 October at Stroan Loch. This means self-contained motorhomes and campervans will be able to park overnight for one night in some of our car parks.

There is a £7 charge to Stay the Night at this car park. Payment can be made through RingGo with details of how to do this at the car park.

To help plan your stay, please see the details below:

Riverside

  • Height barrier – No
  • Motorhome capacity of car park – 3
  • Suitable for large vehicles/caravans – No
  • Parking notes – Long narrow forest road with tight turn into car park. Please park considerately and safely - park in the upper car park level. Dark Sky Park viewing location, information on website.

Stroan Loch

  • Height barrier – No
  • Motorhome capacity of car park – 3
  • Suitable for large vehicles/caravans – No
  • Parking notes – Please park in the upper car part at Stroan Loch. Long single track gravel road access with tight turn into car park. Car park on slight slope - levelling blocks recommended.
  • Please note, Stay the Night only runs at Stroan Loch until 31 October.

Please visit our Stay the Night page for full details, participating locations, best practice, and terms and conditions of use.

Stay the night

Accessibility

The logo for Euan's Guide, indicating that we're listed there, with disabled access reviews

Getting here

You can drive Raiders' Road Forest Drive in either direction. The west entrance is on the south side of the A712 (also known as The Queen's Way) between Newton Stewart and New Galloway. The east entrance is on the A762, just north of Mossdale village.

Get directions

Get in touch

Have a question or suggestion for improvement?

Phone
0300 067 6900 (option 2)
More contact information

Nearby forests

Drooping conifer branch

Watch for wildlife or gaze at the stars

Facilities and activities
Walking
Walking
Parking
Parking
Distance from 'Clatteringshaws': 0.83 miles
Drooping conifer branch

Get up close to some of Galloway's resident deer

Facilities and activities
Wildlife hide
Wildlife hide
Walking
Walking
Parking
Parking
Distance from 'Red Deer Range': 2.02 miles
Drooping conifer branch

View the stars at the heart of Galloway Dark Sky Park.

Facilities and activities
Fishing
Fishing
Parking
Parking
Stay the Night
Stay the Night
Distance from 'Black Loch, Galloway': 3.22 miles