Glentrool

Woods, water, hills and history

A tranquil spot at the heart of Galloway Forest Park. Discover the lively waters that meet at picturesque Loch Trool on scenic trails beneath the mighty Merrick. This area's history is also written into the landscape – look out for Bruce's Stone, overlooking the site of the Battle of Glen Trool, and a moving monument to 17th century covenanters who were slain for their religious beliefs.

For those seeking a few more thrills, Glentrool is one of the world-famous 7stanes mountain bike centres, with a range of trails for novice and experienced riders.

And once you've completed your outdoor adventures, unwind in the café and watch woodland birds busy on the feeders.

Kirroughtree and Glentrool forests: recreation investment consultation

In February, we showed you our ideas. Thanks to the feedback from groups, individuals and organisations in and around Kirroughtree and Glentrool, we’re ready for the next step.

After drop-in sessions were held in Glentrool and Newton Stewart in early September, the updated ideas and feedback questionnaire are still available online until Thursday 16 October at: www.research.net/r/kirroughtree-glentrool2

We’d love to get your thoughts.

The café has toilets (with fully accessible facilities) and a warm welcome. Toilet facilities are only open during normal café opening times.

Opening hours 

The café is now open from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, seven days a week.

Car parking information

The charges to park at Glentrool are:

• £1.50 for up to 1 hour
• £2 for up to 3 hours
• £4 for all day
• £14 for minibus or coach all day

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

Payment can be made using coins, card or RingGo.

Annual parking passes are available for this site, visit our parking page for more information.

Whilst overnight parking is not permitted in most FLS car parks, overnight parking is permitted at this car park for mountain access. Remember, no camping or sleeping in vehicles at the car park. Please pay for each day. You can pay up to 72 hours later, when you pay by RingGo.

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 Forest Search.

More about parking

Stay the Night 

Our Stay the Night scheme now runs right through the year. 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 £10 charge to Stay the Night at this car park. Payment can be made through RingGo with details of how to do this at each car park.

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

• Height barrier – No
• Motorhome capacity of car park – 10
• Suitable for large vehicles/caravans – No caravans but ok for larger motorhomes
• Parking notes –  Quite level with good surfaces

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

Stay the Night

Dogs

Dogs are welcome in the café.

Accessibility

The turning for Glentrool is signposted from the unclassified road that passes north from Glentrool village.

Using SatNav?

DG8 6SZ is the nearest postcode.

Get directions

The turning for Glentrool is signposted from the unclassified road that passes north from Glentrool village.

Using SatNav?

DG8 6SZ is the nearest postcode.

Get directions

Watch for wildlife

Glentrool is a great place to watch wildlife. See the wide variety of woodland birds that visit the feeders or flutter in the canopy overhead, including great tits, goldcrests and crossbills. Red squirrels and roe deer are also regular visitors to the woods around the centre, especially early in the morning and at twilight.

Discover the Mountain Garden

We’ve established a mountain garden at Glentrool to protect and breed from some very special wee trees that grow high on the hills at the very edges of the woods. These small, stunted trees look quite unremarkable but are an important remnant of rare mountain woodland. Look out for tiny junipers and a variety of minute mountain willows. Willows love wet places – their Latin name Salix comes from the Celtic sal (near) and lis (water).

Dark Sky Park

Scotland has some of the darkest skies in Europe, and Galloway Forest Park is one of the darkest places in Scotland – which is why it’s the UK’s first Dark Sky Park.Glentrool is a brilliant place to enjoy the night sky – look out for information panels at the visitor centre which will help you spot the stars.

Long distance cycle route

National Cycle Route 7 (Glasgow to Carlisle via Dumfries and Glen Trool) also winds through the Forest Park, linking Glentrool with the two other visitor centres here. You might not want to tackle the whole 200 miles, but get a taste of the experience on scenic stretches of the route.

Long distance trail

The Southern Upland Way runs along the Water of Trool just below Glentrool Café. This is Britain's first official coast to coast long distance footpath, running 212 miles (340 km) from Portpatrick on the Dumfries & Galloway coast to Cockburnspath on the North Sea between Edinburgh and Berwick on Tweed. It’s a dramatic and challenging route through the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands. Sample a scenic stretch from Glentrool to Loch Trool and see if you’re inspired to walk the rest.