Carsegowan Moss, Wigtown
« Back

Carsegowan Moss is one of the best remaining bogs which once formed a large area of peatlands along the Solway. Cranberry, bog asphodel, cross-leaved heath, common and hare's tail cotton grasses grow within the eight or more species of sphagnum. Raven, buzzard and barn owls may be seen hunting throughout the year. Two osprey platforms have been erected on the reserve.

Other plant species include bog rosemary, round sundew, bilberry and bell heather within the sphagnum-moss. A variety of mosses, lichens & fungi are also found on the reserve.
An abundance of woodland bird species in and around the Moss include cross-bill, cuckoo, stone & whinchat, a variety of warblers and tree creeper.
Snipe, hen harriers, merlin and woodcock are common winter visitors.
Butterflies include large heath; moths, dragon and damselflies are regularly seen.
Reptiles include adder, common lizard and common toad.

Best In: June to August for bog plants and mosses / Winter to look for hunting raptors.

Location

Immediately east of the A714, about 3 miles north of Wigtown and 4 miles south of the A75 roundabout for Newton Stewart.
Post Code: DG8 9TG.
Grid Reference: NX 425 587

How to get there

By car: the site is not signposted. Coming from Wigtown look for a large layby and farm access road on the right (from Newton Stewart on the left) with a handmade wooden sign marked ‘SWT Carsegowan’ above another sign marked ‘Claymore’. A small car-park is available at the end of the access road.

By bus service: bus service 415 travels better than hourly in daytime between Newton Stewart and Wigtown.

By cycle / on foot: National Cycle Network Route 73 runs from Newton Stewart to Wigtown. Coming from the north, it turns off the A714, heading east to Moss of Cree, about two miles before Carsegowan. Walking from Newton Stewart or Wigtown along the A714 is not recommended.

Getting onto the reserve: From the car-park, follow the waymarked trail (silhouette of snipe on a pink background) for about 300m, turning right at the fingerpost and wide metal gate for another 300m to the reserve. Once on the Moss, beware of very soft ground and deep ditches - there are no formal paths provided and the vegetation makes walking difficult.

Ground nesting birds breed here, so please keep dogs on a lead.

Facilities

Interpretation board at the car park.
Room for about 6 cars in the car park.
A hardcore path runs from the car park for about 300 metres to a fingerpost marking access to a short (300m) section of muddy track through woodland which takes visitors to the Moss itself. The latter is not wheelchair accessible.