Explore The Local Area
There’s plenty to discover just beyond Creebridge House Hotel, from peaceful lochs and forest walks to local distilleries, golf and the towns and villages that make up this part of galloway. With so much countryside on the doorstep and plenty of places to visit nearby, it’s easy to make your stay about more than just the hotel.
Walks & Wildlife
Black Loch & Local Wildlife
Just a short drive from Creebridge, Black Loch is a peaceful spot surrounded by woodland, with a walking route leading towards the nearby Talnotry Trail. It’s also a great place to enjoy Galloway’s dark skies, with very little light pollution making the loch a lovely spot for stargazing.
Further along the forest roads, the Red Deer Range offers a chance to see around 25 resident red deer from the viewing area and wildlife hide. A little further on, the Wild Goat Park is home to Galloway’s distinctive wild goats, with around 50 kept within the park and many more roaming the surrounding hills.
Galloway Forest Park
Just a short drive from Creebridge, Galloway Forest Park is Britain’s largest Forest Park, covering more than 300 square miles of woodland, hills and open countryside. There are peaceful forest walks, as well as cycling and mountain biking routes. Along the way, you’ll find scenic lochs and viewpoints, with plenty of chances to spot local wildlife.
The park is also home to the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park, where the lack of light pollution creates exceptional conditions for stargazing, on a clear night, thousands of stars can be seen across the sky.
Grey Mare's Tail & Murray's Monument
The walk to Grey Mare’s Tail and Murray’s Monument takes you through peaceful woodland and open countryside, with the waterfall along the route and views across the surrounding landscape.
Murray’s Monument is a stone tower built in memory of local landowner Alexander Murray and offers a lovely viewpoint over the countryside. It’s a peaceful route with plenty to see along the way.
Local Life & Experiences
Newton Stewart Golf Club
Just behind the hotel, Newton Stewart Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course with views towards the Galloway Hills. With the option to play 9, 12 or 18 holes, it’s a great opportunity to fit in a round during your stay, whether you're a regular golfer or simply fancy giving the course a go. Creebridge is also proud to support the club locally, including sponsoring a hole and an annual competition.
Galloway Distillery
Just outside Newton Stewart, Galloway Distillery is the home of The Sassenach, founded by Scottish actor Sam Heughan and Alex Norouzi. Inspired by Sam’s own connection to Galloway, the distillery brings together Scottish whisky and spirits with a strong sense of place. Visitors can take a tour behind the scenes, learn about the distilling process and enjoy a guided tasting of The Sassenach and Hills & Harbour collections.
Bladnoch Distillery
A little further afield in the village of Bladnoch, Bladnoch Distillery has been producing whisky since 1817 and is one of Scotland’s oldest private whisky distilleries. Set on the banks of the River Bladnoch, the distillery offers tours and tastings where visitors can learn about its history and the whisky-making process.
Wigtown Book Festival
Known as Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown is home to independent bookshops, cafés and plenty of literary character throughout the year. Every September, the town hosts the Wigtown Book Festival, bringing authors, readers and visitors together for a programme of talks, music, theatre and other events. It makes for a great day out and is particularly worth adding to your plans if you're visiting during festival season.