Loch Skerrow

Loch Skerrow is a remote moorland loch in Galloway, in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-west Scotland. It lies on an open upland plateau roughly midway between New Galloway and Gatehouse of Fleet, and a small watercourse carries its outflow north into the Airie Burn. The coordinates are about 54.98° N, 4.18° W. Visitors come for solitude and for railway history, because a lonely halt of the same name once stood on its shore.

What kind of place is it?

The loch sits in the old parish of Girthon, historically part of Kirkcudbrightshire. A nineteenth-century Scottish gazetteer describes it as holding pike and trout, with the biggest trout said to reach about 6 lb. The surroundings are bare: low hills, peat bog and almost no buildings. Mobile signal is patchy, so download an offline map before you set out.

What was Loch Skerrow Halt?

Beside the water stood a small station on the single-track Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway. It worked as a passing loop that split a very long signalling section between New Galloway and Gatehouse of Fleet, and steam locomotives stopped here to take on water. For years it was left out of the public timetables. It became an advertised station in 1955 and lost its regular passenger service on 9 September 1963. Trains still called occasionally until the whole line shut in 1965.

One platform survives in good shape, the other is half demolished, and the railway cottages are ruined. Tradition places Richard Hannay, hero of John Buchan's 1915 novel The Thirty-Nine Steps, on a train that stopped here. It is a literary legend, not a documented event.

How do you get there?

The practical approach is to drive to New Galloway or Gatehouse of Fleet and continue on foot. The old trackbed now works as a walking route, reachable from both towns. It is flat but long and empty, with no shops or toilets on the way. Carry water, warm layers and waterproof boots. Public transport in the area is limited, so plan your transport in advance.

What will you see?

• the loch shore and the open Galloway moorland,
• the surviving platform and the ruined railway cottages,
• the line of the embankment that once carried trains towards Portpatrick,
• waterbirds and birds of prey over the plateau.

Early morning and late afternoon give the best light for landscape photography. Galloway also has notably dark skies, which makes the area popular with stargazers.

When is the best time to visit?

Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable period, with long days and a drier trackbed. In winter the ground is boggy and daylight short. Upland weather changes fast and can turn wet and windy even in summer, so do not leave the path without a map.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fish at Loch Skerrow?

Older sources record pike and trout in the loch. Fishing rules depend on the owner and the local angling association, so check which permit applies before you go. In the nearby Galloway Forest Park the trout and salmon season runs from 15 March to 30 September.

Do trains still run here?

No. Regular passenger service at the halt ended in 1963 and the whole line closed in 1965.

Can I walk to the loch from New Galloway?

The station there is gone, but the old trackbed can be walked from the New Galloway side. It is a long outing, so allow a full day and return the same way.

Are there facilities nearby?

No. The area is wild, with no shops or cafes. Bring food, water and a map.