Walking, Cycling and Mountain Biking

This is a wonderful area for walking, from quiet country, seaside and cliff strolls to wild hill-walking. We provide free help with planning routes and a hill walking guide is often available. Our cottages are supplied with many walking books, maps and a compass. Upper Rusko House and Cottage and the Garden Cottage have Walkers and Cyclists Welcome Awards. The cycling is superb on our quiet side roads and many miles of forest tracks through magnificent scenery in the Galloway Forest Park. Sustrans Cycle Route 7 passes through Rusko and the new, world famous, 7 Stanes Mountain Bike Trails are nearby.

Cycle hire is available from W.M Law, St Cuthbert St, Kirkcudbright.

Fishing

Fly Fishing Instruction
For beginners, March to the end of September. Hire of rod, reel, line and landing net.

Trout Fishing
Mid July - end of August and week-ends only 1st April - mid July and during September. Some evening fishing available.

Sea Trout and Salmon Fishing
From July - end of October (often the best time) on the River Fleet - a very attractive spate river which fishes well when the water is right. You can also fish for sea trout at night in low water conditions.

www.floatingline.com

www.fishscotland.com

Horse Riding & Driving

Bring your own horse and ride the 400 miles of newly opened forest tracks amidst spectacular scenery. Stabling and grazing available. Free private hacking is sometimes possible on owner’s own horse for experienced riders at their own risk. There are several horse riding centres in the area.

For more information on Horse Riding and Driving click here.

Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre

This amazing new centre, which adds a whole new perspective to holidays in Galloway, is set above Mossyard Beach on the stuning Galloway coastline just outside Gatehouse of Fleet, offers Archery, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Mountain Boarding, Mountain Balling, Mountain Biking and Grass Sledging. Multi activity days are available as well as Corporate and Team building programmes.

www.lagganoutdoor.co.uk

Cardoness Beach

Golfing

There are 30 golf courses in the Region (all within 1 hour’s drive), some of which are Championship courses and many are holiday/beginner/family friendly and very inexpensive. Gatehouse has its own stunning 9 hole course with magnificent views and excellent all year round play. There is also a Driving Range near Kirkcudbright – 15 minutes away. Rusko Holidays has just been awarded a Golfers Welcome award and we can arrange tee times etc. Golf Passes available.
Click here for more information about Golfing.

Bird and Wildlife Watching

There is a fantastic variety of bird and wildlife around Rusko. You can see most birds of prey, including eagles, many species of owls, ravens nest above Rusko House and the bird waching is especially good in Autumn, Winter and Spring when the migratory ducks, geese and swans are in the area. Near Loch Ken there is a Red Kite trail and feeding station. The woods are full of deer badgers, foxes and red squirrels and in the hills you will often see red deer, blue hares, snow buntins and golden plovers.
An expert guide can be arranged for groups.

Link: Scotish Nat Heritage

Scottish Wildlife Trust

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

www.keithkirk.co.uk

Gardens

Visit the glorious gardens of Galloway which are especially wonderful in May and June and in the autumn. Visits with a Garden History expert can be arranged for groups. Rusko House has magnificent Rhododendrons and a wildlife pond and garden which guests can visit.

www.scotlands-garden.org.uk

Scottish Country Dancing