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Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve
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Walks – There is one well-maintained path at the property, leading from the car parks to Loch Skene. This is a distance of 4km there and back, with a total climb of around 300 metres (900 feet). The path is steep and rough in places and it is essential that visitors wear proper hill walking shoes and carry waterproofs.
Beyond Loch Skene there are routes around the Loch, up White Coomb (821m) and Lochcraig Head (801m), but these are not maintained and in places can be very muddy or faint. Walkers on these routes should carry a compass and OS map (Landranger Sheet 79 or Explorer Sheet 330) and know how to use them. Always let a responsible person know where you are going and your expected time of return.
Autumn
Grey Mare’s Tail becomes much quieter in the autumn, so visitors are much more likely to be able to enjoy some solitude, especially midweek. As autumn progresses there are less and less wildflowers around, but most of the characteristic upland birdlife is still present. With shorter days and colder weather, it is increasingly important for those who venture into the hills to be experienced and well–equipped, as what starts off as a nice day can rapidly deteriorate when you are 800m above sea-level!
Winter
Winter can be very harsh in the Moffat Hills, and most birdlife leaves for warmer countries or lower ground. You should still be able to see peregrines, ravens, buzzards, red and black grouse, dippers and even tiny wrens, which find shelter in the heather. Above the loch you may be lucky enough to see mountain hares in their white winter coats. In fresh snow, tracks of elusive animals such as stoats and foxes can easily be seen.
A spectacular, but very rare sight, is Grey Mare’s Tail fully frozen. This only happens after ten days or more of very low temperatures, and is far from being an annual event. When it does happen, word soon spreads among the ice climbing community, as the Tail is on many of their wish-lists! It takes far less time for ice to form on the path to Loch Skene, so special care must be taken when this does happen.
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