The Southern Upland Way by Alan Castle updated by Ronald Turnbull

Published by Cicerone Press Soft back 192 pages Price £14.95

This 215 mile [347km] walk passes through several good areas for wildlife watching starting at Port Patrick itself with its famous tame Black Guillemots along with Fulmar and Eider nesting close by. Castle Kennedy has its wildfowl and that great winter when a White tailed Eagle was found there having come down from Mull. The Galloway Forest has Red Deer, Pine Martens and Wild Goats. The Moffat area will see Golden Eagles released in 2019 making the area a must for views of Scotland’s iconic bird. The rewilding taking place in the area by the Borders Forest Trust at such areas of the Beef Tub, Core Heag, Carrifran , Talla , Gameshope and Grey Mare’s Tail with the Scottish National Trust are bringing back wildlife like Black Grouse and rare Alpine plants Once seen the sheep fells further into the Borders become less friendly but Buzzards and Ospreys enjoy the Tweed Valley along with Otters and Goosanders. The Red Grouse moors could be a lot better for wildlife while the east coast has its breeding Gannets, terns and gulls passing by.