This talk will explore the many mermaid legends in Dumfries and Galloway. The stories and accounts are often surprising with mermaids caught on hooks by fishermen, being negatively affected by pollution or acting as healers and protectors of water supplies. There are many representations of mermaids in fiction, folklore, poetry and art in our region […]
Some of the greatest spectacles of nature take place at dusk. Join our guide to enjoy Svalbard barnacle geese descending on the sandflats and reserve to roost. ¾mile/1.3km walk down to the shore, to view geese as they fly over onto the sandflats. Event InformationSuitable for adults and children aged 12+.Additional car park charge applies […]
Don’t be a lone goose, come and join us for a good aul gaggle, a wee gather in with poetry and song from guest artist Margot Henderson, and some Doonhame bletherin’ from local host DJ McDowall. Touring musician Jack Hinks will be performing some of his songs from his album “Kinsugi” with a bit of […]
Join the Wild Goose Festival Project Coordinator for a creative session turning secondhand books into art! Using old natural history books, crayons, pens, and collage, join us for an opportunity to make your own Goose themed badge!
Be immersed in returning Svalbard Barnacle Geese, nearby and above our heads as we head down to one of the hides at Mersehead. With flocks of ducks, geese and wading birds arriving in massive numbers. This will give you a chance to see it all close-up and learn how we manage this special place for […]
Join DJ McDowell & Margot Henderson for a reflective writing walk along the river Nith, following the rhythm and rhyme of the river as it flows through place and time. We’ll share some simple writing prompts on All welcome. Come if you feel drawn. Like the river, the writing twists and turns, but there’s no […]
2025 marks 10 years of Out of the Blueprint. Out of the Blueprint is a Leith based riso studio, which supports young artists under 25 through traineeships, residencies, workshops, commissions and print projects. In the summer of 2025, the studio celebrated it’s 10th birthday with a special three week Print Expo, featuring work from it’s […]
Join Multi-Sensory Storyteller Heather Taylor from Commingled for Brothers Follow the Sun — an interactive sensory storytelling experience inspired by Aboriginal traditions and grounded in themes of migration, belonging, identity, and our deep connection to nature. In this inclusive, sensory-friendly event, audiences will journey alongside two brothers who follow the path of the sun across […]
Join us for a walk with a knowledgeable warden and discover how we manage the reserve for thousands of barnacle and pink-footed geese that migrate here each winter. Learn how to identify different species and experience the sights and sounds of these wonderful wildfowl. Event InformationThis is an outdoor event.Please wear warm and waterproof clothing and footwear. Binoculars are encouraged, […]
Join Solway Firth Partnership in the hub for a fun and informative session that invites you to take a closer look at the fascinating objects found on our local beaches—from natural wonders to curious man-made items. Discover the fascinating world of the Solway’s beaches without getting your feet sandy. What’s Inside: Perfect for families, nature […]
Wild Goose Ceilidh promises to be a memorable night. Music provided by Shore Road, with local poets and musicians providing even more delightful entertainment. A two course supper is also included in the ticket price. BYOB and come and dance the night away to celebrate the popular Wild Goose Festival with foot tapping music, and […]
Enjoy breakfast at the Boathouse in Glencaple and learn about the geese of the Solway Firth with experts from WWT Caerlaverock and RSPB Mersehead. Watch as the geese use the river to navigate to their feeding grounds whilst you start the day. Event InformationWhilst the event is free, you will have to pay for your […]
Join the flock on the wild goose chase at The Crichton. Take flight with the welcoming community on the fun, and friendly weekly 5k. Event InformationAll ages and abilities welcome.Register before your first Parkrun.Event sets off from The Crichton Memorial Church.
Join WWT Caerlaverock staff for a 6 mile walk up Wardlaw Hill and through the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve to discover more about the migrating barnacle and pink-footed geese. This is a circular route that will begin and end at WWT Caerlaverock. Event InformationThis is an outdoor event.Please wear warm and waterproof clothing and footwear. […]
Interested in a new pair of binoculars or a telescope? Have questions for the experts? Optics greatly enhance your experience of watching geese and other birds, helping you see their stunning plumage and observe their fascinating behaviour. Experts from Swarovski and Viking are visiting WWT Caerlaverock to demonstrate and sell a range of optics.Take this opportunity […]
Join us at Loch Ryan to see the wonderful range of bird species which migrate there for the winter. We will be looking at brent geese, ducks, swans, waders and seabirds. Experts including staff from BTO, SOC and Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, will help identify these fascinating geese and provide interesting information about […]
Join us on one of our walks along the river to explore our local wildlife! A circular walk between Devorgilla Bridge and Troqueer Cycle Bridge, starting upriver toward and then crossing Devorgilla (The Auld) Bridge, before turning downriver towards Mill Green and Rosefield Mill, then over Troqueer Cycle Bridge and returning via Dock Park and […]
Paragon Music is back! Join us for an inclusive, drop-in music workshop where we blend acoustic instruments with recorded foraged sounds from our local natural environment. No experience needed – just bring your curiosity and creativity! Everyone is welcome. Accessibility InformationFully accessible for wheelchair users – access via ramp.
Experts from Glengyone Distillery will talk you through their range of whiskies while you sample them in the comfort of our visitor centre. Try before you buy from the range in our shop! Event InformationOver 18’s only.Drop in during event times. Accessibility InformationStep free access to visitor centre.
Come pick your perfect pumpkin straight from our specially prepared harbour patch. Children can get creative with a choice of nature-inspired crafts, enjoy face painting that transforms them into woodland creatures, pumpkins, or anything their imagination dreams up, and savour the simple pleasure of marshmallow toasting over the fire, adding to the cosy seasonal atmosphere. […]
Join us on one of our walks along the river to explore our local wildlife! This will be a short walk along river (from Nith Street to Greensands and back) in search of wildlife that makes this place their home or uses the river to commute ormigrate. Looking for water birds like Goosander, Mallard, Grey […]
Join the wardens out on the merse when we open early to watch the geese flying against the dawn sky as the sun comes up. These beautiful birds have spent the night out on the Solway mudflats and fly in to feed on the fields during the day. Event InformationThis is an outdoor event.Please wear warm and waterproof clothing and […]
Interested in a new pair of binoculars or a telescope? Have questions for the experts? Optics greatly enhance your experience of watching geese and other birds, helping you see their stunning plumage and observe their fascinating behaviour. Experts from Swarovski and Viking are visiting WWT Caerlaverock to demonstrate and sell a range of optics.Take this opportunity […]
Come gather around the fire of inspiration as Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish Claire Hewitt weave bird lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North. There was a time when we seven swan sisters flew the starry skies. There was a time we would take off our white […]
The Stove & Dumfries Museums presents a spellbinding evening of music, mischief, and monstrous moves, celebrating the grand finale of the Wild Goose Festival 2025! Expect fancy dress, dancing, games, and plenty of goosebumps (the fun kind). Live MusicZORFresh from a summer of festival magic at Kelburn and Knockengorroch, ZOR will conjure up their wild, […]
Come along to The Crannog, next to beautiful Carlingwark Loch for a spooky kids Halloween Bat Walk, with storytelling and crafts. 4:30pm Bat Talk5pm Games and Crafts6pm Bat Walk6:30pm SunsetBack for hot chocolates Event InformationThis is an outdoor event.Children to be accompanied by an adult.Price includes hot chocolate.To book email lindsay@lochken.org.uk. From £2.50 Booking Required
This April, the Wild Goose Festival and Dumfries and Galloway move together; alongside 40,000 barnacle geese taking off on their extraordinary journey. Collectively, an 80,000,000 mile effort from the Solway, in south-west Scotland, to Svalbard, north of the Arctic Circle. Moving in tandem, side by side, mile by mile, we’ll strive to walk, wheel, scoot […]
To mark the beginning of this year’s Wild Goose Festival: Journey with the Wild Geese Movement Challenge, we’re starting with something very simple. A wander. We’d love to invite anyone and everyone to join us for a relaxed wander through town – a chance to stretch your legs, meet a few new people, and take […]
As part of this year’s Wild Goose Festival you can join us for three risograph workshops at the Print House exploring storytelling and environmental activism. Our environments are full of stories waiting to be heard. By discussing, imagining, and making together we can listen to what the living world is asking of us during the […]
Join us for an evening of film and discussion, in collaboration with access charity, Euan’s Guide, that promises to make you question everything you thought travel had to look like and shows you what is possible with a little bit of effort and a drive to make it happen. About the Film In the Summer […]