Description: The Grey Mares Tail nature reserve is located just outside Moffat the lovely little tourist town in Dumiesshire, Scotland. It is quite famous in the region and somewhere that my family and I used to visit for day's out and picnics.
The thing that dominates the nature reserve and the thing that most visitor's to the area come to see is the Grey Mare's Tail herself.
The Grey Mare's Tail is a 60m waterfall and whilst by no means the most impressive waterfall I have seen by itself the whole position of it and the surrounding area add up to an impressive nd memorable visit.
Getting to the Tail itself is extremely easy and it is only a couple of miles outside the town and very wel sign posted. The drive to it is almost as interesting as the nature reserve itself as driving along the windy roads leading to it the mountains seem to come out of nowhere and feel like they are closing in on the car. It really is one of the most scenic drives I have ever taken.
When you arrive at the waterfall there is a carpark which does incur a small fee though there is ample free parking on the side of the road.
Once you have taken in the view you can also then hike up the side of the hill beside the waterfall. This is well worth doing but be warned as it isn't for the unfit and the climb up may only be 300m but it is very steep.
All along the surrounding hills there are plenty to see for the nature and wildlife lovers with wild sheep and birds and plenty of wild growing flowers and plants.
The Grey Mare's Tail nature reserve also includes Loch Skeen and there is a trail leading to it. The Loch is beautiful and tranquil and although it isn't massive or as impressive as other lakes in Scotland the solitude does mean that the wildlife thrives here and the walks are so much nicer when you aren't encountering people every few seconds. It is the ideal place to come for a picnic and to just enjoy the views which are some of the best in the whole of Scotland in my opinion.
You can easily spend a whole day exploring the area around the Grey Mare's Tail and it is well worth visiting for the spectaculat scenery which is both wild and forelorn in winter and lush and green in summer.
The Grey Mare's Tail is a special place and one that needs to be visited to fullt appreciate it's unique beauty.
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