Explore Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

Langholm is a hub for walking and there are so many wonderful walks to do from the town where you can explore all that the ‘Muckle Toon’ has to offer from our lush green valleys, open moorland and magnificent ancient woodlands. You can find all of these walks listed on the langholm walks website.

There are a number of established tracks and walks through the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve and we are working to establish more. You can find out more details about the walks on our map by following the link below.

Long before it became the ‘Tarras Valley Nature Reserve’, the Langholm Moor has been a popular spot for birdwatching. With varied upland bird assemblages on the moorland and farmlands, as well as extensive woodland and river habitats, there is something to see for everyone, from the walker with a casual interest to serious twitchers!

Check out the moorland habitats to try to see the hen harriers skydancing, glimpse a golden eagle, or see one of the many other species, including curlew; skylark; short eared owls, and many others.

In other areas of the reserve, in the woodland or along the river, you might see dippers and wagtails; pied flycatchers and redstarts; goshawks and cuckoos, and many, many more species of birds.

The southern part of the reserve is fortunate to have a range of woodlands on it – from naturally regenerating birch on the hill through to our ancient and veteran oaks and alders. Take your time walking through Longwood and explore the magnificent veteran oaks, over a 100 of these are scattered through the woodlands. Many have been surrounded by ‘halo’ birchwood which we will be thinning throughout 2023 to help these ancient trees survive. Follow the river through the Lower Tarras woodland to explore the wood pasture and its ancient alder trees, but make sure to bring your wellies after periods of rain to avoid wet feet!

In line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, you are welcome to explore the reserve by bike or horse. Several of our walks are popular with horse riders, including the Longwood and Moorland circular.
For cyclists, the moor road from Langholm to Newcastleton will take you through much of the community-owned land and gives you an opportunity to take advantage of the amazing views.

Do you want to look up at the night sky for a truly unforgettable stargazing? TVNR is a beautiful place to watch the night sky. Since it’s far away from major urban areas, you won’t have much light pollution obstructing the nighttime sky views. Lucky skywatchers might even spot the elusive northern lights during the autumn and winter months.