Rough Firth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Stewartry Coast National Scenic Area
Looking across the Rough Firth to Rockcliffe
East Stewartry Coast National Scenic Area Location in Dumfries and Galloway
Location	Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Area	96 km2 (37 sq mi)
Established	1981
Governing body	NatureScot

The Rough Firth is a beautiful inlet, like a narrow bay, found on the northern coast of the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It's a special place where the Urr Water river meets the sea. You'll find Rough Island here, and two charming villages called Kippford and Rockcliffe. This whole area is so stunning that it's been named the East Stewartry Coast National Scenic Area. It's one of 40 such areas in Scotland, recognized for its amazing natural beauty.

A part of the eastern side of the firth, covering about 44 hectares, is looked after by the National Trust for Scotland. This includes a lovely stretch of coastline and a few small islands, like Rough Island.

Discovering the East Stewartry Coast

This special area is full of different kinds of landscapes. NatureScot, an organization that protects Scotland's nature, described it in 2010. They noted how varied and interesting the land is.

You can find smooth mudflats and grassy marshes, along with gentle beaches and rolling farmland. There are also steep cliffs, rocky islands, bumpy hills covered in gorse bushes, and wild moorland. It's a place where many different natural scenes come together.

Ancient History at the Mote of Mark

One fascinating historical spot here is the Mote of Mark. This was a small trading post from the 6th century, a very long time ago! It sits on a rocky hill and is also owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Archaeologists dug here in 1913 and found some interesting things. They discovered two old stone huts and over 100 flint tools, which might be from prehistoric times. They also found pieces of fancy Roman pottery and fragments of clay moulds. These moulds were used in the early Christian period to make things. There were even pieces of 9th-century glass, which probably came all the way from the Mediterranean region!

Orchardton Tower: Scotland's Round Castle

Another cool historic site on the East Stewartry Coast is Orchardton Tower. This is a ruined tower house that was built in the 1400s. It's located about 6 kilometers south of Dalbeattie.

What makes Orchardton Tower really special is that it's the only cylindrical tower house in Scotland. Most tower houses were square or rectangular. This one was built about 200 years after round towers went out of style, making it quite unique! Orchardton Tower is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it's a very important historical site.

Why is it a National Scenic Area?

National scenic areas are chosen because they have incredibly beautiful scenery. The goal is to protect these places from building projects that might spoil their natural look. These areas are considered to show the kind of stunning beauty that Scotland is famous for around the world.

The East Stewartry Coast was first made an NSA in 1981. It was officially re-designated under new rules in 2010. The protected area covers a huge space, about 9,620 hectares in total. Most of this (8,447 hectares) is land, and the rest (1,173 hectares) is marine, meaning it's below the low tide level.

The designated area includes Rough Firth and its surroundings. It also stretches eastwards to the Mersehead Sands, near a small village called Caulkerbush. The northern edge of the NSA is next to Dalbeattie Forest.

While NSAs are mainly about beautiful views, they often have other special qualities too. These can include interesting culture, history, archaeology, geology, or wildlife. Some parts of the East Stewartry Coast NSA also overlap with other protected areas, like the Solway Firth Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area. These extra protections help keep the area's nature and wildlife safe.