Red kites were reintroduced to Galloway in 2001 and since then they have been gathering at Bellymack Hill Farm where Anne Johnstone, owner of the farm, has been feeding them daily. The prevailing southwest winds create updrafts from the surrounding hillsides which enable the kites to glide effortlessly over the farm, with over 100 pairs creating a dramatic spectacle as they circle overhead.

The kite feeding station was opened to visitors in 2003 and provides an opportunity for people to see these beautiful birds in close up as they swoop in to snatch the food provided for them.

Feeding time is at 2:00 pm and lasts about an hour. The expansive visitor centre includes a café so you can enjoy a cup of tea and a homemade cake as you watch the kites come to feed. There’s also a shop that stocks local crafts, an outdoor play area, and toilets are available on site.

Away from the feeding station, take a wander around the farm to by charmed by goats, pigs, cattle, sheep, and ducks. And in the summer look out for breeding birds such as yellowhammers, stonechats, and linnets, and if you’re lucky a roe deer grazing on the gorse.

All the money raised from donations to the farm is put back into the cost of feeding the kites and keeping the centre open 365 days a year.