Walkers enjoy a panorama of loch Ken and the Galloway hills looking west from Airds hill. The loch stretches about 12 miles from Glenlochar barrage at its south end to New Galloway at the north where the Water of Ken joins the loch. Loch Ken is part of the Galloway Hydroelectric system, built in the 1930's providing clean electric power to the region. Consequently the level of water in the loch is controlled artificially and can vary in depth over quite short periods. Much of the loch is shallow with risk of stranding by boats, though the deepest parts are around 6 fathoms.

A rare photograph of the loch and Crossmichael with a blanket of snow. Contrary to much popular belief, many parts of Scotland enjoy a moderate climate and Galloway is no exception. Most winters are virtually snow-free. On this occasion, however, thick snow has fallen giving a scene of winter landscape.

Cattle graze on the fertile banks of Loch Ken near Glenlochar. Near this point, in Roman times a huge camp was set up at what was the best crossing point of the river Dee. Fields of the nearby farm of Culvennan hide traces of extensive works from the years of the Roman occupation of this region, though nothing is visible to the visitor. A roman road is believed to extend northward along the shores of the then river Dee and loch Ken