[1] The principal industry has always been agriculture, although in the 19th century two woollen mills were erected on the River Tarff nearby.

[2] Kirkcowan is on the medieval pilgrim route to Whithorn Priory, seat of Christianity in Scotland.

Glendarroch Loch, situated in the vicinity of the village of Kirkcowan and easily accessible from the A75 Euroroute, is one of the region's coarse fishing gems.

Carp have been stocked in recent years and are regularly caught whilst tench and bream up to 3lb are also present.

A fortified island surrounded by the remains of a massive drystone wall, 1.8m to 2.1m thick and about 2.1m high, enclosing an area approx 34.1m by 25.9m which has been subdivided and contains buildings all except the largest being of dry-stone.

Entrances on east and west and the island has been connected by causeway to both the loch shore and the island to the north, which shows evidence of having been surrounded at the water's edge by a low wall of large boulders occasionally set on end.

[6][7] The River Bladnoch rises at Loch Maberry in the parish of Kirkcowan, through which it runs south to Polbae.

Continuing its journey it passes Isle-na-Gower and becomes a border between the afforested land at Hopeless Howe and the Ring of Barfad.

Crossing the River Bladnoch at the stepping stones is a single-track road which links Mark of Shennanton with Little Eldrig.

Barhoise Mill is a T-shaped two storey construction of granite, whinstone and slate, which is falling into a dilapidated state.

The datestone above the door reads 1827, but this mill is most certainly a reconstruction of a much earlier one, perhaps connected with the Old Place of Glaisnick, a one-time nearby residence of the powerful Gordon family of Craichlaw.