What looks like a short easy walk on paper is in fact quite hard work. The first 1.5 km or so is along a relatively level country lane, but once you start up the side of the hill most of the path is made up of quite steep stone steps which are in poor condition.… Continue reading Waterloo Monument
Author: Keith Heron
Trusty’s Hill and Rutherford’s Monument
After passing through the housing on the edge of Gatehouse (bear right at the top where the road divides), the outward leg is a rough path with some muddy patches and a few short climbs. There are good views down the estuary and over the town. The pictish rock carvings and the two monuments are… Continue reading Trusty’s Hill and Rutherford’s Monument
Barnkirk Point
This route takes you out of Annan down the west side of the estuary, past various industrial sites which are largely still in use today. The views over the Solway may be spectacular but I’m afraid it was a gloomy day and dusk was falling when we were there so I have yet to see… Continue reading Barnkirk Point
Annan, Waterfoot and Summergate Lane
A walk through the industrial heritage of Annan and along the Merse salt marsh on the edge of the Solway. Despite having driven through and round Annan many times, I had no understanding of the scale of industry that took place in the town during the 19th Century. This walk takes you past the old… Continue reading Annan, Waterfoot and Summergate Lane
Parton Viewpoint
A short walk up a small hill on dry gravel paths to a viewpoint with views over Loch Ken and into the Galloway Hills. The path is along the side of a field but separated from it by a barbed wire fence. The walk can be extended by following the Parton Heritage Walk (6km) which… Continue reading Parton Viewpoint
Quintinshill and River Sark
The Quintinshill rail disaster is the worst railway accident in British History, with over 200 dead, but is not widely known as it took place during WW1 and news of the accident was suppressed as much as possible. The details of the accident make for hard reading. This walk loops around the site of the… Continue reading Quintinshill and River Sark
The Hills
A short walk through woodland by the side of the Dumfries/Dalbeattie road. The paths are firm and generally dry, one short section is moderately steep . Part of the route is along the old railway line and there are limited views of the old railway viaduct. It’s a nice break for 20 minutes if you… Continue reading The Hills
Kirkconnel Village Walk
Ignore the detour that I made up the main road – my only excuse is that the road island seems to have been removed. Simply cut into the gardens before you start to climb the bank out of the village. The first section of this walk along the bank of the Nith is a fairly… Continue reading Kirkconnel Village Walk
Old Church Walk
A couple of miles outside of Kirkconnel, this walk allows views of the local hills without involving any climbing. The car park where the walk starts is also the starting point for a 19 mile walk to Wanlockhead. Just before the remains of St Connel’s Church there is the possibility of a diversion to a… Continue reading Old Church Walk
Burns’ Walk
Starting from the centre of Dumfries this is a riverside walk with surprisingly rural views. Much of the path is along narrow riverside paths where walking two abreast would be challenging, with the return half mainly along a cycle route and then through the town centre. A very short section (perhaps 100m) is along the… Continue reading Burns’ Walk