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 disaster, starting and finishing just outside Gretna. Some of the walk is along country lanes with other sections through fields and through the centre of Gretna.
The route I took deviated from the route published on the D&G guide, as one section of path appears to have been moved further along the road. The original route goes through a field which was very muddy and occupied by cows, which we avoided as we had two dogs with us. The alternate route we used is a bit longer but has some newly maintained steps down to the side of the Sark.
It is possible to explore Gretna by adding on the ‘Garden City Route’, details of which can be found on an information board alongside your walk through Gretna.
I don’t think that anyone would suggest that this is the most beautiful walk in Dumfries and Galloway but it does allow you to learn about a significant event in British history thanks in part to the other information boards you will find along the route.
| When I walked it | 23/11/21 |
| How long it took me | 3:20 |
| How far I walked | 12.6 |