The Annandale Way

The Annandale Way in Dumfries and Galloway is now officially open and is sure to attract walkers near and far who will be keen to discover this new Scottish walk.

This 55 mile route links Moffat and Annan and can be walked either north to south or south to north.

Taking the north to south route, the Annandale Way begins with a circular trek of the Devils Beef Tub (a dramatic 500-foot deep hollow formed by four hills), high above the source of the River Annan. You will then make a steady descent on the tub’s eastern side into the valley before meeting up with the River Annan.

The River Annan is regarded as one of the finest salmon and sea trout rivers in the Southern Scotland and flows southwards for 35 miles into the Solway at the end of the route.

Along the valley you will pass Gallow Hill to your left before reaching the popular market town of Moffat. The route then takes you south of Moffat along the ‘crooked road’ out of Beattock, over higher ground to Craigielandshill, and then down onto the Earl of Annandale’s Estate through picturesque forests and over farmland down the valley to Millhousebridge. Here the route splits into an eastern and western arm that go through Lockerbie and Lochmaben respectively.

The Lockerbie arm takes in the Lockerbie Wildlife Trust’s Eskrigg Nature reserve, whilst the western Lochmaben arm takes in Castle Loch with its new sculpture trail and then goes up past Hightae on its way to Joe Grahams monument for fantastic views of the whole of Annandale. The western Lochmaben arm then heads north to Dalton Hook where you will find Riverside Mill Bed and Breakfast, just a five minute walk from the Way, a haven of local wildlife and the ideal overnight stop.

The two arms meet up again just north of Hoddam Bridge where they then follow the beautiful River Annan as it meanders down through Annan on to its end at Newbie Barns on the Solway Coast.

The Annandale Way has been designed to be achievable in 4 to 5 days, there’s also the option of doing a shorter 2 or 3 day circuit or day walks by using local public transport.

The Annandale Way was developed by Sulwath Connections and the local communities.