Annandale Way facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Annandale Way |
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Plaque on the commemorative cairn at the start of the Annandale way - north end.
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| Length | 90 km (56 mi) |
| Location | Scotland |
| Established | 2009 |
| Designation | Scotland's Great Trails |
| Trailheads | Moffat 55°24′36″N 3°26′55″W / 55.4101°N 3.4487°W Annan 54°58′04″N 3°16′56″W / 54.9678°N 3.2823°W |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | 1,150 metres (3,770 ft) gain |
| Highest point | 491 m (1,611 ft) |
| Lowest point | Sea level |
| Website | http://www.annandaleway.org |
The Annandale Way is a long-distance hiking trail in Scotland. It stretches for about 90-kilometre (56 mi) (56 miles). This trail is special because NatureScot has officially named it one of Scotland's Great Trails.
The path follows the River Annan from where it starts in the Moffat Hills. It goes all the way to the sea in the Solway Firth. This is just south of the town of Annan. The Annandale Way opened on September 12, 2009.
You can walk the whole route in four to five days. Or, you can choose to do shorter day-walks. There are many small towns and villages along the way. These include Moffat, Johnstonebridge, Lochmaben, Lockerbie, and Annan. You can find places to stay overnight in these spots.
Local groups and communities helped create this trail. They wanted to show off Annandale as a great place for walking. The trail starts near the Devil's Beef Tub in the Moffat Hills. It ends at the Solway Firth, near Newbie.
Contents
Exploring the Annandale Way: What to Expect
The Annandale Way offers different paths and sights. It takes you through beautiful Scottish landscapes.
Starting Your Journey: The Northern End
The very start of the walk is marked by a special stone pile called a cairn. This cairn is at the top of Tweedhope Burn. It sits between two hills, Spout Craig and Chalk Ridge Edge. This spot is also where the water divides. Rainwater here either flows south to the River Annan or north to the River Tweed.
If you start walking from north to south, you will see this cairn first. You need to walk a bit from the nearest road to reach it. This northern part of the Way, from Moffat to the cairn, can be a loop. You can walk to the cairn from the east side of the river. Then you can return by walking around the Devil's Beef Tub. This loop is a 13-mile (21 km) day walk.
Walking South from Moffat
As you head south from Moffat, the Annandale Way briefly joins another famous path, the Southern Upland Way. You will pass through old oak forests and farmland. The path goes down the valley towards Templand. Here, you have a choice of two different routes.
Choosing Your Path: Lockerbie or Lochmaben?
From Templand, you can pick one of two ways. One route goes through Millhousebridge and Kettleholm to Hoddom Castle. You can also take a side trip to Lockerbie. This path lets you visit Eskrigg Nature Reserve. It has a loch (lake) and lots of wildlife.
The other route goes through Lochmaben and Hightae to Hoddom Castle. This way takes you past Castle Loch. Here you can see the ruins of an old medieval castle.
Following the River Annan
Between Moffat and Hoddom Castle, the Way doesn't always stay right next to the river. But it does cross the river once on each of the two routes. From Hoddom Castle onwards, the path mostly follows the River Annan. It winds south through Brydekirk, Annan, and Newbie. Finally, it reaches the Solway at Barnkirk Point.
To help you find your way, you will need two Ordnance Survey maps. These are Explorer map 322 ("Annandale") and Explorer map 330 ("Moffat & St Mary's Loch").
Cool Places to See Along the Way
The Annandale Way is full of interesting spots. You can learn about nature, history, and local life.
New Forests at Corehead
When you walk towards the northern cairn from Moffat, you'll go past Corehead. Here, the path climbs up by the Tweedhope Burn. You'll see many trees planted by the Borders Forest Trust. They bought 640 hectares of land here in 2009. Their goal is to bring back the native woodlands and wild habitats. This area was once part of the ancient Ettrick Forest.
Ancient Iron Age Homes
If you look at the "Moffat & St Mary's Loch" map, you'll see many Iron Age settlements. These are old homes from a very long time ago. They can be hard to spot. But as you walk down the old coach road towards Moffat, there's one easy-to-see settlement. It's very close to the Way.
A Hero's Memorial in Moffat
The Annandale Way doesn't go right through Moffat town. But it's easy to take a short detour. In the park, you'll find a memorial to Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding. He was born in Moffat in 1882. He was a very important commander in the RAF during the Battle of Britain. He helped Britain defend itself against Adolf Hitler's plans.
The Mystery of the Lochmaben Vendace
Along the path by Castle Loch in Lochmaben, there's a sculpture trail. Look for a sculpted seat with a fish on its back. The name "Vendace" is carved above it. The vendace is a type of fish that was almost extinct in Britain. Sadly, the vendace that once lived in Lochmaben are now gone.
However, there's a healthy group of vendace in Loch Skeen. This loch is nearby in the Moffat hills. These fish were moved there from Bassenthwaite Lake in England in 1997 and 1999. This was a successful effort to save them. Unfortunately, the Bassenthwaite vendace are now thought to be extinct.
Mossburn Community Animal Farm
After Hightae village, the Annandale Way passes Mossburn Community Animal Farm. This farm helps animals that have been mistreated or neglected. It started in 1987 to help horses and ponies. Now, it cares for many domestic animals, except cats, dogs, and donkeys. They also help young people with physical and mental challenges. The farm teaches people about animal care. They even faced a big challenge during the Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001. They fought hard to save their animals.
Views from Joe Graham's Monument Ridge
From the animal farm, the path climbs onto a ridge. This ridge is above Rammerscales House, an old building from 1768. Walking south along this ridge gives you amazing views of Annandale. You can also see Burnswark hill. This hill has a flat top and stands out in the landscape.
Long ago, the ancient Britons had a fort on Burnswark. Later, the Romans took it over. They built large camps there. The south side became a training camp for Roman soldiers. They learned artillery skills there.
On the ridge, you'll find two old castle forts: Range Castle Fort and Moss Castle Fort. Further on, at the top of Almagill hill, is a tall stone monument. It's about 6 meters high. This monument is for a huntsman named Joe Graham. He died in 1893 at age 80. The monument has a bronze picture of a huntsman with his horn, horse, and dogs. It sits on the highest point of the ridge, at 217 meters above sea level.
Hoddom Castle and Repentance Tower
Hoddom Castle has a caravan park and camping. This can be a good place to stay if you are walking the Annandale Way. Nearby is Repentance Tower. This tower sits on a hill with views over the Solway Firth. It was a watchtower for Hoddom Castle. A fire lit on top would warn people of invaders.
The tower was built around 1560. Many stories try to explain why it was built. But they all agree that the word "Repentance" carved above the door means it was built to make up for a bad act. It's a mysterious and impressive place.
The River's Story: Voice of the River
Along the Annandale Way, you'll see special information boards. They are called "Voice of the River." They speak as if the river itself is telling you about the plants and animals (flora and fauna). They also share the history of each place. Other boards focus on wildlife and ecology. One plant you might see is Himalayan Balsam. It has pretty, orchid-like flowers. But it spreads very quickly along the river banks.
Connecting with History: Famous Figures and Places
The Annandale Way passes through areas rich in Scottish history.
Annan: Home of Robert the Bruce
At four points along the Way, you'll find boards about the Robert the Bruce Trail. Robert the Bruce later became King Robert I of Scotland. He was the 7th Lord of Annandale from 1304 to 1312.
The Norman family of Brus first settled in Annan. They built their Motte-and-bailey castle here after 1124. The castle's stone parts are gone. But you can still see the large mound (motte) where the fort stood. The lower protective area (bailey) with its man-made cliff is also there. The Way passes very close to it.
In Annan Town Hall, there's a stone called the Bruce Stone. It says, "Robert de Brus Count of Carrick and Lord of Annandale." The information boards near the castle tell you a lot about the Brus family.
Lochmaben's Royal Towns
In Hightae village, another information board tells a unique story. The small villages of Greenhill, Heck, Hightae, and Smallholm were once "royal towns." King Robert I founded them in the early 14th century. He gave land to experienced soldiers. These soldiers were called the "King's Kindly Tenants." They held their land directly from the king. They could also share the common woods and water. This gave them special rights for centuries. In return, they had to provide supplies and soldiers for Lochmaben Castle.
Lochmaben Castle: A Stronghold of Power
Around 1200, the Brus family moved from Annan to Lochmaben. They built a motte-castle near what is now Lochmaben Castle. The earthworks and stonework of this later castle are a major sight. They are at the south end of Castle Loch.
The earthworks are what's left of a castle built by King Edward I of England around 1300. The original fort was made of earth and wood. It was strengthened by Richard Siward. The stone parts you see today are from the 14th century. The castle was first mentioned in 1364. It was fought over many times in the 14th century. Both Scottish and English forces helped build its massive structure. For over 300 years, Lochmaben Castle was key for defending routes north and west.
Ericstane and Corehead: Bruce's Allies
If you start the Annandale Way from the north, you'll walk along a ridge. This ridge is above the Devil's Beef Tub. The route briefly joins the A701 road. Then it takes the old coach road down into Moffat.
Next to the A701, there's another Robert the Bruce Trail information board. This spot is important to Bruce's story. In February 1306, Robert the Bruce killed John Comyn. He was on his way to Glasgow to seek forgiveness and support. In the hills near Ericstane, he met James Douglas. Douglas brought a message of support from the Bishop of St Andrews. Douglas promised to be loyal to Bruce. He became one of Bruce's strongest allies. Some say they met on the Crown of Scotland hill.
After Bruce died in 1329, James Douglas (known as the Black Douglas) took Bruce's heart in a box. He carried it on a crusade against the Moors in Spain. Douglas died in battle near Granada. He threw Bruce's heart into the fight, knowing it was a hopeless situation. Bruce's heart is thought to be buried at Melrose Abbey. His body rests in Dunfermline Abbey.
Near the A701 information board, there's also a monument. It's for Covenanter John Hunter. He was shot on the hillside nearby in 1685.
There was an old tower called a peel tower at Corehead. It belonged to Thomas Halliday in 1297. It's said that Thomas Halliday was married to a sister of Sir William Wallace. Some claim that Sir William Wallace, with four followers, came to Corehead. Here, at his sister's home, they gathered to strike the first blow for Scotland's freedom from England.
