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Dumfries and Galloway walks

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J1234 14 Apr 2016
Hi I am Lake District boy at heart and have walked exstensively there. But at the Bank Holiday I shall be crossing the Solway Firth and stopping in Kirkcudbright. I have no idea where to walk or even if access is different in Scotland. Can anyone reccomend any good walks, possibly not the most obvious ones, please. Something Hill and something Coast would be good. The Coast a linear maybe using the bus would be good. Something 8 - 9 miles ish. We tend to walk quite fast but like to stop for a brew and a snooze and a chill out, as it not a race, so an 8 mile walk may take 5 or 6 hours.
Cheers

Removed User 14 Apr 2016
 Chris the Tall 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Very interesting coastline around Kippford and Rockcliffe. There are a couple of islands that can be reached at very low tide, although possibly bird banned at this time of year.
 t__her6 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/galloway/corserine.shtml

Great walk and very remote with great views.
 tony 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Access is different in Scotland - there's much less restriction on where you can go. Because of this, paths tend to be less waymarked (although this does tend to vary in different areas). This means a map is a good idea!

Have a look at http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/galloway/ for ideas. It's a lovely part of the country - it tends to be bypassed by many people, so it can be very quiet. It also has some of the best placenames in the country - Rig of the Jarkness, Lumps of Garryhorn, Shalloch on Minnoch.

 Thatcherite 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Screel Hill is pretty close to Kircudbright the direct way up is only a couple of miles but I'm sure you could extend the walk map.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/galloway/screel-hill.shtml

Was there on Saturday and the description of muddy paths on the top is pretty accurate! The freinds we were staying with said it's been a very wet start to the year there..
In reply to Lenin:

If you fancy a challenge taking in the biggest hills in Galloway in one loong circuit this is a cracker of a walk, surprisingly wild-feeling and very nice done over two days: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=859
drmarten 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modules.php?name=Hills&group=5&sh...

Dumfries and Galloway is my backyard, I prefer the Highlands but the draw of a short drive means I do a fair bit in the Galloway hills and there is some great hillwalking in the area. I haven't done any coastal walking so can't advise there. I was on Cairnsmore of Carshphairn within the last week and there was still snow on the top although it looked like it was on the way out. I'd expect by the bank holiday most of the higher elevations in Galloway would be snow free bar some small snow patches in sheltered north facing locations.
Beware the tussock


 Andrew Wilson 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Thatcherite:

We took our 4 and 7 year old boys up Screel Hill on Saturday. There was a race on too. It was pretty wet in places but avoidable for the most part.
We walked up from Taliesin but you could extend to suit.
Lovely views!

Andy
 Andrew Wilson 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Another good one is Criffel Hill. Did this when in scouts a few (!) years ago.

Andy
J1234 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Thank you very much for all the replies. Somethinng to get me started.
 toad 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

For coastal walks, you could do worse than look at the Isle of Whithorn - don't know how old you are, but the finale of the (proper) Wicker Man was filmed here.
 Lankyman 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

There's a great little coastal walk around Balcary Point to Rascarrel Bay and back inland http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1592385 Makes a nice short circuit before you get introduced to the Galloway tussocks!
 thedatastream 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Have a trundle up Merrick. Try and find the Grey Man Of Merrick for bonus points.
 PATTISON Bill 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Nice coastal walk North from Portpatrick to Kilantringan Hill and the bay .Good bouldering at low tide.
 dan_the_dingo 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Criffel is nice, but be advised the direct route when you emerge from the forestry is the definition of muddy - better to head off west from the forestry to gain the ridge rather than go direct.
Cairnsmore of Fleet is another option and has a memorial to aircrew who sadly died on the hill over the years when their aircraft crashed - can be extended by walking the ridge south.
Screel hill makes a nice wee walk and you could add Bengairn to make it longer - but if you do it the paths disappear quickly on Bengairn (or at least they did for me, but then paths generally disappear quickly in Galloway)
Quite a few options down Glen trool including the Merrick as already mentioned - if the weather is poor, there is a nice shorter wander around Loch Trool.
J1234 14 Apr 2016
In reply to PATTISON Bill:

Would this get me anywhere the Galloway Sea cliffs, I may check those out whilst in the area for a return with ropes.
In reply to Lenin:

One of my favourite rounds and a good way up the Merrick while avoiding the tourist path. Start at Glen Trool at the Bruce Monument Car Park. Go a short distance up the Buchan Burn (tourist path up Merrick), then cross the burn and ascend Buchan Hill. Go along the fine ridge of Rig of Loch Enoch to the Grey Man of Merrick (rock feature on the path from Culsharg to Loch Enoch) from where you can ascend the Merrick via the SE flank. Descend same way and cross the top of Craig Neldricken to the Wolf Slock. Go SE over the Devil's Bowling Green (ca pt 572 on 1:25 map) and up Craignaw. Descend Craignaw to the beach at the northern end of Loch Neldricken and traverse round the western side of the loch, passing the Murder Hole and then following the "path" down Gairland Burn and back to your starting point. If you have not walked in the Galloway Hills before, be warned, it's some of the roughest terrain in the British Isles and good boots and walking poles are highly recommended! This is a long day out but you can cut out the Merrick ascent if you wish to shorten it. You are unlikely to encounter anyone else (except in the car park).

With regards to sea cliffs, you're very close to Meikle Ross at Kirkudbright. It's greywacke but not too bad if you stick to the starred routes. There are some granite sea cliffs in Galloway but they are on the Stranraer peninsula and quite a drive from Kirkudbright. On the walk outlined above you'll get a good view of the best crag in Galloway, the Dungeon of Buchan on Dungeon Hill and you'll also see Memorial Crag under the summit of Craignaw. Both granite and both have lots of excellent climbs. The best roadside crag in the area is Clifton Crag near Dalbeattie which is also granite.
J1234 14 Apr 2016
In reply to Lenin:

From the enthusiasm of these replies I suspect this will only be my first trip of many.
J1234 03 May 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Thanks for all the replies. What a lovely area. We did the Merrick Climb on Saturday which was splendid, certainly felt different to the Lakes.
On Sunday we had a lovely dry walk from Garlieston to Cruggleton Castle and timed it perfectly to just get back to the car as it started to rain.
Amazing scenery in the area, particularly enjoyed the costal scenery which is something Lancashire is not terribly strong on.
Thanks again and I shall return.
 Lankyman 04 May 2016
In reply to Lenin:


> particularly enjoyed the costal scenery which is something Lancashire is not terribly strong on.

Glad you enjoyed Galloway. Don't forget we do have some decent coastline in Lancs - try Jenny Brown's Point and the Silverdale to Far Arnside cliffs on a high tide and a gale is blowing!
J1234 05 May 2016
In reply to Lankyman:

I know it well. I very very nearly phoned you on Monday. We were in the Eden Valley with no idea where to walk. I thought I know just the man. We ended up walking from Little Salkeld past Laceys Cave, round to St Micahels which has some interst then down to Long Meg and back. A lovely area.
 Lankyman 06 May 2016
In reply to Lenin:

> I very very nearly phoned you on Monday.
'Lenin' - I'd have thought Ivan the Terrible would have been more up your street, Steve?

> A lovely area.

Very much so. Get the little books by Paddy Dillon and Paul Hannon - even for a die-hard socialist such as yourself they're worth investing some filthy capitalist lucre in. There are loads of great little 'hidden' gems all over there. I once came across an autumnal aspen in the South Stainmore area and it was worth the walk just for that.
J1234 06 May 2016
In reply to Lankyman:

Cheers, I will look them up. If you ever fancy a climb give me a shout.
 PATTISON Bill 06 May 2016
In reply to Lenin:

Sorry I didnt reply was on the Lynn Peninsula and our cottage does not have WIFI.Hope you had a good trip.
J1234 06 May 2016
In reply to PATTISON Bill:

Great thank you. What struck me most was how friendly the people of kirkcudbright are.

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