One of the true hidden gems in Dumfries & Galloway is the tiny village of Stairhaven, which lies on the north-west side of the Whithorn peninsula. Even Google Maps seems to struggle with it, focusing instead on the nearby hamlet of Auchenmalg. Heading south on the A747 towards Port William and the Isle of Whithorn, a tiny sign on the …
Benniguinea and Black Hill of Dee via Clatteringshaws Loch
One of the most popular tourist spots in the Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries & Galloway is Clatteringshaws Loch, which is a large freshwater reservoir-loch that has a large carpark and visitor centre. The loch offers beautiful views to the Merrick ridge and Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve driven …
The Striding Arches at Moniaive
Hiking out to the striding arches at Moniaive have been one of my ‘must-do’ walks in Dumfries & Galloway for quite a while and I recently found time on a cold (I stress, cold!) January day to see these quirky artworks. What are the Striding Arches at Moniaive? Probably best I explain what these arches actually are. Landscape Artist Andy …
Mullwharchar via Loch Enoch
One of the most remote hills in Dumfries & Galloway, Mullwharchar is a Donald which sits between Merrick and Corserine, high in the Galloway Forest Park. At 2,270ft and around 6 miles out, it is not an easy little walk. However, it may be the best walk I’d done in 2022. The Area I have walked in the Glen Trool …
My Favourite Pictures of 2022
I haven’t had the chance to do one of these posts for the last few years but now that I am getting back into the swing of things (and now that I’ve been out on some pretty great adventures last year) here are my favourite pictures of 2022! Each picture comes with a wee link to the story it came …
Moffat to the Devil’s Beeftub
The target is a bench, high upon ‘Great Hill’, which overlooks the ‘Devil’s Beef Tub‘, which is a dramatic hollow in the four hills which make up the ridge. The hollow is 500ft deep and is one of the sources of the river Annan. I have walked this route many, many times. Alone, with a friend or with my dad. …
Brighouse Bay Circular
Hidden to the south-west of Kirkudbright is one of my favourite beaches and circular walks in Dumfries & Galloway: the Brighouse Bay circular. If you follow the A75 and look for the turn for Kirkudbright you will see signs for the B727 which will take you to the pretty little village of Borgue. From here head south to ‘Brighouse Bay’. …
Criffel via New Abbey
I’d been looking for a nice summer walk, something for a warm day that would still get me a good day out and would give nice views. A quick bit of Googling later and I discovered a little hill in Dumfries & Galloway that I’d never heard of: Criffel. Perhaps you haven’t heard of it either. The hill sits overlooking …
Loch Venachar Circular Walk
I recently met up with a friend of mine, who is also a keen walker, in the hills above Callander at Loch Venachar in the beautiful Lomond & Trossachs region of Scotland. We’d decided we didn’t fancy a mountain day but rather favoured a ‘distance-walk’ and had settled on the Loch Venachar Circular. This circuit starts at the Glen Finlgas …
A Guide to the Corbetts of the Southern Uplands
The Southern Uplands of Scotland is the southernmost geographic area of the country, it’s the section that borders England and it contains seven beautiful Corbetts that you really ought to climb. Being Corbetts, these hills all vary between 2,500ft – 2,999ft and differ greatly in the views they offer and difficulty of hike they pose. Whether you are looking to …