I have previously visited the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct, passing by it while walking from Clatteringshaws Loch to Creetown. It’s a truly remarkable structure and one of the hidden gems in Dumfries & Galloway.
I have been itching to return to it and when I discovered a small hill range next to it called the Clints of Dromore, I’d found a perfect opportunity to do so!
I recently returned again, taking my parents to see it (with Messi along too!) and we sat and enjoyed lunch at the picnic bench on top of the Viaduct. It really is one of my favourite spots in the South of Scotland and one I hope this blog post encourages you to visit.
The Visitor Centre
Getting to the Viaduct is relatively easy, just head for the Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve, done by following the B796 (or National Cycle Route 7 if you are cycling). From either Creetown or Gatehouse of Fleet, follow the small road until you reach the signs for the Nature Reserve.
There is a large, free car park which even has an electric charging point (I was surprised and impressed by this in such a remote spot!). You can continue further along the little road and park at the Viaduct but you’d be missing out on the lovely visitor centre (which is also free) and the walk along the small road.
The visitor centre itself is a wonderful little building, which looks unimpressive from the outside but contains fantastic resources within! There are information boards and interactive panels for kids (some of which have audio). They will educate visitors on the history of the landscape and the flora and fauna that inhabit it.
Not only is the visitor centre a very pleasant place to be, it’s also open 24/7 all year and has free toilets outside (while being completely unstaffed). It’s a fantastic little centre, especially for somewhere so remote!
The Viaduct
As nice as the visitor centre is, the highlight is, of course, the spectacular Big Water of Fleet Viaduct. At 900ft long, 70ft high and consisting of 20 segmented arches, it is a very impressive structure and one I don’t get tired of visiting. It has a surreal, almost other-worldly presence as it stands alone out in the remote moors, harkening back to days of steam trains and empires.
Part of the now defunct Portpatrick railway that ran through Dumfries & Galloway, the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct was built in 1861 and ferried visitors to the area until the outbreak of WWII when trains thundered across it carrying munitions from the piers at Stranraer.
It’s a unique piece of Dumfries & Galloway history and something many aren’t aware is even there.
The Video
To really get a feel for the Viaduct and the beautiful scenery it inhabits, I’d suggest watching my video below! Full of drone footage, it will let you get a closer look at the Viaduct and the Clints of Dromore which stand beside it.
The Walk
The reason for my return to the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct wasn’t just to gawk at the structure itself: it was to complete a loop of the Clints of Dromore!
The walk is signposted as the ‘Mountain End Trail’ and is about 4 miles in total. HERE is a link to it on WalkHighlands.
From the picnic bench at the top of the Viaduct, the path heads west along the old railway line before eventually arriving at a cut-off the climbs up to the Clints of Dromore. If you’d rather skip this part, you can instead to the Clints of Dromore Inbye Walk, which walks below the Clints and is far easier.
I was looking forward to the ascent and what I hoped would be a lovely circuit walk at altitude. What I got instead was an immediate punch in the gut from the steep ascent! I immediately realised why this spot was popular with rock climbers who enjoy visiting the Clints!
A quick search online reveals quite a few rock climbing websites, with one describing them as:
“The Clints of Dromore are a group of rocky outcrops near Gatehouse of Fleet that make a good venue for beginners with many pleasant climbs at V. Diff and Severe.”
As someone who likes walking up hills but not rock climbing, I am not sure I’m comfortable with the words ‘pleasant’ and ‘severe’ being in the same sentence!
After some exertion, the effort is well rewarded with stunning views in all directions, including over the Viaduct itself which sits far below.
I’d chosen a lovely, sunny day for it with a fresh breeze and once we were up on the ridge it became relatively easy going. A well-signposed path snakes through gentle heather, heading towards the stunning vista that is Cairnsmore of Fleet.
Before I knew it, I’d reached the end of the ridge, which looped back down to the original path behind the visitor centre. We passed by some wild goats (quite the sight!) and took a final rest at one of the well positioned benches, taking in the beautiful views of the Clints of Dromore before arriving back at the visitor centre.
This really is a lovely little walk and one I am very much looking forward to revisiting in winter. A fresh powdering of snow and a deserted area will make this a fantastic walk in December or January.
Regardless of when you decide to visit the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct and the Clints of Dromore, I can guarantee you will enjoy exploring one of the hidden gems of Dumfries & Galloway and you will really enjoy a walk here. It’s up to you whether you just want to walk to the Viaduct, complete the Inbye Walk Circular or do the full walk up on to the Clints.
If you are in Dumfries & Galloway, I’d suggest adding this spot to your must-see list!
Information
Parking: FREE (Open 24/7 all year)
Visitor Centre: FREE (Open 24/7 all year)
Toilets: FREE (Open 24/7 all year)
Leaflet: HERE
Postcode: DG7 2BP