Sulwath Connections
Celebrating and enhancing the Scottish Solway Coast and river valleys
Annandale Way
Partners:
The Annandale Way is a new 55 mile long distance walking route linking Moffat and Annan that can be walked either north to south or south to north. It’s been developed by Sulwath Connections and local communities with the support of local estates and farmers to help promote Annandale as a new area for walking.
It starts high above the source of the river Annan with a circumnavigation of the Devils Beef Tub before dropping down its eastern side and following the river Annan along the valley bottom into the picturesque market town of Moffat.
From Moffat it heads south following the ‘Crooked Road’ up out of Beattock and over the high ground of Cragielandshill and down onto the Earl of Annandale’s Estate where it snakes through 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 it’s new sculpture trail designed with the help of Peter Bowsher, World Champion Chainsaw Carver and then goes up past Joe Grahams monument for fantastic views over the whole of Annandale.
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 and on to its end at Newbie Barns on the Solway Coast.
It’s been designed to be achievable in 4 to 5 days, with over night stops envisaged in Moffat, Johnstone Bridge / Annandale Estate, Lochmaben / Hightae or Lockerbie, and Annan. There’s also the option of doing a shorter 2 or 3 day circuit or day walks by using local public transport.
The guide and interpretation have been developed by CREATE CfE, School Services working in partnership with local schools along the route and Linda Cracknell (Creative Scotland Writers Award 2007); together they have developed a narrative spoken by the river that guides walkers along the route. “I am the Annan River, the biggest of the land, the smaller ones come into me, to help me to expand.” Pupil Lochmaben Primary School. Further examples of new writing from the young people involved can be found at www.createdumfriesandgalloway.com
On September 12th over 100 people took part in guided walks led by members of the local communities, that ensured that every step of the Annandale Way was walked on that day. At the same time over 30 runners from Annandale Athletics and Dumfries running club ran a relay along the full length of the route.
Everyone finished in Lochmaben for a BarBQ and an official opening where local school children read poetry they'd written about the walk, Linda Cracknell did a reading and Lady Hope Johnstone formally opened the Annandale Way.
THE ANNANDALE WAY GUIDE BOOK is available for download but please note that it is a 9.6mb file. It is also in local libraries, Tourist Information Offices and some council offices.
Alternatively we can post a copy to you for £1.50 which includes post and packing. Please send cheques made payable to Dumfries and Galloway Council to Annandale Way Guide Books, Sulwath Connections, Council Offices, Newall Terrace, Dumfries DG1 1LW.
Download the Annandale Way to Memory Map;
Annandale Way Map: right click and select "Save Link As..." or click to open in a new window
