Would you like to explore the best of Dumfries and Galloway? This guidebook covers 15 of the best short walks in the area (between 5 and 12km), including Portpatrick, Cruggleton Castle, Loch Trool, Threave, Rockcliffe, Criffel, Dumfries and Annan.

Why choose this guidebook?

• Walks under three hours, plus one challenge route
• Easy to follow with clear route descriptions
• Facilities, parking and highlights for every route
• No specialist gear needed, walk all year round
• Ordnance Survey mapping

Cicerone’s Short Walks guidebooks contain everything you need to get outdoors and discover the best of an area. The routes are perfect if you’re new to walking or looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. Let the adventures begin!

Using this guide
Route summary table
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
Inland: high hills and wide valleys
Sea cliffs and shorelines
Places to stay
Getting around
The walks
Walk 1 Portpatrick and Dunskey Glen
Walk 2 Garlieston to Cruggleton Castle
Walk 3 Around Loch Trool
Walk 4 Knockman Wood
Walk 5 Cally Palace and Temple
Walk 6 St Mary’s Isle
Walk 7 Threave Gardens and Castle
Walk 8 The Mulloch and Water of Ken
Walk 9 Balcary Point
Walk 10 Sandyhills to Rockcliffe
Walk 11 Criffel summit
Walk 12 Mabie Forest
Walk 13 Burns Walk, Dumfries
Walk 14 River Annan
Walk 15 Langholm and Potholm Hill
 
Useful information

Seasons

Year-round; some routes will be muddy in autumn and winter.

Centres

Portpatrick, Newton Stewart, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Annan

Difficulty

Routes are on paths throughout. These vary between smooth well-surfaced ones and some that are more rugged. One route (Balcary Bay) is close above clifftops and Criffel summit is a substantial climb.

Must See

Beautiful coastline; Criffel summit; Sweetheart Abbey; the old sandstone towns of Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas; the great rivers Nith and Annan; the ancient Wood of Cree

November 2024

Walk 7

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