Arkleton
- Annan, Waterfoot and Summergate Lane
- Arkleton
- Balcary to Rascarrel
- Barnkirk Point
- Castle Douglas Town Trail
- Coastal Walk to Port Castle Bay
- Criffel
- Dalbeattie to Colvend Trail
- Hoddom Castle and farm walks
- Jubilee Path
- Kelhead Water
- Repentance Tower
- River Annan
- Rockcliffe to Sandyhills
- Rounall Wood
- Saint Kentigern's Churchyard
- Screel Hill
- Stairhaven Coastal Walk
- Tarras Water and Whita Hill
- The Hills
- Threave Estate
- Waterloo Monument
Climb to the top of Arkleton Hill for outstanding views of the Solway Firth and Ewesdale.
From Dumfries follow the A75 to Annan, from Annan follow the B720 to Langholm. For public transport, there are a number of services via Lockerbie and Annan.
From the layby, walk north on the A7 for about 600 miles, passing Briery Hill. This is a very busy road, so walk facing the traffic and keep well into the edge. Turn off the A7 at the road for Arkleton (those getting a bus should start here). Walk down the access road and cross the bridge over the Ewes Water. Continue along the access road, but at the gate leading up to the house, turn right across another bridge leading into the farm yard. Walk through the farm yard and turn left onto a clear track, which passes a cottage on the left hand side. Continue with the track, starting to climb steadily, and at a fork keep right.
Before long the track crosses a small burn with a very attractive double waterfall just to the right. Continue climbing with the track through open country where in season you will see (and hear) curlew, skylarks and buzzards among other birds. The forest comes into view ahead, with Arkleton Hill, your main objective, up to its left. Pass a shelterbelt on the right, go through a gate and continue, ignoring a track going right. Reach the forest, a typical upland conifer plantation mainly of sitka spruce which grows well in these exposed places,but do not enter it. Instead go left over a stile and follow the forest fence down and then up, to the right. This is the start of the rough, pathless ground. Don't hurry, accept that it will be slow going and take your time. The ground is tussock grass, heather and some bog. Go right again with the fence and follow it over the head of Arkleton Burn. At the next corner, leave the forest fence and walk ahead to where you see old fence posts. Turn left along the line of the old fence up to a fence/dyke junction. Turn left here again and follow the fence upwards. From the layby, walk north on the A7 for about 600 metres, passing Briery Hill. This is a very busy road so walk facing the traffic and keep well into the verge. Turn off the A7 at the road for Arkleton (those coming by bus start here). Walk down the access road and cross the bridge over the Ewes Water. Continue along the access road, but at the gate leading up to the house turn right across another bridge leading into the farm yard. Walk through the farmyard and turn left onto a clear track, which passes a cottage on the left-hand side.
There is a great view back to Whita Hill and the Tarras Valley, and for a while there is a faint path, making for slightly easier going. Bend left with the fence and continue climbing onto Arkleton Hill. This area is marked on some maps as Under Nick, one of many evocative hill names in the vicinity. The view back now extends to the Solway Firth and the distinctive cooling towers of Chapelcross Power Station, but the path has vanished again! The fence kinks right and left and starts its final climb on short, pathless heather and grass dotted in summer with beautiful little white flowers and bog cotton. Hollows to the left are marked on the map as White Cove and Black Cove. Leave the fence at the next bend and cut across to a prominent cairn ahead which commands a superb view of Ewesdale. Although the ground is still rough, you can console yourself with the knowledge that it is all downhill from here. At 520 m (1705 ft), this is the highest point reached on any of the walks in this booklet. When you are ready to leave, continue in the same direction to pick up the fence again and follow it downhill. The hillside is littered with small crags and glacial erratics, huge boulders left behind by the retreating ice at the end of the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago. The descent becomes steep and care is needed. Take it steadily and don't rush, for it would be easy to slip. You can see the return track below to the left, and above it is Arkleton Lochan. Note also that the fence is now electrified, so don't get too close to it. This hill area is known as Strait Knowes.
After a final very steep section, the ground flattens out at the point where the fence becomes a dyke. Go through the gate and pick up a small path heading half-left. It makes in a determined manner for the track, which you can always see. Up to the left you have a good view of Arkleton Craigs. Pass the end of a drainage ditch but don't follow it. Keep with the path past a large round sheep stell, and cross a ditch to reach the track. Turn left and wander easily down the track, which gives grand walking with the burn known as the Birren Sike to the right. The track descends to cross Heugh's Cleuch by a bridge and swings right, with some fine old trees now close by. Next cross the Arkleton Burn and then face a short climb, tough at this late stage of the walk, to a gate. Go through and rejoin the outward route, back to the farmyard and on to the A7 via the access road.
Search
Skip search formsSearch for accommodation
Search for attractions
Search for events
Search for activities
Newsletter sign up »
Sign up now to receive regular e-newsletters and be the first to hear about the latest news, exciting events and festivals.
Order a free brochure »
Order Dumfries and Galloway Brochures & Guides, such as the Accommodation Guide, Visitors Guide, Golf Guide, Walking Guide & Cycling Guide.
