Tarras Water and Whita Hill
- 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
Savour the peace and quiet of this secluded walk through the Tarras Valley and climb to the summit of Whitta Hill to see the memorial of acclaimed poet and Langholm native Hugh MacDiarmid.
From Dumfries follow the A75 to Annan, from Annan follow the B720 to Langholm. For public transport from Dumfries, there are a number of seervies via Lockerbie and Annan with a change for Langholm.
From the car park, walk into the town centre and continue on the A7 heading south. Pass Ashley Bank House and take the next road on the left (Hall Path). Keep right at Hillside Crescent. Past the last house the road becomes a track. Go through a gate at a sign for Jenny Noble's Walk. Soon walk up to the Round House to get a fine view back over the town. Regain the track and follow it through several gates and across fields to Broomholmshiels Farm. Walk out to the road and turn left. The road climbs steadily and drops into the valley of the Tarras Water. There is a lovely open feeling about this area, and in spring and summer you will usually hear curlew, skylarks and other birds. The Tarras Water comes into view and the road drops to cross it by the entrance to Rashiels Farm. Stay on the road across the bridge, as it climbs high above the river giving excellent views over Rashiels to Whita Hill. The tarred road ends at Cronksbank. Continue on a clear track through the farm and on up the valley to Perterburn, enjoying the spaciousness and the open air. Directly opposite the house at Perterburn, turn left through a gate and follow a rough track down. Where the track bends left to enter a field, go ahead to a small gate giving access to a footbridge over the Tarras Water. On the far side of the bridge, turn right and follow the marked path below the house at Middlemoss to regain the track. Turn left on the track, go through a gate and follow the track round to the right and through another gate. This part of the walk has a real feeling of remoteness about it as you follow the track with the Tarras Water below to the right. However, in a kilometre you reach the back road to Newcastleton. Turn left on the road. There is a very extensive view to the left (south-west) in the direction of Carlisle and the Solway Firth. From the crossing of the Little Tarras Water it is a steady climb of just over a kilometre to the MacDiarmid Memorial at the top of the road. Once over the summit, a whole new vista opens up, looking down into Ewesdale. You can turn left at the MacDiarmid Memorial and follow the signs for Walk 8 up to the Monument and back to Langholm that way. Or, if you have had enough climbing, continue on the road as it descends steadily. Shortly after passing under the main power line, turn left on a clear path (just past the entrance to the old quarry). This path leads across the hill past a stone sheepfank to reach the top of the Whita Road track by the golf course. Turn right here and follow the track down past the golf clubhouse. At the road, go straight across and descend on a very steep path to reach the centre of town. Turn right to return to the car park.
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