How To Get There

Take the A710 which runs south from Dumfries. when you arrive at New Abbey turn right onto the B road to Beeswing. After about 2 miles turn left down the gravel road sign posted The Solway Fishery. There is a an area where you can park at the bottom of the road before it enters the forest. Buy OS Explorer Map 313 to view the whole area.

Walk up the forest road for about half a mile. There are pleasant views of the valley.

The main forest road forks right but you need to follow the left road.

The road crosses a burn (river) then bends to the right.

50 metres after the the road turns right look for a forest path on the left.

Follow this path for a while. It gradually runs down hill.

Eventually you will come to a burn (river). On the other side the path splits and you need to take the path going up hill (see dog in photo).

Follow the path up hill and evetually you will see the Waterloo Monument.

The monument is in remembrance of Wellingtons victory at the battle of Waterloo. There is a stairway leading to the top of the tower but it is not for the faint hearted! The view from the top is excellent but there are no railings and it is a long way down. 

From the monument follow the path down the hill. You will see views across the Solway Firth and on a clear day the Lake District. To the right you will see the small mountain of Criffel.

When you get to the bottom of the path which runs down hill from the monument you will come to a gate which then leads onto a tarmac single track road to New Abbey.

Follow the single track road for about half a mile until the road turns left. At this point you will see a small gate leading into a field and at the bottom of the field another small gated footpath. If the field has cattle in it you can always follow the road instead.

At the end of the footpath you come to some stone steps leading onto the road. Turn right and follow the road down past the pond on the left.

After 50 meters with the pond on your left. Turn left at the junction (There are pubs cafes and a shop in New Abbey for mid-walk refreshment if needed).

With the pond on your left continue your walk following the tingle track road leading out of the village.

Follow the road through the saw mill.

Eventually the road turns to gravel and leaves the village heading towards a farm in the distance.

Before you reach the farm you will see a footpath on your left.

Follow the footpath into the forest. This path joins up with the path at the burn (river) which you followed up to the Waterloo Monument. When you get to the junction continue back on forest path you came in on and then the forest road leading back to the car park. There is a route map below.

This is a route map of the walk from Solway Fishery to the Waterloo Monument then on to New Abbey. Then back via Mount Pleasant. OS Explorer Map 313.

From New Abbey drive south on the A710. Exactly 1.4 miles from the edge of New Abbey village is a turning on the right sign posted Ardwall Mains. The road is tarmac single track but eventually turns to gravel which you follow to the car park at the end.

Park in the car park as sign posted before Ardwall Farm.

Follow the farm track as sign posted foot path across the road from the car park.

After about 100 metres the track turns right towards Criffel.

At the end of the farm track is a gate leading to a gravel foot path.

Follow the foot path over the forest road up hill. Ignore the public foot path leading back to New Abbey.

The path leads upwards with the Craigrockall burn (river) on your right.

Paddling pool for the kids!

After about a quarter of a mile the gravel path ends at a gate.

From here on the path is much rougher but fairly easy to follow leading up hill to the left.

Its best to do this walk in good weather when the ground is dry or in mid-winter when the ground is frozen.

The summit and usually lunch!

The views across to the Lake District and the Solway Firth below can be stunning.

Loch Klindar near New Abbey.