New Abbey to Criffel Circular Walk
7.8 miles (12.5 km)This circular walk takes you to the excellent viewpoint at Criffel from the village of New Abbey in Dumfries and Galloway.
The route begins near Sweetheart Abbey, a striking 13th-century ruin built in memory of John Balliol by his wife, who also founded Balliol College at Oxford. The abbey’s story, intertwined with love and devotion, gives the village its name and adds a sense of history to the setting.... New Abbey itself is a charming place of whitewashed cottages, leafy lanes, and peaceful surroundings beneath the looming hill.
The ascent of Criffel reveals a landscape that changes steadily from low fields and woodland to open heather slopes and wide skies. Along the way are views of Loch Kindar, a small freshwater loch fringed by reeds and home to a variety of birdlife. As height is gained, the scenery opens out dramatically, taking in the Solway Firth and the Nith Estuary, with the fells of the Lake District visible across the water.
At the top, Douglas’s Cairn marks the summit, offering one of the finest viewpoints in southern Scotland. From here, the Solway’s tidal sands and distant hills stretch out in all directions, creating a remarkable sense of space and stillness. The descent passes over Knockendoch, another fine vantage point, before returning through woodland and farmland to New Abbey, completing a walk that combines history, beauty, and sweeping views in equal measure.
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