Devil's Beef Tub circuit from Moffat

The route - which is the first stage of the Annandale Way but also a fine circular walk in its own right - follows a path besides the river Annan out of Moffat then takes a minor road and farm tracks to a final steep climb onto the moorland hills that wall Annandale to the north. A splendid high level walk crosses these hills to Annandale Head from where there is a descent back down to the minor road and the outward route back to Moffat.

Terrain

A mix of footpaths, tracks and minor roads along riverbanks and across farmland and moorland. There is one short steep climb and some boggy moorland to cross but mostly the walking is on firm ground with gentle ascents and descents. Junctions are clearly signposted, with one exception.

Public Transport

Moffat is served by bus, including from Lockerbie which is the nearest rail station.

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Start

Station car park, Moffat. Map and directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 22.5km/14 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 521m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NT083048

Maps / GPS

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Moffat is an attractive stone-built town with a wealth of interesting shops, cafes and bars. Moffat was a major sheep market and there is a large statue of a ram - the Moffat Ram - in the town centre that was presented to the town in 1875. The Annandale Way starts at the Station Car Park beside the River Annan on the south-west edge of Moffat. There is an information board here. From the car park the route heads north on the east bank of the River Annan on a good path popular with dog walkers. The river is fringed with trees and there are views over fields to Moffat. After a kilometre the path crosses the A701 road. After another kilometre the riverside path ends.

Stage 2

Turn sharp right and follow a path east up a field to a minor road. Turn left here and follow the road for another two kilometres to a turn-off for Meikleholmside that takes you across the river via a stone bridge. From Meikleholmside take a track that makes a rising traverse across sloping pastureland. The track can be muddy in places as it crosses several small burns. As it climbs views open out across upper Annandale to the big hills to the east, the highest of which is 808 metre Hart Fell. The track crosses the A701 road, runs through the edge of a plantation and then climbs over Ericstane Hill, with good views ahead to the deep bowl of the Devil�s Beef Tub.

Stage 3

The track ends at the A701 road, which is followed north-westwards for 300 metres to the edge of a big conifer plantation. Here take the grassy path that runs uphill beside a fence just east of the trees to the 478 metre summit of Annandale Hill. This short climb is the steepest on the whole Annandale Way. There�s only 180 metres of ascent however so the trig point on the top is soon reached.

Stage 4

On Annandale Hill turn east and follow a sketchy path that runs over Peat Knowe, north of the summit of Great Hill and across long Chalk Rig Edge to Annandale Head. Although the path is faint in places there is a fence and broken-down dry stone wall much of the way. In clear weather there are fine views of the surrounding hills with Annandale stretching out to the south.

Stage 5

On Annandale Head a fine cairn marks the official start of the Annandale Way. Immediately below to the south is the valley of the Tweedhope Burn, one of the headwaters of the River Annan. A new native forest has been planted here and thousands of little saplings protected by plastic tubes cover the ground.

Stage 6

Care needs to be taken on leaving Annandale Head as the right route is not obvious and there is no signpost. The vehicle tracks that soon appear trend to the right side of the valley. A descent can be made this way, joining the Annandale Way on the farm track south of Corehead farm, but the official route stays east of the burn. Follow rough tracks through heather for a hundred metres or so to a clearer track that leads down the valley. Keep left of the burn at junctions and eventually waymarks appear. Once out of the new woodland the track turns south-west and crosses fields to the Corehead farm track.

Stage 7

Turn left (south) on the farm track and follow it to Ericstane and the end of the minor road that was followed on the way to Meikleholmside. From here retrace the outward route by taking the road back to the path that leads down to the river and then the riverside path back to the start and Moffat.

Next stage: Moffat - St Ann's

Route / photos : Chris Townsend

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.