walkhighlands

River Nith walk

Route: Drumlanrig Castle & Burnmouth Bridge circuit

Date walked: 23/02/2023

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 16km

Did the Drumlanrig Castle to Burnmouth circuit, following the River Nith, on a lovely sunny day. it's a superb riverside walk with great views to the Lowther Hills on the return leg of the route. I'm just writing this to let others know about some obstacles along the way. Storm Arwen brought down a lot of trees in the area, and as of now, some of these have yet to be removed from blocking the path. There's a warning notice on gate where you leave the main drive to head off into the woods. It warns of path closures and that the estate is still working to reopen the closed routes, but doesn't yet know when this will happen. :(

The walk starts off excellent following the River Nith as it heads through Carse Wood. But soon after passing Creel Bridge over the river, the first of the fallen trees are encountered. At this point I didn't know how many trees were going to be across the path, and if it would be possible to get through all of them. Fortunately, the fallen trees lasted for just under a mile of walking, and there was always a way past them, mostly easy enough with a small worn path to follow around, under and over them. Nothing ever difficult until the last blockage, where a lot of fallen debris was across the path. It got a little bit tricky and awkward at this point, where it's best tackled by keeping to the right, where you can make your way over the tree trunks and between the broken branches and eventually get to the end. Don't do as I first did...there's a path on the left which climbs the banking and looks like other walkers may have used this as a way around the trees...there's no way through, it's a dead end. Finally after this obstacle, you join another track with no more fallen trees to bother you. :clap:

From here, just follow the good track all the way to Burnmouth, then follow the minor road back to Drumlanrig...remembering not to miss the left turn at Burnsands!

Good walk, so I've added a few photos below. :D

02-Drumlanrig Castle from the Lime Avenue.jpg
Drumlanrig Castle


06-Nithsdale from Drumlanrig Castle.jpg
Nithsdale from Drumlanrig


10-Lowther Hills.jpg
Lowther Hills


14-Start of River Nith path to Burnmouth.jpg
Start of path to Burnmouth


25-Carse Wood.jpg
Nice going to start with through Carse Wood


33-Otter Pool, River Nith.jpg
Otter Pool on the River Nith


35-Carse Wood above the River Nith.jpg
Some of the obstacles encountered...easy to start with


37-Carse Wood above the River Nith.jpg
Can still get past here without any difficulties


39-Storm Arwen damage over path through Carse Wood.jpg
Getting more tricky to get through...but there is a way


44-River Nith.jpg
River Nith


49-Malcolmflat Wood.jpg
Easy going again once all the difficulties are behind you


53-River Nith from Humbie Holm.jpg
Humbie Holm Cottage and the River Nith


66-River Nith.jpg
River Nith


82-Nithsdale.jpg
A view up Nithsdale from near Burnmouth


96-Lowther Hill, Steygail and Black Hill.jpg
Lowther Hills from the return leg of the route


97-Nithsdale from Crairiehill.jpg
View down Nithsdale from Crairiehill


99-Nithsdale and the Lowther Hills from near Crairiehill.jpg
Lowther Hills from Crairiehill


102-Across Nithsdale to Steygail and Black Hill.jpg
Steygail and Black Hill with Dalveen Pass between them


103-Durisdeer Hills from near Farthingbank.jpg
Durisdeer Hills


107-Nithsdale from Drumlanrig Park.jpg
Nithsdale from Drumlanrig Park...almost at walks end

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Robertgee


Activity: Walker
Place: The Border Hills
Gear: Phone GPS

Munros: 104
Tops: 43
Corbetts: 39
Fionas: 32
Donalds: 89
Wainwrights: 38
Hewitts: 36
Sub 2000: 147
Islands: 60
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Statistics

2023

Trips: 1
Distance: 16 km

2022

Trips: 3
Distance: 20.33 km
Ascent: 630m
Sub2000s: 3

2021

Trips: 4
Distance: 40.1 km
Ascent: 860m
Sub2000s: 4

2020

Trips: 2
Distance: 32.7 km
Sub2000s: 1

2019

Trips: 2
Distance: 20.3 km
Ascent: 300m

2018

Trips: 5
Distance: 82.85 km
Fionas: 3
Donalds: 10

2017

Trips: 4
Distance: 66.9 km
Ascent: 1170m
Donalds: 2

2016

Trips: 4
Distance: 56.4 km
Ascent: 924m
Sub2000s: 1

2015

Trips: 1
Distance: 16.1 km


Joined: Dec 05, 2015
Last visited: Jan 04, 2024
Total posts: 81 | Search posts