The Annandale Way

The Annandale Way runs from the top of the valley at Annandale Head in the hills north of the town of Moffat to the mouth of the River Annan and the Solway Firth.

Annandale Head is the start of the route but it lies away from roads so the first day of the Annandale Way is a loop north from Moffat, climbing from the banks of the River Annan to heather moorland and rolling hills with the dramatic deep scoop of the Devil's Beef Tub prominent before descending back to the town. From Moffat the route makes its way south through farmland, forest and moorland, passing under the M74 motorway and over the West Coast rail line.

Stage descriptions	Length	Time	Done
Devil's Beef Tub circuit from Moffat	22.5km	5-6 hours
Moffat to St Ann's	13km	3.5 - 4 hours
St Ann's to Lochmaben	17km	4-4.5 hours
Lochmaben to Hoddom Castle	21.5km	4½-5½ hours
Hoddom Castle to the Solway Firth	16.25km	4-4½ hours
Alternative Lockerbie branch:
St Ann's to Lockerbie	20.75km	4½-5½ hours
Lockerbie to Hoddom Castle	12.5km	3½-4 hours

At Corncockle Plantation a decision has to be made as the route splits here, the eastern arm staying in the heart of the valley and passing close to the town of Lockerbie, the western arm passing through the little town of Lochmaben and then venturing up onto the hills edging the valley. The two routes come together again at another wood, Sorrysike Moor, from where the Annandale Way heads to the coast mostly along the banks of the River Annan, passing Hoddom Castle and going through the town of Annan before reaching the Solway Firth.

The mix of terrain makes this a wonderful walk for natural history, especially flowers, trees and birds. There are some magnificent woods and a wide variety of birds - moorland, woodland, field, river and coast. It's well worth carrying a pair of binoculars. There is much history along the way too, from standing stones, hill forts and pele towers to castles and mansions.