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. After Moffat the route makes its way south through farmland, forest and moorland, with a variant that takes in Lockerbie. The two routes rejoin, continuing past Hoddom Castle to continue to the coast mostly along the banks of the River Annan before reaching the Solway Firth.

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	4.5 - 5.5 hours
Hoddom Castle to the Solway Firth	16.5km	4 - 4.5 hours
Lockerbie variant
St Ann's to Lockerbie	21.6km	4.5 - 5.5 hours
Lockerbie to Hoddom Castle	13.8km	3.5 - 4 hours

THE CHALLENGE

The Annandale Way utilises a mix of footpaths, country roads and forest and farm tracks with some cross-country sections. It is mostly a low-level route, though the first stage and the section up to Joe Graham's Monument are more challenging.

The route is mostly clearly waymarked, apart from at a couple of points highlighted in the text; the waymarks may be attached to fence posts, gates, trees or boulders. If you don't see one scan the area - some are not obvious at a glance. There are many gates en route, mostly metal ones with levers or large latches. These stand out from the usual farm gates tied up with twine and can be spotted across a field before you see a waymark.