Rockcliffe to Sandyhills

This superb linear coastal walk links picturesque Rockcliffe with the sandy beach at Sandyhills. In between there is some excellent coastal and clifftop scenery with great views up and down the coastline as well as across the Solway Firth. An infrequent bus service leads back to the start - or you could walk as well (doubling the time and distance).

Terrain

Coastal path, muddy in places. Good number of sometimes awkward stone stiles.

Public Transport

Bus to Rockcliffe. The (fairly infrequent) service also links to Sandyhills for the return journey.

Start

Rockcliffe. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a car park on the left before the road reaches the shore at Rockcliffe. This beautiful coastal village enjoys a grand location on the Rough Firth, and has many fine houses as well as a good teashop - worthy of exploration. To begin the walk, leave the road where it first reaches the waterfront and take the private lane off it that heads south along the front - signed for Castle Point.

Stage 2

The lane leads past some old stone-built villas; as it curves left keep straight on onto a footpath - with a National Trust for Scotland sign for Castle Point. This leads along the fairly sheltered shoreline and over a footbridge. At a path junction, bear right to follow the shore - unless the tide is high in which case go straight on using the boardwalk. The route keeps just above the beach at Port o' Beagle - a white bungalow. Continue on the clear coastal path, soon passing a rocky section before cutting left inland at a sign, passing a stone enclosure and then through a kissing gate. From here it continues along the field edge to the right.

Stage 3

At the end of the field is a grassy mound, accessed via a gate. This is Castlehill Point; the mound was once the site of an iron age fort and still commands grand views across the Solway Firth - with the Robin Rigg offshore Wind Farm in clear view on a good day. Return to the gate at the foot of the mound, but then turn right to continue along the field edge. A wooden stile on the right gives access to the pebbly cove at Barcloy Heigh. The coastwalk, however, continues ahead, crossing a stone stile over the wall and climbing across the flanks of Barcloy Hill above the cliffs.

Stage 4

After another stone stile the path soon starts to descend through gorse to reach a lower-lying section of the coast. There are more stiles as the route cuts around the back of the rocky inlets of Bogle Hole, backed by a ruin; there are two shingle coves here which are almost barred from the sea by narrow rocky channels. Beyond this the path climbs again, with further stiles and a gate before it leads across open grassy pastures above the sea. Look out for nesting cormorants on the cliffs on this section.

Stage 5

Soon Millstone Loup and the coastal cliffs of White Hill loom ahead impressively, and the path is forced to climb once again to pass above; beyond it descends towards a group of houses by the sea and meets a lane via a very awkward stile. Turn left up the lane, passing some grand houses both old and new, before turning right after around 500m as signed for Douglas Hall and Sandyhills. The branch descends to Fishers Croft - as the private lane bends right the coastal path heads off ahead under some old trees before crossing to the landward side of a drystone dyke.

Stage 6

Continue on the coast path as it climbs to the final highpoint on the route, the viewpoint on the flanks of Torrs Hill. From here there is a great outlook across Sandyhills Bay and along the coastline beyond. The coast path fragments into several branches after this; if your route is blocked by a drystone dyke then follow it to the right to regain the path above the cliifs.

Stage 7

Immediately after a gate the Needle's Eye - a natural arch - can be seen by looking back along the coast. The view is rather obstructed from here and it can be seen better from a little further on. After another gate the path descends and there is access to a small pebbly bay. From here the grassy path cuts left slightly, goes straight ahead across another route that cuts across it diagonally, and reaches a footbridge over a burn. The path now continues along the grassy ground just above the shore, keeping on the seaward side of the Sandyhills Bay campsite. The path eventually reaches the sandy beach; continue along this until the footpath sign. From here head left to gain the car park (charge), public toilets and bus stop at Sandyhills. The bus back is infrequent so hopefully you have already checked the times. Otherwise you'll have to double the distance by retracing your steps!

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