Southern Upland Way 6: Wanlockhead to Beattock

Summary

Reaching the highest point and crossing the midpoint of the Way this is a significant stage. Much of the route is on high rolling hills with great views, then path through forest before final road descent to Beattock.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Mainly paths and tracks, can be very boggy in places with some steep sections. On the high ground care is needed with navigation, especially in mist.

Getting there

Start

Wanlockhead.

Public Transport

Bus at Wanlockhead, bus from Beattock.

Start Grid Ref

NS875128

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Services

Wanlockhead Inn has rooms, pods and informal camping, museum has a cafe, some good wild camp spots along Wanlock Water before you reach the village. Brattleburn Bothy (22km point) is a short detour off route as is Rivox Bunkhouse (24km), Beattock has a pub for meals and accommodation and a campsite, or Moffat (extra 3km on link path and pavement) has shops, B&Bs, hotels, excellent hostel, outdoor shop and campsite.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 31.25km / 19.5 miles
Time: 8 - 10 hours
Ascent: 1005m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Donald: Lowther Hill

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Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

From the mining museum the route goes up a flight of steps to cross the B797 road and head up just right of a house (Mountain Lodge) and onto a path that runs south-east across the slopes of Stake Hill.

Stage 2

Follow the path until it joins the road up towards the huge golf ball-style radar station on 725 metre Lowther Hill. The Way follows the road for a short distance before heading up a path which cuts the long corners and heads almost directly up towards the summit. However before the top it reaches the road again at 710 metres (the highest point on the route), then bears left for a very short distance before taking a path on the left. Go through a gate on the right in the fence and pass a curious metal hut. The lunch box weather shelter is window-less but would be welcome in rain although due to it being metal do not shelter in it if lightning is forecast.

Stage 3

Continue on a narrow path with the golf ball radar station looming to your left and cross a fence at a gate. From here the waymarked path descends south-west to a col before climbing steeply to the 628m summit of Cold Moss. It then traverses Comb Head and descends steeply to a col before a short ascent to Laght Hill. This is a superb high level walk with extensive views. From Laght hill the path turns north-east (keep the fence and remains of the stone wall on your right) and then east descending towards the A702.

Stage 4

When the road comes into view cross a stile and keep heading straight down a rough path to emerge at the road just to the right of a house. Turn left on the road and follow it to a bridge over Potrenick Burn. A short way beyond turn right onto a path which cuts diagonally across pastureland to the Potrail Water (some good wild camp spots here). Cross the footbridge and go through a gate, then the path weaves through the conifers of the Watersmeeting Forest. The path runs south-east beside a burn through the trees, reaching a junction of forest roads where a track heading in the same direction as the path is taken to the edge of the forest and beyond. The track crosses the northern slopes of Comb Law and then Hitteril Hill.

Stage 5

Continue ahead at a track junction where a bench and marker post celebrate the halfway point of the Southern Upland Way. Eventually a minor road is reached, turn right along this road to the Daer Reservoir, set in a ring of hills. Cross the dam and then climb up Sweetshaw Brae and over an unnamed 567 metre top before swinging south over Hods Hill and Beld Knowe on the edge of the Greskine Forest, the route can be very boggy here. There are views over the forest and large recently felled areas to the Moffat and Ettrick hills.

Stage 6

Not far past Beld Knowe the Way goes through a gate in the fence and soon enters the trees on the route of a gas pipeline (the red-topped white markers will accompany you for many km) and follows this path to the Cloffin Burn, crossing straight across two forestry tracks on the way. Just beyond the burn a sign points out a 0.5km detour along a boggy path to Brattleburn Bothy, a good place for an overnight stop; Brattleburn is an open shelter maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association; please help by carrying out any rubbish you find here, and always follow the bothy code when visiting.

Stage 7

The pipeline path continues over Craig Hill and down to a track. Here a 0.4km detour to the right leads to Rivox Bunkhouse which is another accommodation option (book in advance). Otherwise the path continues ahead across the lower slopes of Rivox Moor and down to a footbridge. From here the way climbs a stile to head diagonally across pastures with a house visible to the left ahead. The path then returns to the forest before crossing straight over a forestry track and through more open ground just south of Neath Hill where recent felling has opened up views. After passing a picnic table and SUW information board near some artificial ponds the path emerges at a minor road at a gate.

Stage 8

Turn left and follow the road past a small parking area. It heads steeply uphill and then across sheep pastures before a long descent to the little village of Beattock. This road section is also on the Annandale Way and you can see Annandale spread out before you with the town of Moffat, the West Coast Railway and the M74 motorway all in view and the big Moffat and Ettrick hills rising behind them. At the bottom of the hill cross the bridge over the railway to reach the road to Beattock. The route goes left here, but turn right to detour to reach the centre of Beattock which has a few facilities. Alternatively just 3km north is much larger Moffat with everything you could need - to reach the link path continue to the left on the SUW until a signed path (also the Annandale Way) leaves Barnhill Rd to the left to cross field and join the pavement of the A701.

Next stage: Beattock to St Mary's Loch

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