Castle Loch Walks

From the Town Hall walk south along the High Street to the Church, cross the B7020 for Dalton & Annan and continue along the A709 Dumfries—Lockerbie Road, pass the War Memorial and enter Victory Park through the metal gate in the hedge, turn left and follow the path into and through Annandale Sailing Club. This takes you onto a pavement alongside the A709 for a short distance where you turn into a woodland path after the last house.

Follow this path to Lochfield Car Park and continue on to Lochfield Cottage which is owned by Castle Loch Lochmaben Community Trust. From here the path is well-defined and leads you through woodland to a bridge crossing Innerfield Burn. From here you cross the edge of Lochside Plantation and follow the path into Kirkhirst Plantation (do not follow the former farm track).

As you leave the woods you rejoin Lochside Plantation following the field boundary west till you reach Valison Burn. At this point, you will find a well-maintained raised wooden walkway leading you through Castle Wood. Part way along is a branch to a Bird Hide.

Following the walkway to its end, you will find yourself at Lochmaben Castle. Note the ditches on either side of the track which offered protection to the Outer Ward of Lochmaben Castle. The castle is the best preserved Edwardian Peel in Scotland.

At the small car park, on the right, a visit to Lochmaben Castle is recommended by continuing on the road to the larger car park. (Opposite the small car park there is a “Robert the Bruce Trail” information board and another board, at the castle, describing its history).

To continue the walk follow the Castle access road, initially southward but turning right to pass Castle Mains Farm – continue until you reach a metal walking gate on the right and re-enter Castle Wood. Continue to follow the path and you will eventually come out of the wood at the Tennis Courts and Bowling Green. From here either turn right and walk into Victory Park for a well-earned rest or continue along the pavement on the edge of the B7020 up to the church and retrace your steps to the Town Hall.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}

This should be read along with the description from Walk 1 which expands by adding a small loop along a minor road with a good view over Castle Loch

From the Town Hall walk south along the High Street to the Church, cross the B7020 for Dalton & Annan and continue along the A709 Dumfries—Lockerbie Road, pass the War Memorial and Victory Park then take the minor road on the left, this quickly climbs up and over a bridge which crossed the former Lockerbie-Dumfries railway.

The railway was originally part of the Caledonian Railway and was opened in 1863. Sadly the line was axed by Dr Beeching and closed in 1965. Milk was transported from Lochmaben to Edinburgh by rail to supply the Edinburgh Dumfriesshire Dairies. In the city, the deliveries were by horse-drawn floats or latterly electric float lorries.

Follow this road enjoying a good view over Castle Loch to the west, you will pass Innerfield Farm on your left and at the ‘T’ junction at Halleaths turn right and follow the road to the A709 (take care crossing this busy road), cross and go through the gate where you will join Walk 1 near between Innerfield Burn and Kirkhurst Plantation.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}

This should be read along with the description from Walk 1 which expands by adding a small loop leaving Castle Loch on the east side and climbing up for a view to the east over the loch.

After you pass Castle Mains Farm and reach a metal walking gate on the right and re-enter Castle Wood. Continue to follow the path until you see a sandstone cottage across the B7020 road opposite, just after this you will cross a bridge over the Vendace Burn and see a metal gate on the left – go through this gate, taking care crossing the road, and through another gate opposite. Follow the narrow path which curves right and climbs up the hill between two farm fences until you reach the gate at the end.

Once through the gate, Castlehill Farm is on your left, follow the public road north into Lochmaben joining Kirk Loch Brae and on to the campsite where you turn right into Well Vennel and left at the top into the High Street where you will see the Town Hall.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}

This should be read along with the description from Walks 1 & 3 which it expands by adding another small loop leaving Castlehill Farm Road just after the farmhouse.

Immediately after you pass the farmhouse and reach Lochmaben Golf Course (look and listen for stray gold balls coming your way) go through a metal gate on your left and down the narrow sloping path to the bottom of the hill. Just before the Vendace Burn turn right and walk through a wooded avenue and pick up a path along the edge of the Kirk Loch which will lead you to the campsite.

Pass through the middle of the campsite exit cross into Well Vennel and left at the top into the High Street where you will see the Town Hall.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}

This should be read along with the description from Walks 1, 3 & 4 which expands by adding another small loop leaving crossing more of the golf course.

Cross the Vendace Burn and continue uphill to the edge of the gold course where you will enter a narrow footpath leading further west to a road with Lochmaben Cemetery on the right behind a wall.

Turn right on the road and continue for 600 m to a road junction. Turn right here and, after passing a few houses on the left, reach the main A709 Lochmaben-Dumfries road. Cross the road here to the pavement and continue ahead via Dumfries Road, Halliday Terrace and Bruce Street to reach the Town Hall.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}

This should be read along with the description from Walks 1 & 2 which it expands by adding two larger loops.

Once on the Castle access road follow it past Castle Mains Farm to the end of the road where it joins the B7020 (take care crossing this road which can be busy with fast traffic), Castle Mains cottage should be on your right, cross and go straight up the footpath in the middle of the farmer’s field, as you reach the top of the filed follow the path to the edge of Marmeadow Plantation, from there bear left to the track at the edge of Ryemuir Burn and follow it to join the minor road at Marlake Bridge.

Turn right on the road and continue past the cemetery to the end of the road and a ‘T’ junction. Turn right here and, after passing a few houses on the left, reach the main A709 Lochmaben-Dumfries road. Cross the road here to the pavement and continue ahead via Dumfries Road, Halliday Terrace and Bruce Street to reach the Town Hall.

_{Credits: Paul Gow, Tom Russell and David Mair of the Lochmaben Initiative and Robert Togneri for editing and production}