Rockford is a pretty place, but like anywhere it looks less attractive with the tide out. I park my car and set off along the path that runs behind the houses at the far end of the bay.

Rockford is a pretty place, but like anywhere it looks less attractive with the tide out. I park my car and set off along the path that runs behind the houses at the far end of the bay.

Sandyhills is a lovely place. And, for the first time for many weeks, I truly feel I’m beside the seaside, rather than on an estuary.

The day gets off to a wintry start. Stong winds and dark skies over Cumbria. I take a quick photograph of Southerness lighthouse and zip up my jacket. There’s rain coming.

I return to New Abbey – and this time I have a proper camera with a full battery. Unfortunately, the light isn’t as good as yesterday, but I take some reasonable photographs of Sweetheart Abbey.

Today the sun is shining for the first time since I arrived in Scotland. So I’m looking forward to taking some great photographs.
But when I switch on my camera… oh no… the battery is flat! What a shame. I have to use my iPhone to take a few snaps of Dumfries.

I catch the bus from Dumfries to Glencaple and it drops me off in the car park. Criffel looms across the river, dark and sullen.

The day is as dull as yesterday. Maybe duller. What a shame. All my photographs turn out looking muddy. Continue reading
Today I planned to park at Glencaple, then take a bus to Dumfries, where I would change to another bus to get back to Clarencefield. It would be a late start to my walk and a precarious beginning… but at breakfast my kind host steps in and offers me a lift. Yay!
We drive in convoy to Glencaple, and then he drops me off at Brow Well.

It’s a dull morning. I cross the River Annan via the road bridge and join the tail end of the Annandale Way. There are relatively few long-distance hiking trails in the area, but this is one of them.

It’s my first proper walk in Scotland, and I’m freaked out by the absence of public footpaths on the map. First thing to do is visit the tourist centre (as suggested by Alan Palin). Rather bizarrely, the centre is located in Gretna’s large retail park.

Rockcliffe is a pretty village, and slightly raised above the low-lying ground on either side. After lunch I continue walking north, parallel to the river, along a quiet lane that’s bright with daffodils.
