Dumfries & Galloway SEASIDE SUMMIT
Use this good new path to climb Galloway's landmark and enjoy amazing views across to the Lake District.
Criffel, the fell of the crows. It’s a 570m-high hump of peaty granite, standing all on its own on the Scottish shoreline of the Solway Firth. It’s maybe not the highest, but the most noticeable hill of Dumfries & Galloway region, and seen across the sea from anywhere along the edge of the Lake District.
Until a couple of years ago, Criffel was a hill that only a local could love. Granite is waterproof, peat is absorbent and peat on granite in the Scottish climate means a soggy brown path, wet feet and peat-stained legs. But in 2021, a fine, firm path was built up the steep side of Criffel, turning it overnight into a pleasing and popular hill. Better still, some leftover funding allowed the repair of the longer and lovelier approach from the village of New Abbey (named on the basis that the beautiful sandstone abbey was indeed new back in the 1390s) over the sub-summit of Knockendoch.
Linger at the top for those grand views over the sea to England, down the well-made new path, and a link route around beside cow-haunted Loch Kindar – and you’ll agree that peaty granite’s never been this good.
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Start at Sweetheart Abbey, New Abbey. Head west to the village centre, and bear left up a lane at the Abbey Arms. Bear left again, and after a driveway on the left take steps up onto a fenced-in path. It soon rejoins the lane at another bend. Follow the lane on to its end at a small car park.
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Take atrack on the left across Glen Burn, and bear right on a path beside the stream. It runs through scrubby wood to join a forest track. Keep ahead up this for 200m to
New Abbey and Sweetheart Abbey. meet another track. Turn right up this, around a left bend, and where it bends right again keep ahead on a well made path.
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The path bends uphill, and runs through woods up to open hill. It steepens, with a rough, peaty climb to the preliminary summit Knockendoch. Turn right across a shallow col, then the path runs along the left flank of the rounded spurline before a gentle ascent to Criffel's summit plateau. Here it joins a well built gravel path for the last few steps to the ancient D
