Criffel from Ardwall
Dumfries and Galloway
Criffel is the isolated hill that rises above New Abbey and dominates the Solway coast of Dumfries and Galloway. Dogs can range freely on the forestry tracks and open hillside, though the ground above the trees turns very boggy and offers no shade. At 569 metres it stands on its own, so the summit, with its OS trig column and the stone pile of Douglas's Cairn, looks out in every direction: over the Nith estuary, along the Solway Firth and, on a clear day, to the northern fells of the Lake District. The route from Ardwall is the shortest way up, around 7.3km there and back with about 510 metres of climbing. It climbs through pine plantation and across forestry tracks beside the Craigrockall Burn, then heads out onto open hillside for the steeper final pull. Above the trees the ground is often very boggy and mossy.
This is a dog friendly hill walk for fit dogs that enjoy a proper climb. The burn runs beside the lower half of the path, giving a dog water on the way up and the way down, and the forest section is sheltered. Above the trees the hill is open and exposed, with no shade, and sheep may be grazing, so keep a lead handy and use it whenever livestock is in sight. The boggy ground means a muddy dog at the end. Parking is a small farm car park at Ardwall with an honesty box for Moffat Mountain Rescue. There are no toilets, and the nearest villages are New Abbey and Kirkbean.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 3 hr 20 min
- Walk Type
- Peak, Woodland, Moorland
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- None on route; no toilets at the car park. Village facilities in New Abbey.
- Parking
- Small farm car park at Ardwall, off the A710 south of New Abbey, donation to Moffat Mountain Rescue by honesty box.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Criffel from Ardwall, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Loch Cottage - Colvend
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £750 / 7 nights
Loch Carlingwark Lodge 2
Sleeps 4 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £801 / 7 nights
Keepers Cottage - Hoddom
Sleeps 2 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £543 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in Dumfries and GallowayFrequently Asked Questions
Is Criffel from Ardwall dog friendly?
Yes, it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. It is a short but steep hill climb that suits fit, energetic dogs, with a burn beside the lower path for drinking. The score reflects the exposed, boggy upper hill with no shade, and the possibility of grazing sheep on the open slopes, which means a lead for part of the walk.
Can dogs be off lead at Criffel from Ardwall?
There is moderate off-lead potential on the open upper slopes for a dog with good recall, as long as no livestock is in sight. Sheep may graze the hillside, so put your dog on a lead as soon as you see any, and keep dogs close in the woodland where the path crosses forestry tracks. Under Scottish access rules dogs must always be under proper control.
What should I know before visiting Criffel from Ardwall with my dog?
The upper hill is very boggy in places and can be icy in winter, so expect a wet, muddy dog and allow around three to four hours. There is no shade above the forest, so carry water on warm days once you leave the burn. Parking is at Ardwall Farm, reached by a single-track road off the A710 south of New Abbey, with an honesty box for mountain rescue and no toilets.
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