Hoddam Castle and Farm Walks

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
5 kms	01:30 (hrs:mins)	100 metres	Explorer 322: Annandale

Description

These are walks of great natural variety. The woodlands provide a haven for many animals, like red squirrels, roe deer and greater-spotted woodpeckers, while the river margins are rich in wild flowers and butterflies.
Please keep dogs on a lead at the caravan park and in fields where livestock is present.
Note.Dogs are not allowed on the Golf Course.
Hoddom Castle was built c.1552 �65 by John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries � the massive central tower is the original part of the Castle, with many extensions and alterations added much later. It was considered almost impregnable, and is situated near the main invasion route into western Scotland � it was regarded as one of the strongest and most important castles of its period in the Scottish borders.

Several way marked walks start from here including the Woodcock air walks which involve steep hills and care must be taken as timber felling and clearing contractors are sometimes working. However the Hoddom Castle Riverside and Farm walks described here are not hilly.

Starting from the car park, follow the blue signed path through the woodland for Hoddom Castle. When you reach the tarmac drive turn to the right towards the gatehouse for about 25 metres, then take the signed path by the river for Hoddom Castle. A few meters along this a path to the right leads to the Hound �s Monument. This monument was erected beside the river in memory of an otter hound called �Royal,� he died in the winter of 1898 having spent too long in the water in pursuit of an otter. The ruined building on the rivers edge was the Hoddom boathouse. The large house on the opposite side of the river is Hallguards. The high ground on which it is built is thought to be the site of an earlier 14th century Hoddom Castle. Retrace your steps back to the main path and continue up river towards Hoddom Castle. The path leads upstream; follow the blue arrow signs through the woodland to come out at Hoddom Castle. There is a car park at the Hoddom Castle Caravan Park and the caf� in the Castle provides welcome food and
refreshments during the summer season. Continue past the car park and the front of the Castle following the blue way markers marked �Riverside Trail �. The track passes through woodland to a stile. Climb the stile and cross the meadow to a footbridge over the River Annan. At the footbridge you have the option of crossing the river to follow the waymarked Farm Trail or returning downstream on the Riverside Trail to Hoddom Bridge and the car park.

OPTION A � Riverside Trail ((Blue markers)
Follow the blue markers downstream along the riverbank. After crossing a stile follow the blue signs along the path beside the river with the golf course on your right. Take care along the edge of the golf course if play is in progress. Birds frequently seen along the river include dipper, heron and kingfisher and on sunny summer days sandmartins and swallows fly over the water and neighbouring fields. Cross the stile from the golf course into a wooded area. Proceed along the path for about 250 meters to a junction. At this point ignore the blue marker unless you wish to go back to the Castle. To reach the car park go straight ahead on the riverside path which is signed Hoddom Bridge. After about 50 meters the path divides, take the path going slightly uphill to the right. After about 100 meters the path meets the main drive. Turn left down the drive towards the main gate and gatehouse. Just before the gate, take the steps on the right which lead back to the car park.

OPTION B � Farm Trail ((Red Markers)
Cross the river and turn left, follow the path as it goes along the banks of the River Annan and later the Water of Milk. Take care after heavy rain, as the river rises very quickly and the path can become flooded in places. Just before a bridge over the Water of Milk, turn right to join a lane. Turn right along the lane. At the deserted steading of Hoddom Mill follow the road to the left. At the next road junction take the road to the right towards Mainholm Farm. This leads back to the footbridge over the River Annan. After crossing the bridge follow the blue markers of the Riverside Trail back to the car park at Hoddom Bridge as in Option A.

Access Info

The Hoddom and Kinmount car park and picnic site is signposted off the B723 Annan to Lockerbie road at the junction with the B725 Dalton road about 4.4 miles west of Annan.
Public transport bus service - From Dumfries 81 to Lockerbie then catch the 3