Potholm & Castle Hill, Langholm

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
9 kms	02:20 (hrs:mins)	50 metres	Explorer 323: Eskdale & Castle o'er forest

Description

Cross the bridge over the Ewes Water (which you can see from the car park) and follow the road as far as North Lodge. Continue north through the woods for 1km, emerging into a clear-felled area with the Esk below and Potholm Farm visible ahead. Fork left down to the farm, keep right of the house, and at a T-junction, turn sharp right on a track that climbs steadily.

Turn left with this track, go over a stile at a gate, and turn right on open ground to start the climb onto Wrae Hass. A quad bike track offers a convenient route close to the fence. Some of this ground can be boggy. On reaching the ridge, turn right over a stile and walk uphill to another stile. Continue steadily uphill, still following a quad bike track with the remains of a stone dyke on your right, to reach the summit of Potholm Hill at 310m/1020ft. The view from here, particularly back across Ewesdale, is splendid. It is said that if you know where to look, you can see no fewer than 18 ancient forts or settlements from this site.

At a dyke junction, go straight on to continue with a sturdy dyke now on your left. Continue to where the dyke turns sharply left, and go straight ahead, keeping to the ridge on a faint path, to the summit of Castle Hill. Many other nearby hills are clearly visible, with the monument on Whita Hill across the valley standing proud. As you start to descend through scattered thorn trees, a wonderful view of Langholm opens out. This is the area where you may find cattle. Walk quietly and steadily and they will move away from you. They may include the distinctive Belted Galloway's with their broad white band. Reach a rough track and follow it downhill. It curves left and reaches a gate with a ladder stile.

After this the track improves and soon becomes a road passing Pathhead and winding downhill. Rejoin the outward route and turn left over the Ewes Bridge, back to the car park.

Access Info

The starting point for this walk is the Kilngreen car park, Langholm.
From Dumfries follow the A75 to Annan, from Annan follow the B720 to Langholm.
For public transport from Dumfries, there are a number of services via Lockerbie and Annan with a change for Langholm:
Dumfries to Lockerbie - 81,117,175
Lockerbie to Langholm - 103,112
Dumfries to Annan - 79,389
Annan to Langholm - 123

Additional Info

There are likely to be cattle on the open hill section, with calves in the spring period. Please do not take dogs on this walk between March and May. At other times, dogs must be kept on a lead.