Walk 19 - Kippford to Rockcliffe walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Start: At a car park off a minor road from Auchencairn to Castle Douglas.
Refreshments: Pubs and café in Kippford

This walk packs a lot of interest into a short distance. The section of coast between Kippford and Rockcliffe is one of the most scenic in the area with great views and many points of interest along the route. This walk is very popular on summer weekends.

1. Start from the public car park at Kippford Village Hall. There is a collection box for donations by the door of the hall. Kippford, on the estuary of the River Urr, was originally known as Scaur and was an important port in Victorian times. Today it is a popular holiday destination and a centre for yachting on the Solway Firth. Walk south along the shore road through the village. At low tide the estuary is a good place to see wading birds such as redshank and curlew. Stay on the shore road as it becomes narrower and passes some houses perched on the massive granite outcrops After about half a mile you will reach the end of the road at a small bay where there is a bench with a view across to Rough Island.

2. At low tide it is possible to walk out on an old causeway to Rough Island, but this should not be attempted unless you have a good knowledge of the local tides. Rough Island is also closed to visitors in May and June due to breeding birds.

3. Retrace your steps back towards Rockcliffe for a couple of hundred yards until you see a signpost for the footpath to Rockcliffe pointing up between two stone walls. This area of woodland is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Follow this path through mixed woodland until you reach some houses on the shore on the edge of Rockcliffe. Footpath signs will lead you down a little lane to emerge at the end of Rockcliffe beach where there are public toilets and usually an ice cream van.

4. Rockcliffe is a pretty village, wrapped around the bay and sandy beach. Once you have enjoyed the views and an ice cream, go back along the path towards Kippford but stay right and cross a bridge over a small stream then follow the well-marked path into woodland. This area is sometimes grazed by a small herd of highland cattle in the summer months. At a path junction, take the left-hand path up a short but steep climb to reach the Mote of Mark, the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

5. The Mote of Mark was occupied around the 6th century but destroyed by fire in the 7th century. It now provides a magnificent viewpoint to survey the scene across the estuary and over to the mountains of the Lake District. Descend from the Mote of Mark back to the path junction and turn left following the path through woodlands until you come to a junction with forest tracks and information boards.

6. The route back to Kippford now follows the “Jubilee Path”. This was created in 1901 to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.

7. The path takes a high level traverse across the National Trust lands with good views across through the trees before emerging onto a surfaced road at the top of Kippford village. This road leads back down to the shore where you will find the café and two waterfront pubs.

8. If you would like a longer walk back from Rockcliffe to Kippford, there are waymarked trails through Forestry Commission land around the slopes of Mark Hill.

It would be a great help to future walkers if you could record any inaccuracies you come across during this walk and report them to reception so that appropriate amendments can be made. Thank you for your help. Happy walking.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.