Walk 20 - Rockcliffe to Sandyhills walking and hiking route
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Walk Instructions
Start: At the east end of the beach in Rockcliffe.
Refreshments: Café in Colvend. Pubs and café in
Kippford.
A spectacular walk along the rugged coastline
between Rockcliffe and Sandyhills. This is
a point-to-point route, but you can use the
number 372 bus service to get to either end of
the route before or after walking the coastal
path. The Colvend Coast is well known for its
flora and fauna. Look out for bluebells, orchids
and stonecrop along the path. Peregrines,
fulmar and razorbills may be seen along the
rocky coast.
1. If you park at the Sandyhills car park (fee in
summer), you can catch the 372 bus and go to
Rockcliffe (or Kippford) to get to the start of the route.
You can check the timetables at: www.dumgal.gov.
uk/timetables. The bus runs every 2 hours Monday to
Saturday and three times on Sundays.
2. Start at the east end of the beach in Rockcliffe where
a small road signposted “The Merse and Castle Point”
goes past houses along the side of the bay. Where the
road ends, a signposted footpath continues just above
the high tide line round the small bay of Portobeagle
before heading left up a rocky section. You will pass the
grave of Joseph Nelson who died in a shipwreck here
in 1791. The path climbs steadily across a field before
arriving at the promontory of Castlehill Point.
3. Castlehill Point is the site of an Iron Age fort dating
from around 200 A.D. Not much remains of the
original structure but you may be able to make out
some of the original ditches and wall footings. There is
an information board at the viewpoint and great views
across the Solway Firth. Follow the path along the cliff
edge around the bay of Barcloy Heigh before climbing
over the shoulder of Barcloy Hill then descending, with
some wooden steps, to the rocky inlets of Bogle Hole
and a ruined building.
4. Continue along the coastal path and on the next
headland you will see a stone monument with a cross
on top. This is a memorial to Captain Samuel Wilson of
the schooner “Elbe”. He was killed during a shipwreck
here after managing to safely evacuate his crew.
You can visit the memorial along a small path that
branches off the main coast path.
The path continues along the edge of fields through
several gates rising steeply up the flank of White Hill. A
steep descent with some wooden steps leads into the
village of Port o’ Warren at a small bay.
5. Follow the single-track road uphill from Port o’
Warren to Portling then turn right down a road
signposted “Sandyhills”. Just before reaching the shore
there is a signpost and a set of steps leading up to
the left. This leads to another steep climb up to the
viewpoint on Torrs Hill. An information board describes
the various topographic features that can be seen from
here. The descent to Sandyhills goes through more
gates and down several flights of steps before crossing
a footbridge onto Sandyhills beach.
6. At low tide you can double back beneath the cliffs
to visit the Needle’s Eye, a natural arch. Walk across on
the seaward side of the caravan site to return to the
car park. This walk can be extended by starting from
Kippford rather than Rockcliffe. You can either take
the coastal route between the two villages or take the
higher Jubilee Path.
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.
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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.
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