Walk 20 - Rockcliffe to Sandyhills walking and hiking route

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.

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.