Walking around Kirkcudbright.                       Click Here to view Printer friendly page.
The Buckland.  Mainly on road walk.	5 to11 miles. Circular route

Country and woodland walk on footpath and minor roads.

To Buckland Bridge - easy;  beyond Bridge - hilly

This walk has always been popular with locals.  Views across the shore, easy-going sections, quiet woodlands, trickling burns, steady ups and downs:  this route combines all the elements for a walk of between 5 and 11 miles.                                                                                   From Kirkcudbright, follow the road side footpath of the A711 south towards Dundrennan, past Park House, Sandside and Black Moray Wood, to Mutehill..                Black Moray Wood is on the landward side. "BlackMurray or Black Morrow Wood is reached from the easternside of the harbour and owes its name to the reputed capture, within its recesses, of a bandit- Black Murray. The story runs that young Maclellan of Bombie filled the basin of a spring with spirits (the Black Morrow Well) and the outlaw, having drunk of if freely, soon fell into a stupor, whereupon Maclellan chopped off his head, brought it on the point of his sword to King James II, and so secured the promised reward."  - from the Guide to Kirkcudbright circa 1920.

Beyond Sandside cottages, are a roadside seats, with views across Manxman's Lake, and down to Ross Island at the mouth of Kirkcudbright  Bay.  At Mutehill Bridge (1½ miles) where the footpath ends, bear left along the A 711 for ¼ mile, before turning into the minor road (passing places) on the left.

Follow this road down to and alongside the Buckland Burn, past Corbie's Nest, to the junction at Buckland Bridge. Opposite Corbie's Nest is Orchard Banks Plantation, where a few old straggly fruit trees still remain of a fruit orchard. Turn left over Buckland Bridge (3 miles), steadily climbing the hill to High Kirkland, and back down, passing Barhill Wood on the lef,t and joining the B727 into the town.  In a short distance, there is a road side footpath near the cemetery, which leads back into the town, and completes a scenic walk of 5 miles.

To extend this route by 3 miles (to 8 miles), after crossing Buckland Bridge, turn right and follow the road along the burn, and then climb up to Whinnieliggate. (no map shown - refer to the Ordnance Survey map:- Explorer 312, 1:250000).

On the way up the easy hill, look for the wild orchids on the right hand road side verge, and also look up and across to the attractive Bombie Glen.

At  Miekle Sypland farm the road levels out and continues straight to Whinnieliggate. At Whinnieliggate, (5 miles) there are a few houses and a plant nursery, in the former local school.  In a short distance, at the T-junction, turn left along the B727 (National Cycle Route 7) to Kirkcudbright. The road descends for much of the way, passing through a mix of farmland and woodland.  After passing Lochfergus farm, the road twists down a pretty glen, at the end of which is the Wildlife Park access on the right. The Wildlife Park, a popular visitor attraction, is a ¼ mile up the access track. (tel: 01557 331645).   Continue down the B727 past the access to a sharp right-hand bend on the junction with the minor road from the Buckland. Just beyond on the right is the cemetery, from where a road side footpath leads down into the town.

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