Criffel – The Solway's Big Hill
Criffel is the big, rounded hill that rises over New Abbey and the Nith estuary, and from its top on a clear day you look across the whole Solway coast to the fells of the Lake District.
It's a real climb, but a short one, on a clear path from a car park at its foot. It makes a fine morning out.
- Time
- About three hours there and back.
- The path
- A hill path, steep in places, through a kissing gate and a forest gate.
- Where to start
- The walkers' car park at Ardwall, at the end of an unsigned lane off the A710, about two and a half miles south of New Abbey.
- Set off
- In daylight, on a clear, settled day; from November to February set off by 11am.
- When to go
- All year in clear, settled weather; from November to February, set off by 11am.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs close where there are sheep.
- Children
- A steep climb, best for older children used to walking.
- Toilets
- None at the car park.
- Before you set out
- In low cloud or a strong wind, save it for another day.
The walk
The walkers' car park for Criffel is at Ardwall, at the end of a small, unsigned lane off the A710, about two and a half miles south of New Abbey. There are no toilets. From the car park the path climbs through the forest edge and up the open hill, steep in places, to the trig point on the top, at 569 metres.
Allow about three hours there and back. On a clear day the view runs along the whole Solway coast and over the water to the Lake District fells, Skiddaw and Blencathra among them. Criffel is open hill with no shelter: in low cloud or a strong wind the top is cold and the view is gone, so save it for a clear, settled day, and take warm layers and waterproofs.
From November to February, set off by 11am to be down in daylight. Keep dogs close where there are sheep.
If it rains
Open hill with no shelter, and no view at all in low cloud. In rain or a strong wind, leave it for a clearer day.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Mark HIlton via Google