Walk: Criffel cracker – one for the winter

📌 New Abbey, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★

Isolated from surrounding hills, views from the summit of Criffel are some of the most memorable in Scotland on a clear day. Looking south, the cluster of peaks forming the northern Lake District rise majestically beyond the miles of mudflats and seawater of the Solway Firth. But the hill is a double-edged sword despite paths all the way to the top; it has a serious reputation for bog no matter which direction you climb it from. Expect wet feet on this otherwise wonderfully scenic circuit from the New Abbey side, unless you’re lucky enough to get a rare day when all the mud is frozen solid. One to save for winter?

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at minor road end 1 mi southwest of New Abbey

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 957655

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 54.972837,-3.630227

🚌 Bus stops on A710 near New Abbey Corn Mill (1 mi)

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 570 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr

Features: Loch Kindar; △ Criffel (569 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)

⬤ Tough | Intermittent paths through fields and woodland paths / tracks lower down. Exceptionally boggy ascent path on the open hill; even worse for the middle part of the descent!

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Loch Kindar northwest bank – join track at 🧭 NX 962654 – leave track at Craigrockhall Burn – Criffel – Knockendoch – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Cows, sheep and plump robins lower down; a couple of grouse near the summit.

Weather: 0°C with thick frost in the shade and frozen ground throughout, with a dusting of snow in places at the top. -5°C on the drive to the start.

November 2016