📌 Lochmaben, Dumfries & Galloway
★★
Castle Loch is the largest of the trio of water bodies around the village of Lochmaben, Annandale. A stroll around its shores is a pleasant way to fill a couple of hours, with a new section of path opened a few years ago to complete the “missing link” in the circuit. The loch is a local nature reserve, with mute swans, grebes and willow tits present in summer. Cold weather brings even more wildfowl: pink footed and greylag geese and several species of duck overwinter here. A ruined castle occupies a peninsula on the southern side of the lake.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Castle Loch from near the start] 
Lochside path 
Track junction at Lochside Plantation 
Valison Burn 
Valison Burn 
Boardwalk section 
Lochmaben Castle 
Jetty at Lochmaben Castle 
Loch views from near the castle 
Castle Wood 
Castle Loch 
Vendace Burn 
Western shoreline 
Western shoreline 
Heron sculpture 
Approach to Lochmaben 
Castle Loch at Lochmaben 
Annandale Sailing Club
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A709 0.5 mi southeast of Lochmaben
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NY 090819
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.123154,-3.428896
🚌 Bus stops on A709 both at Halleaths turnoff (next to east part of walk route) & in Lochmaben (near north part of walk route)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 10 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr
Features: 💧 Castle Loch; 🏰 Lochmaben Castle ★★
⬤ Easy | Level paths, boardwalks, tracks and quiet roads.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit of Castle Loch via Lochmaben Castle, with short detours to hides & viewpoints. Leaflet & map guide 🔗 here
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Grey heron, lots of blue damselflies, dozens of swans, butterflies, ripe wild raspberries.
Weather: Mostly sunny, some fair weather cloud and light breeze, 21ºC.
July 2019
