Crichope Linn

📌 Gorge near Gatelawbridge, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★★

Hidden away in the un-touristy interior of southern Scotland, Crichope Linn is a magical abyss with dramatic scenery and fascinating history. The rocky walls amid lush surroundings have been attracting visitors for at least two centuries, and today’s intrepid explorer follows in the footsteps of early tourists including Sir Walter Scott (who wrote about it in Old Mortality) and Thomas Carlyle. You enter the glen at its foot and soon reach the most dramatic section, where a spur of path leads through a natural arch to a fantastic viewpoint for the lower gorge. Look carefully as you pass under the arch: dozens of past visitors have carved their names into the rock, some as long ago as the 1800s. Return to the main path and it threads its way along the gorge rim with occasional, dizzying views down. After one of many burn crossings there’s a fork. Left is less interesting but probably continues at a higher level to a track at the top of the gorge, perhaps enabling a circular walk. Right (as shown in the photos below) enters a second gorge section, with ever more hazardous erosion and increasingly alarming drops to the side. Eventually you’re hemmed in on a ledge surrounded by cliffs, with a jumble of boulders ahead making it too risky to continue: return the same way. An excellent alternative to the overcrowded Finnich Glen north of Glasgow.

🌍 Location

📌 Off minor road 1 mi south of Gatelawbridge. Main viewpoint is around:

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NX 911955

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.241899,-3.714929

🚌 Bus to Gatelawbridge (1 mi from gorge entrance)

🚗 Space for a few cars in old quarry at 🧭 NX 907955 / 🛰️ 55.241470,-3.720590

📝 Key info

⌚ Always open

🎫 Free

💬 From the parking area it’s a 10-min walk (each way) to the main viewpoint beyond the arch (⬤ Moderate), though you can continue on the main path to explore further, as described above (⬤ Tough). Turn right (south) on the access route before taking a path left after 100m. Paths become increasingly rough with some fallen trees, unstable ground & unprotected drops – great care needed in places.