Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway
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This early medieval carved cross shaft graces a field next to the A702 just after it crosses the double-arched Nith Bridge on the way out of Thornhill. Believed to date to the 9th or 10th century, the cross itself is missing, but you can still make out fine interlacing and animal symbols: not bad considering it’s been open to the elements for the last 1,000 years. The vegetation inside the iron railings had received a trim on our 2023 visit – but beware the nettles by the roadside gate / fence, which definitely hadn’t!
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NX 869955
GPS coordinates: 55.240457,-3.780463
Infrequent bus to Virginside (nearby to west), or better service to Thornhill (0.5 mi)
Layby
Key info
Always open
Free
The cross is visible from the layby. Reach it by carefully climbing the gate / fence just to the west of the layby (away from the bridge), then crossing the field – sticking to the margin as far as possible if crops are growing.
