📌 Moffat Hills, Dumfries & Galloway
★★★★★
This is one of my favourite walks in southern Scotland. The views are impressive even from the car park: the trailhead sits within steep-sided Moffat Dale, surrounded by tall hills. Follow the popular path up the right bank of the Tail Burn and the spectacular Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is soon revealed, plunging 60 metres into a rocky ravine. Continuing uphill, the gradient eventually relents, and it’s a further half mile before sublime Loch Skeen comes into view. Hidden beyond heathery hummocks until the last moment, it makes for a spectacular objective and photo spot, presided over by the graceful arc of Lochcraig Head. It’s possible to climb the hill from here too, but most people will return by the outward route.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Grey Mare’s Tail (by the A708 10 mi northeast of Moffat)
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 187145
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.417892,-3.287513
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (charge, gets full)
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 290 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr
Features: 🌊 Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall ★★★★ & nature reserve; 💧 Loch Skeen
⬤ Moderate | Clear path to Loch Skeen, generally well constructed but quite steep at first, with unprotected drops. A couple of minor rocky outcrops to clamber over.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Grey Mare’s Tail (east bank) – Loch Skeen – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Wild goats, two peregrine falcons, sheep.* Lots of sheep.**
Weather: Full sunshine & light winds, just below freezing with a dusting of snow higher up.* Sunny with scattered clouds, a few degrees above freezing, light winds.**
*January 2023 / **April 2016
