Walk: Castle Loch circular

Dumfries & Galloway | Lochmaben | Half day walk | ★★

[Castle Loch]

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.

[Woodland path]

📌 Walk: Castle Loch circular ★★
Start / finish at car park on A709 half a mile southeast of Lochmaben, G.R.: NY 090819 ///servicing.pool.mess

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 10 m | ⌚ Short walk | ⬤ Easy
Features: Castle Loch; Lochmaben Castle
Terrain: Level paths, boardwalks, tracks and quiet roads.

Route & map

Clockwise circuit of Castle Loch via Lochmaben Castle ★★, with short detours to hides & viewpoints. Leaflet & map guide here.


Route credit: Castle Loch Lochmaben Community Trust

On our 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.

Chronological photo guide

[Lochfield Cottage]

[Loch from near the start]

[Lochside path]

[Woodland track]

[Track junction at Lochside Plantation]

[Flora]

[Valison Burn]

[Valison Burn]

[Valison Burn]

[Boardwalk]

[Lochmaben Castle]

[Jetty at Lochmaben Castle]

[Loch views from near the castle]

[Castle Wood]

[Swans]

[Vendace Burn]

[Western shoreline]

[Western shoreline]

[Heron sculpture]

[Lochmaben]

[Castle Loch at Lochmaben]

[Annandale Sailing Club]

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