Rockcliffe - Loch Barean - Portling - Rockcliffe

Tony Brotherton

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This superb scenic walk starts from the quaint 'Scottish Riviera' resort of Rockcliffe. It visits the Mote of Mark, with stone ramparts ten feet high and wide, stronghold of a prince of the Kingdom of Rheged and an industrial centre producing iron and bronze Celtic jewellery during its main occupation period between the 5th and 7th Centuries.

The walk also takes in the promontory fort at Castlehill Point and in between are woodland, heathland, moorland, some delightful lanes and rides, a large loch and the wonderful coastal path to enjoy. The Rockcliffe area is a prime site in Scotland for butterflies and on a sunny summer's day, myriads of these attractive creatures may further enhance enjoyment of this walk.

For local weather forecasts and other relevant information and services go to www.gallowaymrt.org.uk for Galloway Mountain Rescue's excellent website.

Scotland - South Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway - Coast

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mostly Flat, National Trust, Sea, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland
9/29/2016 - David and Chris Stewart

The section through the woods from Barean Loch has now been substantially revised with seven new waymarks added. We hope this will make navigation on this section much easier.

5/12/2016 - Andy Carlin

I think the points need to be clearer after Loch Barean. I got very confused in the woods, ended up having to retrace my steps several times and took the shorter route back in the end due to timing. Was disappointed to not actually reach the coast on this coastal walk! However I saw plenty of butterflies throughout the whole walk which was lovely.

4/3/2016 - ruth day

We did this walk firstly in May 2015 and again on 27/03/2016 and submitted comments ( after the first walk) very similar to Mike Dudley in October 2015, we note there has been some alterations but the main problem is still finding your way after Loch Barean yet again we could not find the elusive white boulder. This is a pity because this walk is a very varied walk and the latter part along the cliffs back to Rockcliffe was much enjoyed especially by a relative visiting us. This time we also came out of the first forestry area to far west.

10/25/2015 - MIKE DUDLEY

This is a great walk with contrasting woodland and coastal scenery. It is quite strenuous with several steep ups and downs. My only reservation is the navigational instructions between 11 and 14. Surely point 11 is at what is labelled as point 12 on the map? I did not find the white boulder referred to under point 12 instructions. Point 13 on the map should surely be where the track hits the A710? I think the tracks have changed a bit with a mountain bike trail within the wood which we ended up on rightly or wrongly. Thankfully there were no bikers as potentially an inadvertent meeting up could be hazardous. This section is especially important as one could get very lost in the forest with all the numerous tracks! Thankfully, we had a navigational aide to keep us roughly on course. Otherwise – highly recommended!

5/25/2011 - Mark Thompson

The walk as a whole was excellent. A great mixture of coast, woodland, lochs, culture and scenery.

11/4/2009 - Brian Coutts

I agree with last comment particulary at start of walk. Also path along cliff top very narrow and do not wear shorts as gorse grows both sides of path. Also don't know about summer but this section very muddy on Saturday.

8/4/2008 - Laura van Weegen

This is walk is not used often and therefore some of the paths are difficult to find, due to weeds/bushes. If we did not have our GPS with us we would have struggled. Good walk though.