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Bessie’s Hill
Bessie’s Hill Walk 1/2 mile 20mins
Like the hill fort at Castle O’er, Bessie’s Hill
fort sits prominently above the valley of
Eskdale. In this location, anyone arriving
would have easily seen the hillfort, whilst
being seen themselves. Further up from the
hill fort are the remains of another fortified
settlement, where most of the tribe are likely to
have lived. The walk starts from a small car park
located north of Castle O’er on the minor road from
Eskdalemuir. This is one of many archaeological
sites across the country within the care of Forestry
Commission Scotland. Please note that there are
no way markers over the hill fort itself due
to its importance'.
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Map
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Craigieburn Forest
Main
Map
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Short Walk 2 miles 2 hours
Spreading up the valley side from Moffat Water.
The walk climbs up to a viewpoint where vistas
unfold towards the town of Moffat, famous for
its wool and toffee. A small car park and picnic
area can be found at the start of the walks, on
the A708 Moffat to Selkirk road, approximately 3 miles
from Moffat.
The Moffat Hills
Forest of Ae
Link Path 1 mile 45mins
Riverside Walk 1.5 miles 1hour
Green Hill Walk 3.5 miles 2hours
The name Ae can be found in the Guinness Book
of Records as the smallest place name in Britain.
The forest, however is one of the largest in
Britain, at over 10000 hectares! Large quantities
of timber are harvested every year for use in our
everyday lives, from paper to house building. As a
sustainable grower, Forestry Commission Scotland also
plants new trees to supply future generations.
After leaving the A701, travel for 2 miles until you
arrive in Ae village, built by the Forestry Commission
in 1947 to house forest workers. A right turn at the
crossroads will take you to the start of the ‘7stanes’
cycle trails, walkers should carry on for another 1/2
mile out of the village and take the next right turn
for ‘Ae Valley’. Follow this track for another mile to
reach a car park and the start of the walks. The
Riverside walk offers a gentle, level circuit that passes
under towering Norway spruce trees and follows the
Water of Ae, where dippers and herons are a common
sight. If you venture onto the longer Green Hill walk,
you’ll be rewarded with one of the best views in the
area, looking out over farmland, past Dumfries, and
on to the Solway Estuary in the distance.
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Hill Fort - Be
ssie’s Hill
© Solway He
ritage
Ae village
Picnic site by the Water of Ae
Moffat © Scottish Viewpoint
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Craik Forest
Trail Closed
Waterfall Trail 4.3km
1hr 15min
Policy Trail 2.8km 1 hour
Burnside Trail 360m
The Burnside Trail follows the Borthwick Water
from the lower car park. This trail is designed
for those with limited mobility, wheelchair
users and families with buggies.
Enjoy the Policy Trail as it meanders through mature
trees with a red squirrel hide and waterfall viewpoint.
See how many species of
trees you can identify.
Or meander through the
forest with the burn for
company on the Craik
Waterfall Trail. The
mature trees create a
unique woodland
atmosphere with the
waterfall as a
picturesque
destination.
Rosehips
Riverside walk in the Forest of Ae
Taking care when out and about
Please remember that the weather on the
hills and mountains can change very
quickly. Even in summer, conditions on
the tops of mountains are often much
colder and windier than at the low
levels, despite clear skies.
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“I’m sure it’s this way Mum!”
Main
Map
Tra
il C
los
ed
Trail Grades
Enjoying an
Autumn walk
Forestry Commission trails and walks
are graded according to the degree of difficulty,
gradients and type of conditions visitors can expect.
Easy
Sensible footwear
Moderate
Waterproof footwear
Strenuous
Hillwalking boots
Easy-going
(Muscle-loosener)
Moderate-going
(Muscle-stretcher)
Demanding
(Muscle-builder)
The Forests of the
Southern Uplands
C
Exercise for all!
Forest of Ae
Peregrine Falcon
1
A7
A1
M7
4
Water of Ae
)
(M
A69
Gretna
A75
Castle O’er Walk 1 mile 1/2hour
A68
4
A7
1
HOLY
ISLAND
Kelso
A7
Selkirk
Hawick .
Dumfries
Newton
Stewart
Berwick-uponTweed
A697
1
Castle O’er
Cover photograph: View down the Ae Valley and heather
M
A78
2
8
A70
3
A71
A7
7
0
A7
Peebles
Moffat
Stranraer
Edinburgh
Rly
6
A7
Newcastle
upon Tyne
Workington
Penrith
A1(M)
Carlisle
Rly
Design by: D&IS, Forestry Commission Scotland D&IS-15K-21C-Mar 2011
Photographs by: Forestry Commission Picture Library,
Keith Kirk, Robin Fuller & Scottish Viewpoint
A82
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Stirling
M9
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ge
Solway Herita
stle O’er ©
Hill Fort - Ca
Public enquiry line 0845 FORESTS (367 3787)
M8
The colours of Autumn
This walk starts from a small car park just north of
Castle O’er on the minor road from Eskdalemuir.
The hill fort is thought to have been the home of
an important branch of the Iron Age Selgovae tribe,
who would have farmed livestock in the rich open
grasslands of the valley. The visible earthwork
banks would have been topped with wooden fences, which
together with the deep ditches would have given the
settlement an appearance of strength. This is one of many
archaeological sites across the country within the care of
Forestry Commission Scotland. Please note that there are no
way markers over the hill fort itself due to its importance'.
Forestry Commission Scotland
Dumfries & Borders Forest District
Ae Village, Parkgate, Dumfries, DG1 1QB
Tel: 01387 860247
E-mail: dumfries&[email protected]
Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
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We apologize for any inconvenience
Looking for something extra to
do during your visit to the
forest? Then why not pick up
our Events leaflet at any local
Tourist Information Centre or
from the Forestry Commission
offices at Ae and Mabie (see
back page). From pond dipping
and den building to enthuse
the kids, to working forest
tours and guided wildlife walks,
there’s something for everyone!
As you climb the paths, it may
come as a surprise to know that
you are actually walking on the
bottom of an ocean! Now
blanketed in glacial debris, the
rocks that form the hills
beneath your feet were once
Ayr
Forestry Commission Scotland
Galloway Forest District Tel: 01671 402420
e-mail: [email protected]
Forestry Commission Scotland
Scottish Lowlands Forest District Tel: 01555 660190
e-mail: [email protected]
If you need this publication in an
alternative format, for example, in
large print or in another language,
please contact:
The Diversity Team
Tel: 0131 314 6575
E-mail: [email protected]
For information on public transport services contact:
Traveline Scotland, 0870 200 2233 or
www.travelinescotland.com
© Crown Copyright 2011
No unauthorised
persons allowed
beyond this point
Black Grouse
What to See and Do
3
s
signs & direction
Please obey all
enience
for any inconv
We apologize
whilst the upper
edges of these
forests are prime
habitat for the
black grouse.
Information on the ‘7stanes’ cycle routes in the Forest of
Ae are covered in a separate leaflet, which is available
from the outlets above, as well as local cycle shops.
Alternatively, check out www.7stanes.gov.uk.
Glasgow
Warning
Forest
Operations
Red squirrel
Forestry Commission Scotland
welcomes walkers, cyclists and horse
riders onto its land and provides
many waymarked routes for these
activities. Walking routes in the
forests of the Southern Uplands are
described in this leaflet. A supporting
leaflet, ‘The Forests of the Solway Coast’ is also available,
with information on forest walks around Dumfries,
Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas. This is available from the
Forestry Commission offices at Ae and Mabie (see back
page), as well as local Tourist Information Centres.
For
information
on what’s
available from
Forestry
Commission
Scotland in the
rest of
Dumfries &
Galloway,
including the
Galloway
Forest Park,
please contact
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Whilst enjoying the walks, please remember that you are in a
working forest. Ongoing management such as tree felling and
road maintenance ensures that the forests remain diverse and
can supply timber for use in our everyday lives. Please look
out for operations signs and follow any diversions, as they are
for your safety.
Forestry Commission Scotland always considers the needs
of wildlife during forest
management and is actively
committed to conservation
work for vulnerable species.
The Forest of Ae, and the
forests around Eskdalemuir
are recognised nationally as
priority woodlands for red
squirrel conservation,
linging to the slopes of heather clad hills,
and flanking the sides of tumbling streams,
the forests of the Southern Uplands straddle the
natural barrier between England and Scotland.
Remains of hill forts and cairns are a reminder of
turbulent times in the area, but today, these
now peaceful lands offer exhilarating walks for
the more adventurous.
Contact 1
Take Care - When out and about
mud on the bottom of an ocean between England and
Scotland. As the countries collided, the mud was squashed,
hardened and pushed up forming the Southern Uplands.
Water of Ae
Looking down Moffat Dale
Explore The Forests of the
Enjoy
and
Discover
Southern
Uplands