Wamphray Glen

About Wamphray Glen

A 5km circular wood, farmland and quiet road walk around picturesque Wamphray Glen. Allow 1.5 hours to complete this walk, consisting of hard surfaced track, beaten earth paths, minor road, gates and stiles. Boots are recommended for this moderate walk.

Parking can be found from Moffat by taking the A708 Selkirk road and after ½ mile turning right onto the Old Carlisle Road signposted Newton Wamphray/Boreland. After another 6½ miles you reach Pumplaburn, continue over the bridge and turn left. As soon as you round the corner draw off to the left where you will find parking space near the information board for Start 1. If there is no parking space continue up the road and turn left at the first junction. After the first cottage (on the opposite side of the road,) you will find another information board and car park. Start your walk to the top side of the church and follow the directions from Start 2.

Start 1:

The path starts to the side of the information board. Descend the steps to the raised path leading through ash and alder alongside Wamphray Water. Cross the bridge and turn right to reach the steps up the riverbank. Pass under the power lines and cross two smaller bridges to reach the field. Follow the field edge (fingerposts) under the pylons, then under the low voltage lines to skirt the fence to the kissing gate, followed by a stile. Follow the wire fence to reach a corner by a drain. Cross the drain and follow the post and rail fence uphill to then descend old steps above the waterfalls. Follow the meandering fence up the far side and you will meet a line of lime trees. To your left is the flat-topped mound or motte that supported the wooden tower used to defend the large flat area or ‘bailey’ of this fortified Anglo-Norman steading.

Continue down the fence line to reach the bridge and the kissing gate to the minor road. Turn right and cross the wooden road bridge by Wamphray Mill. Climb uphill past the parish church. The north door has a carved lintel that was taken from the ruins of an old chapel at Banygill three miles up the glen.

Start 2:

At the T-junction turn left, follow the road past the top side of the churchyard and along the boundary of Milne Wood. After the gentle S-bend you will reach a fingerpost at the start of a beech-lined track to the right. Go through the kissing gate and follow the track to ford the burn emerging from a plantation. Pass through a pair of kissing gates and on reaching the sharp left turn (towards the cattle sheds) take the pair of kissing gates either side of the double field gate on your right. Follow the double fenced track with new hedges leading you around the mature beech trees at the perimeter of the steading. Pass through the gate at the end of this grass section to meet the main farm access track. Turn right and continue past the cottages to reach the minor road. Turn left and at the first corner turn right through a kissing gate. Follow the grass track as it descends through another gate to the wood and on under the pylons to reach two more gates before Hillhouse Farm. Walk past the farm to meet the public road where a left turn will take you back to the car.