New Abbey to Waterloo Monument

A 3.5 km/2½miles strenuous walk to the Waterloo Monument. Covers hard surfaced paths with steps, gates and minor road.

Boots recommended. Takes approximately 1½ hrs to complete.

For parking from Dumfries follow the A710 Solway Coast road through Islesteps to New Abbey. The setting of the car park alongside Sweetheart Abbey in the picturesque village of New Abbey is an impressive start point for this walk. There are toilets, tearooms, two pubs and a village shop close to hand.

Sweetheart Abbey is one of three Cistercian Abbeys in Dumfries and Galloway and was founded in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla de Balliol in memory of her husband John Balliol, the puppet king of Scotland and founder of Balliol College Oxford. Lady Devorgilla always carried a casket containing the embalmed heart of her late husband and when she died she was buried with the casket in the Abbey. The Abbey is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

START: Leave the car park and turn right down Main Street until you reach The Square. Pass in front of the Abbey Arms and bear left. Turn left at the millpond and continue for about 1/2 mile to the end of the minor road. Impressive boulder dykes skilfully constructed from granite ‘footballs’ bound this road. At the end of the road do not cross the burn; keep right and enter the field using the gate. Follow the path to the foot of the steps up to Waterloo Monument.

Your reward for a strenuous climb to the top is an excellent view over the Nith Estuary and across the Solway to the Lake District. In the foreground you can pick out the landmarks of New Abbey and the Crannog and island in Loch Kindar. The memorial, built in 1810, commemorates the British, Belgian and Prussian soldiers who, under Wellington and Blucher gained the victory of Waterloo. Return via the same route.

If time allows, Shambellie House Museum of Costume and New Abbey Corn Mill are both well worth visiting during your time in New Abbey.