A nature ramble to the Nith

A gentle low-level walk to introduce the walker to the flora and fauna found near the River Nith in Kirkmahoe. Option of a shorter walk is available.

Mostly wide, rough, grass paths. Can be muddy after rain. Short stretches along the river are fairly narrow and sloping. Kissing and field gates provide access. There are two high steps on the route along the river.

DG1 1ST Grid Ref NX975815

4.5 miles/7km

Allow 2.5 hours

The Nith rises in Ayrshire and flows generally southwards through Nithsdale to the Solway Estuary. It is popular with fishermen who catch greyback salmon, grayling, sea and brown trout. The height and flow of the river varies greatly depending on time of year and weather. Adjacent land often floods. This walk follows the levees which were built in the 19th century to protect the fields.

1

Park in the centre of Kirkton Village and follow the path along the right hand side of the Village Hall. At the end of this, keeping the houses on your left, walk towards a gate behind the pumping station. Go through the gate and turn left, walking along the raised path and keeping the burn on your right. At the end of the track go through another gate and turn right. Walk over the bridge for a few yards and then go through the gate on the left.

2 Follow the burn downstream. The large oak and beech trees on the other side of the burn are a favourite haunt of Wood Pigeons and Nuthatches, and various tits may be seen foraging in the dense stand of Aspen by the burn. Scan the channel for Kingfishers, usually seen as a small blue flash heading away from you, and keep an eye out for Otters which you may be lucky enough to see, especially in the early morning or late evening. Pass through three more metal kissing gates keeping an eye on the fields to your right. Linnets feed here in the winter. Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings can be seen all year round, though what can be seen changes from season to season and year to year according to the crop rotation. Follow the path, keeping the burn on your left, until you come to a metal field gate with two kissing gates together.

3 Go through only the first gate and immediately turn right northwards along the bank. This takes you past several pools on your left where Grey Herons can often be seen hunting in the shallows, and one pool sometimes has a nesting pair of Mute Swans. These pools are remnants of an old course of the River. In spring the arable fields on the right hold some of the last remaining Lapwings to nest in the parish. In winter Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese from Iceland graze in the fields. At any time of year, Brown Hares may rise up before you and race through the fields on either side of the bank. Follow the bank northwards, through more kissing gates and two metal field gates across a path. When the bank gets close to the River Nith, you will see bank strengthening works carried out over fifty years ago. The wall is constructed of concrete bollards from the WWII Tinwald Downs Airfield. At this point, there are gates at either side of a farm track to the river. Go through the first and walk towards the river and perhaps have a rest sitting on the wall. If you look carefully, you can still see where Mr McPhail, a local farmer who constructed it, wrote his name and the date in the wet concrete. While you are here, scan the water and shingle in spring for Goosanders, Oystercatchers and Common Sandpipers. Walk back to the track and go through the next metal gate. Continue along the bank for several hundred metres crossing yet another path with two gates. Take care of the drop at the gates.

4

If you want to take the shorter green route, turn right at the waymarked path through a kissing gate to the right and follow waymarkers back to the road. To continue following the red route, walk straight ahead on the raised path, keeping a look out for deer which graze in the fields here. Eventually the track widens as you come to a mixed plantation of oaks, birches and conifers where Buzzards are often the most conspicuous birds. On fine days, this part of the walk can provide the best opportunity to see butterflies: Orange-tips in spring, Ringlets, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks in the summer. Follow the bank, ignoring the farm track to the left until the track crosses another.

5

broad ride. Follow the track for a few hundred yards as it veers to the right until you come to another metal kissing gate. There are Cinnabar Moths and common spotted orchids in this area. In the summer, you may find wild raspberries to eat. Turn left here and walk a few metres to the river. Depending on the time of year, you may see salmon jumping. If the water level is low enough, there is a large shingle beach which provides a wealth of flat stones for skimming. Return to where the tracks cross and go straight ahead, along a

6 At the tarred road, carry straight on towards Kirkton. The hedges on this long straight stretch usually hold a few pairs of Yellowhammers in spring and you may see Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows at any time of year. When you get to the T junction after about half a mile, turn right. In Spring this is the place to find Nuthatches, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, always easiest to see before the leaves are fully out. Follow the road as it turns left. At any time of year, it is worth stopping here and listening to the birdsong. Continue to walk towards Kirkton. Just after the stone bridge, go through the gate on your left to retrace your steps back to the village.