Moffat mission for ramblers
St Mary’s Loch outing is a winner
Duncanrig Rambling Club headed south towards Moffat in Dumfriesshire for two walks by St Mary’s Loch.
Both excursions started at the Tibbie Shiel’s Inn, named after Tibbie (Isabella) Shiel who lived from 1783 to 1878.
She was the wife of a mole catcher who became an innkeeper and established what is today known as Tibbie Shiel’s Inn, on the strip of land separating St Mary’s Loch from Loch of the Lowes.
Tibbie kept a lively inn but she was deeply religious. Guests were expected to attend the family service on Sunday after partying on Saturday night.
The high walk followed an old right of way called the captain’s road onto the hillside. This is an old drove road leading to the Ettrick Valley and will have been used by border reivers.
At the edge of a forest, the group followed the fence line on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) track to the summit of the Wiss before following the path onto Peat Law then over Altrieve Rig.
There was then a descent towards St Mary’s Loch and joining the southern Upland Way on the south shore of the loch, and finishing the walk back at Tibbie Shiel’s Inn.
The alternate walk followed a popular section of the Southern Upland Way on the south side of St Mary’s Loch which is the largest natural loch in the Scottish Borders. It is five kilometres long, 1km wide and was created by glacial action during the last Ice Age.
The loch takes its name from a church dedicated to St Mary which once stood on its northern shore, although only the burial ground is now visible.
Local legend has it that the loch has no bottom and it is reputed to be the coldest loch in Scotland. It is home to a popular sailing club.
At the end of the loch, the walkers crossed the main road and followed an old right of way past Dryhope Tower, built of local stone, and was originally a four-storey building.
The castle belonged to the Scotts of Dryhope. A daughter of the house, Mary Scott, was known as the “Flower of Yarrow” and was also an ancestor of Sir Walter Scott.
From Dryhope, the group followed the Southern Upland Way to another tower, Blackhouse, which was the stronghold of the Douglass family who fought with Robert the Bruce and fought at Bannockburn.
From here, ramblers headed south along a good path to the waiting coach at Craig Douglas.
Both groups enjoyed their social time in Moffat.
The next walks are this Sunday in the Bridge Of Orchy area.
Check out www.duncanrig.com for details on the club’s itinerary and activities. New members and visitors welcome.