Annandale Way (2 ed)

The Annandale Way is a charming long walk in a little-known, but very accessible, part of southern Scotland. Walked southward from source to the sea, it starts in the sheep town of Moffat, and runs for 56 miles (90 km) via Lochmaben, with superb views from the top of Almagill Hill. A slightly shorter branch of the route goes via Lockerbie and Eskrigg Nature Reserve. The two branches rejoin north of Annan to reach the Solway Firth at Newbiebarns.

The second edition contains several important route updates, four extra pages and many fresh photos, yet it is 20 grams lighter and more pocketable than the first.

This guidebook contains everything you need to plan and enjoy your trip:

• detailed route description for walking from north to south

• concise instructions for those wishing to walk south to north

• summary of each section showing distance, terrain and food/drink stops

• background on the history and economy of Annandale

• seven pages of habitats and wildlife with superb images

• planning information for transport and accommodation

• nine pages of detailed mapping of the route at 1:44,000

• lavishly illustrated, with over 110 colour photos

• rucksack-friendly format, printed on rainproof paper.

The first third or so of the book comprises beautifully illustrated introductory sections in full colour about the walk itself, covering topics such as access, waymarking, accommodation and packing. There are then sections on farming, forestry and energy; on history; and on habitats and wildlife.

Most of the rest of the guide breaks the Annandale Way into a series of route sections, and for each gives detailed route instructions, nice photographs, and excellent full-page maps.

The result is everything you could possibly need in one handily-sized guide that fits perfectly, as the name suggests, into your rucksack. This is an essential book for anyone considering walking the Annandale Way: or for anyone who fancies tackling a walk that not all of their friends will already have done.

The route descriptions are detailed, allowing the walker to follow turn-by-turn instructions, and are accompanied by copious photographs, mostly by Lynne Kirton, and clear maps at a scale of 1:44,000, a number you won’t find on your compass romer but presumably chosen to fit the book’s format …

There are descriptions for the two alternatives where the route splits, with options to follow the way via Lochmaben or Lockerbie, and there are also brief extra route notes for anyone wanting to follow the Annandale Way south to north.

The Annandale Way would make an ideal first route for a novice long-distance, multi-day walker. The countryside and terrain are not too taxing but are varied enough to sustain interest. The Annan isn’t a particularly long river, and there’s satisfaction to be had in following its full length from source to sea.

Turnbull and Megarry’s guidebook is comprehensive and easy to use, with its ringbound format making it convenient for on-the-route reference and its size and use of rainproof paper helpful for slotting into the walker’s rucksack for guidance along the way.

This guide has everything you need to walk the Annandale Way … With seven pages of maps along with information about wildlife, transport links, accommodation, food and drink stops, all in a rucksack-friendly format, it’s guaranteed to hold up on even the dreichest of days.

As a keen lifelong walker, Roger Turnbull returned to his native Dumfriesshire after he retired. He lives on the Annandale Way, and was the original volunteer ranger from 2011. He worked to help maintain and improve the route and takes a special pride in the standard of its waymarking.

After a long career in education and information technology, Jacquetta became interested in long-distance walking and trekking. After completing her first long walk, in 1998 she progressed to Mount Kilimanjaro, which she summited four times by different routes. She is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and has won its Award for Excellence for the guidebook Trek to Everest. She has written or coauthored 26 guidebooks in the Rucksack Readers series that she founded.

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