Dumfries and Galloway Online

Dumfries and Galloway
This page: updated 15th July 2022

Local Teams Dumfries and Galloway Places of interest for a family day out Sports in Dumfries and Galloway

Woodland & Riverside Walk
Dumfries and Galloway

You are here: Dumfries and Galloway > Sports and Days Out > Walks > Woodland & Riverside Walk

Repentance Tower Woodland and Riverside Walk

Repentance Tower Woodland and Riverside WalkDistance: 2.75km / 1.75 miles

Typical duration: approximately 1 hour

Walking on: Beaten earth, stone path, road, grassy hill.

Starting point: The Hoddom and Kinmount car park off the B723.

Please keep dogs on a lead.

Walk overview

Circular woodland walk with a hill viewpoint.

Of special interest

Repentance Tower stands on the ancient beacon hill of Trailtrow and was built by John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries, as a watchtower for Hoddom Castle in the 1560s.

Although the Tower is not open to the public the hill top provides views towards the Solway the Lake District and over Annandale.

Look out for

"Repentance" carved over the Tower entrance. The surrounding graveyard has many grave stones dating from the 17th century.

Also enjoy

A coffee and refreshements at Hoddom Castle Caravan Park during the summer season.

How to get here

The Hoddom and Kinmount car park is signposted off the B723 Annan to Lockerbie road at the junction with the B725 Dalton road about 4.5 miles north west of Annan.

HoddomThe walk in detail

  1. From the car park take the waymarked riverside path for Hoddom Castle along the River Annan.
  2. Follow the blue arrow signs through woodland and come out just before Hoddom Castle Caravan Park
  3. Pass the children's playground and the end of the playground a post indicates the path to "Repentance Tower".
  4. Follow this path through the caravan park and the subsequent signs that mark the path which winds through the trees to the main road (B725).
  5. At the main road, turn left and find the sign that reads "100 metres to the stile for Repentance".
  6. The steps and stile are signposted on the righthand side of the road.
  7. There is no path up the steep hill to the Tower and care should be taken.
  8. From the Tower, retrace your steps to the main road (B725) and turn right to return to the starting point car park OR retrace your steps through the Caravan Park and along the river.