Hiking

More challenging hill walks, forestry trails, and rugged coastal paths across the stunning local landscape.

The Needle's Eye natural rock arch near Sandyhills Beach on the Solway Coast, accessible at low tide

Portling Bay Coastal Loop

22 Barend

A 5.6km walk from Serenity 22, via Sandyhills Beach and the Needle’s Eye

Quick info:

  • Start: Serenity 22 Barend – 10 min walk to Sandyhills Beach
  • Distance: 5.6km
  • Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
  • Difficulty: Moderate – one steep descent/climb, undulating coastal path
  • Terrain: Sandy beach, rocky shore (tide dependent), cliff-top path, quiet road
  • Tide dependent: Yes – the beach section between Sandyhills and Portling Bay ⚠️ is submerged at high tide ⚠️
  • Dogs: Welcome – keep on lead in some sections; stiles and gates present
  • Parking: Limited at Sandyhills (30 mins free or £6/day) – best started from the lodge

One of the best walks from Serenity’s front door, the Portling Bay Coastal Loop takes you along the Solway shoreline, through a natural rock arch, and back along a cliff-top path with views across to the Lake District on a clear day. At 5.6km it’s a comfortable morning or afternoon out – though the final descent back into Sandyhills will remind you it’s not entirely flat.

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Hiker in front of loch/lake

Walking & Hiking in Dumfries & Galloway

22 Barend

Coastal loops, waterfall walks, and hill hikes – all within easy reach of Serenity 22 Barend

A walker on a hillside path overlooking a loch in Scotland

We love the walking and hiking near Serenity 22 and in Dumfries & Galloway.

From gentle strolls to more strenuous hikes, there’s rewarding scenery every time! The Colvend Coast alone has enough variety to fill a week: tide-dependent beach routes, clifftop paths with Solway views, wooded gorge walks, and hill climbs with the Lake District visible on a clear day. Further afield, the Galloway Forest Park opens up longer, quieter routes through one of the least-visited landscapes in Scotland.

Many of the walks below are ones we’ve done ourselves. We’ve added distance, difficulty notes, and links to our reviews and full guides where we have them.

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Sculpture of a Stag at Bainloch Deer Park Visitor Centre & Bistro

Top 3 “must see” places near Dalbeattie, D&G

22 Barend

We keep coming back to Dumfries & Galloway because we have favourite places to return to, and keep discovering new attractions we want to see.

Before that, we spent years going on holidays and rarely returning to the same place twice!

So, if you only come to Serenity 22 Barend once, here are our top picks…

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A waterfall with 3 distinct water streams

Mares Braids / Back Burn Waterfall Sandyhills

22 Barend

Distance from the lodge:
2 miles E ~5 min drive DG5 4PA

Mares Braids Waterfall, also known as Back Burn (sometimes Backburn) Waterfall, is just a short drive from Serenity 22 Barend, by the A710 heading E from Sandyhills. It’s near the Southwick Coastal Reserve and RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast.

⚠️ This walk is only accessible when the tide is out so you must check the tide times before going. The tides near Sandyhills move very quickly, and people have been trapped by them. ⚠️

Mares Braids is 5 min from Serenity 22 – one of the easiest days out from the lodge.

A waterfall with 3 distinct water streams
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The causeway back to the mainland from Rough Island

Walk from Kippford to Rough Island

22 Barend

Distance from the lodge:
5 miles WSW ~11 min drive DG5 4LB

View of Rough Island from Kippford Beach

As soon as we heard about the walk to Rough Island, we looked forward to exploring the island. (We’ve previously done a similar walk to Davaar Island off Campbeltown, Kintyre.)

Tree on the Beach at Kippford

This area of the Solway Coast has such shallow seas that there are vast mudflats when the tide is out.

Rough island is about 3 miles / 5km from from Serenity 22 Barend “as the crow flies”.

⚠️ Check when to avoid crossing as the causeway is underwater for 5 (five) hours during high tide.

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A small beach with a narrow sea inlet on the Solway coast

Beautiful Coastal Walk Sandyhills to Rockcliffe

22 Barend

The Rockcliffe to Sandyhills coastal walk has been described as one of the best in Britain, with stunning views across the Solway to Cumbria and the Isle of Man as well as along the Galloway coast.

Rockcliffe is just a short drive (or long-ish 😉 walk) from Serenity 22 Barend.

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