02 To get to the start of this walk you turn off the A710 at the sign for Ardwall. Above is the view which greets you when you do this. The dark hill on the right is Knockendoch and Criffel is the snow covered hill on the left. The route we are taking runs up the right shoulder (NE) of Criffel. The summit of Criffel is 569 mts above sea level. Because of it's isolated position, well separated from any hill of similar height, it presents views in all directions a full 360 degrees.

To the east it overlooks the mouth of the River Nith and to the Caerlaverock area beyond , famous for it's 13th century castle, it's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust bird sanctuary on the merse and for the nearby and outstanding Ruthwell Cross dating from the 7th century - a major monument of international importance in the history of Hibero-Saxon art. To the south you look over the Solway Firth to the Lake District of England. West you look along the Galloway coast and on a clear day you can see the Isle of Man without any difficulty. To the north west are the Galloway hills in the distance and to the north east the Moffat hills and Ettrick hills.

Being so close to the town of Dumfries, Criffel has iconic sentimental importance to it's inhabitants - the "Doonhamers".