When walking the Cumbrian Fells there's often a view of the first high ground to the north of the Solway . . . which will more than likely be the Scottish mountain of Criffel.

Ever since I moved up to Cumbria I've always wanted to climb to its top, but it is a two hour car journey away and there's always been plenty of other local fells to climb here.

A casual remark to Peter, who organises the Mockerkin Mob, placed it on the agenda and within weeks we were driving north for this long overlooked walk.

Perhaps today we might get that much anticipated 'return view' of the Cumbrian Fells, from the other side of the Solway ?

This has been the tantalising view of Criffel on so many occasions . . . on this particular day it was seen from the top of Grasmoor.

- - - o o o - - -

We arranged a car share between us as usual, this time needing just the two cars to carry six people and three dogs.

Here we were crossing the border on the M6 motorway . . . you guessed it, heading north into Scotland.

I asked Peter to take the photo, but in concentrating on catching a photo of the the sign, we missed the next one hidden behind the lorry, so we overshot our junction.

Still, a few miles later just north of Gretna, we were able to turn west once again and head in the right direction for Dumfries and its neighbour, the small village of New Abbey.

We met up at the Sweetheart Abbey car park, just a few minutes late . . . and the next car in was Chris and the rest of our party . . . perfect.

The large car park here that has become the classic local start for the climb up Criffel . . . apparently !

Our 'augmented' Mockerkin Mob today.

Pip, Chris, Frances, Peter, Andy, Sue and James with Bailey . . . but missing from the photo was myself and the other two dogs, Sue's Fern and my Dougal.

Soon we rose above the trees and had our first look back at the sea, here courtesy of the River Nith, an arm of the Solway Firth estuary.

Climbing steadily now, through banks of Rose Bay Willow Herb then up the Heather clad, granite slopes.

A tradition on Mob walks nowadays is to start early . . . and stop for a coffee about 11 am.

Today we'd had that early start from Cumbria, but due to the distance and the delay we had only been walking less than an hour so far

when someone mentioned it was time for Karen's shortbread . . . well you just have to stop !

Looking round we identified the route of our return path via the ridge line of Knockendoch, where a small cairn adorned the highest point.

Looking forward up the path there were more pitched steps to climb, with an ever improving view of the Solway to our left.

Criffel has always had a reputation for being a wet and soggy walk, but despite the damp Scottish weather (compared to heatwaves down south)

the new path was easy going and the steady climb leveled out as the summit cairn came into view.

A photo call at the top just had to be repeated as a fellow walker offered to take a picture of the whole group, which by definition included myself.

Much discussion and jollity at having reached the summit so easily.

This photo of Chris, Andy and Frances also includes the view we had back across the Solway.

Sadly the cloud was still down over the Cumbrian Fells, but we did manage to identify Silloth and Grune Point that The Mob walked earlier in July this year.

Time to catch a summit panorama, once the dog has had his time on the Trig Point and people had moved aside to reveal the full view.

Click here or on the photo above for a 360 degree annotated panorama of the view Dougal's had from the top !!

This was a more natural mountain path that will take us along the ridge of Knockendoch.

Not obvious from a distance, but the self seeded evergreens enhanced the view as we walked down the ridge.

"Good weather, good walking conditions underfoot - not a bog to be seen " said Peter happily.

The weather has really cleared here on the north side of the Solway, as we reached the small cairn on the delightfully named Knockendoch.

The poor weather was clearing south, but not fast enough to identify any distant mountains.

Beyond the trek poles you can see the path that we used on the climb up the hill.

The general agreement was that it would be a good place to sit and enjoy 'lunch with a view'.

Afterwards we needed to continue down the ridge and complete the rest of the circular walk that Peter had planned for today.

The path followed the wall down to the forestry below, where we would turn right and head back along the base of Criffel towards the cars.

Off the hill now and back to a section of easy walking along forestry tracks.

. . . apart for this locked gate which was obstructing the published route.

Peter climbed the gate reasonably gracefully, but it was a tall order to get the larger dogs past this hurdle.

A large herd of cows caused a slight diversion, but as a result it brought us closer to the shores of Loch Kindar.

Nearly back now as we left the mature forest and headed towards the farm and the car park.

A look back at Loch Kindar, now bathed in sunshine.