Afton Dam Circular

Start : Large lay-by off Afton Road, just south of Craigdarroch farm. Grid ref. NS 63118 06287

(S/E) Start from the large lay-by off Afton Road, just south of Craigdarroch farm.

Walk south west along Afton Road. The Afton Water should be on your left-hand side.

(1) After approx 1km you will reach a small area of forestry with a car park inside. Walk through the car park and continue South for a further 500m.

(2) The steep grassy slope leading up to Glenafton Reservoir will appear ahead. Follow the footpath uphill to the right. This takes you along the Afton Water and up to the edge of the reservoir.

(3) Turn left (North East) to cross the Afton Water and walk along the edge of the reservoir wall towards a forest at the other side.

Go into the forest and turn right (South East) along a faint track which runs parallel to the reservoir. The reservoir should be on your right-hand side.

(4) Follow the grass/gravel (often boggy) track along the water's edge, over a fence (no stile) and through another section of forestry. After 1.6km turn right (South West) at a path junction onto a wide forestry track.

(5) There is a footbridge over a burn and then the track heads away from the reservoir for a bit. Keep right (West) at a fork approx 200m along from the bridge.

The track then begins to head back towards the reservoir. Heading north now, follow this track with the reservoir on your right-hand side, for 1.7km. There are some information boards dotted along the track which tell you a little of the history of the area. Keep right at any forks along the way to arrive back at the reservoir wall (2).

Retrace your steps from here to the large lay-by off Afton Road, just south of Craigdarroch farm (S/E)

Start : Large lay-by off Afton Road, just south of Craigdarroch farm. Grid ref. NS 63118 06287

Transport

• No public transport to start point. Closest town, New Cumnock, has a train station and bus service and that is approx 8.5km / 5.3 miles along the scenic Afton Road.
• There is a small car park at the end of Afton Road and if that is busy or closed, there is a large lay-by approx 1km before the end of Afton Rd near Craigdarroch farm. Please avoid parking on the roadside verges. The Afton Road is reached from the B741 in New Cumnock.

Terrain
Surfaced road and gravel tracks to reach the reservoir. The west side of the reservoir has good wide forestry tracks. The east side has a less distinct, often boggy trail and there is one small fence to climb where there is no stile.

For more information and a walk review, visit Gillian's Walks

• Town of New Cumnock has places eat, shops etc. A former coal mining town.
• Glenafton Reservoir - source of the Afton Water which flows into the River Nith in New Cumnock. On a still day the surrounding hills and forestry create beautiful reflections in the water making this a popular place to photograph.
• Glen Afton and the Afton Water - the song "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" by Robert Burns was written about this river.
• Blackcraig Hill walk - highest peak in the area