Elvanfoot Roman Road Show path on map

Start location: Woodbrae, A702, Elvanfoot ( NS 956 165 )

End location: A702, 250m N of Glenochar Burn ( NS 951 143 )

Geographical area: Strathclyde and Lanarkshire

Path type: Roman Road

Path distance: 2.4km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

After passing under the pylons at NS957166 with the Clyde only a short distance away on the left, climb the fence to gain the obvious grassy Roman Road. Throughout its length it is slightly raised or with a ditch in places on the upper right hand side.
After about 500m the track climbs more steeply, is less obvious through some reeds and passes under a line of wooden pylons. Beyond a burn, on higher ground the track is difficult to find in places until descending to a second burn, where it is again obvious.
Pass behind a sheep pen at a gap in the drystane dyke and after ascending from a small steep glen the route once more is obvious as it slowly descends and approaches the A702 through reeds in an almost straight line. Here walking is difficult until the route terminates at the fence opposite a field gate. This point is about 250m north of the Glenochar Burn.

There is parking in Elvanfoot and just north of the Glenochar Burn. Additionally, about 500m further south, beside Glenochar Cottage, a carpark provides a starting point for the waymarked Glenochar Bastle and Fermtoun trail, which may also be of interest.

OS Landranger 78 (Nithsdale & Annandale)

 

Heritage Information

A very ancient route predating Roman times ran from Drumlanrig in the Nith Valley north-east to Elvanfoot where it reached the valley of the Clyde. This Roman Road followed the ancient route thus meeting up with the main Roman Road which used the valleys of the Clyde and Annan.

The Elvanfoot Roman Road is the section that runs west of the A702 from Elvanfoot south to Glenochar. From Glenochar, the route lies under the A702 until Overfingland; a further section can be found from south of Overfingland to Durisdeer.