Waterloo Monument Walk, New Abbey

Built in 1810, the Waterloo Monument is an impressive 150ft tower nestled in the hills close to New Abbey.  There is an enjoyable short (but steep) walk, which takes you from the village to the tower itself!

This is a really nice walk, and if you are looking for something to do for a couple of hours we really recommend it! 

To begin the walk, there are a number of easy starting places - including decent car parks at the Corn Exchange or Sweetheart Abbey.  From the village you walk out towards the monument (also shown on GoogleMaps for ease).  This section is mostly flat and you walk with fields on your right and some old forest on the left until you hit this sign... 

At this point  turn left, and turn into the forest, going up a hill slightly.  This is a really nice stretch of walk, through some lovely woods.  Eventually this path splits into a Y, and you have to follow the sign to the left on to the monument path. 

This path is where it gets steep!  This is a relatively short stretch but it is steep and narrow, in some places the path has actually been washed away.  This makes it a little tricky in places but still doable in on the dry day we visited.  On a wet/windy day it could be quite challenging.  

This section in particular makes this path not accessible to wheelchairs, prams or buggies.  

 

After this stretch, it levels off and you hit the tower itself!  

Did you know that Waterloo Monument was built in 1810 as a memorial to commemorate the British, Belgian and Prussian soldiers who gained victory at the Battle of Waterloo?  It's pretty randomly placed in the hills of Nithsdale, Dumfries and Galloway!

It is obviously great to look at and enjoy the monument, however the extra cool thing is that you can actually climb up to the top of the tower!  However, be warned that it is a steep climb and the steps are a small, spiral!  However, when you get to the top the views are amazing!  As you can see from these pictures! 

Warning - this is not formal advice, be aware there are no health and safety precautions.  So if you do decide to climb the tower please be careful and you do so at your own risk.  

 

The views at the top are fantastic, I would really recommend climbing to the top (as long as it's safe)!

Important to note, this is not a circular walk!  To get back to the car, return the way you walked up.  Of course, this is much shorter because it's downhill!  

Alternatively, there are a number of paths leading away from the monument which link into a number of forestry tracks.  I'm sure there are a number of nice walks to go on but they are significantly longer and not well marked.  

Overall, this walk to Waterloo Monument is really nice with a fun "destination" and something to see at the end of it!  

Postcode: DG2 8DT

Some more pictures from the walk: