Walks you can reach from Dumfries by train

Time: 5h–10h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Beautiful forest views and rock sculptures; Lovely very varied route. A long, varied route through woods, fields, riverside and forest tracks, with some road walking. Parts are a bit up and down, after heavy rain there can be a fair amount of mud, plus some difficult steps over tree roots near Armathwaite. Some fast sections of road between Cotehill and Cumwhinton and the motorway junction. Coombs Wood near Armathwaite is a highlight, with rock sculptures. The route can be tackled over two weekends, breaking at Armathwaite, with good facilities at either end and several points on the way.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 7h30–14h30

Lunch: Pubs at Armathwaite, Cotehill and Cumwhinton along the way.

Warnings: Some fast road sections between Cotehill, Cumwhinton and the M6 junction. Difficult steps over tree roots on the exit from Coombs Wood into Armathwaite. The riverside path along the River Petteril may flood in high rainfall. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Glorious views all around; rewarding views. A long route with lots of tarmac but lovely scenery. A quiet road climbs steadily out of New Cumnock onto a well-maintained forestry track, then a short, slightly unclear grassy path through long grass at the top, before cinder and tarmac tracks descend to Kirkconnel. A short stretch of the A76 (with pavement) and then quiet country roads into Sanquhar. Kirkconnel has a supermarket, toilets and a bench. The route passes a former quarry and wind turbines with a well-signposted work site at the top.

Time: 5h30–11h30

Lunch: Kirkconnel, roughly mid-route, has a supermarket and toilets.

Warnings: Pathhead has no pavement; the road is fairly straight with good visibility but care is needed for passing farm and windfarm traffic. One short section of long grass at the high point is a little unclear.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 6h30–13h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 8h30–17h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 11h30–23h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long and varied route. Starts on a fast road verge running alongside the M6, then improves to quieter roads, field paths to the River Esk and a railway footbridge and riverside fields that can be very muddy and flood-prone. Finishes on suburban roads and a historic stretch past Carlisle Castle and Cathedral. Several badly puddled farm tracks. The route passes Carlisle Castle, the Cathedral and the Tullie and Guildhall museums, and crosses through the Solway Coast National Landscape. An England Coast Path improvement may one day offer a better, less road-bound start.

Time: 5h–9h30

1 lunch spot: the Crown and Thistle

Warnings: The opening section follows the verge of a fast, busy road parallel to the M6 with a narrow, overgrown edge; great care is needed. Riverside fields can flood and the farm road up to Cargo can be very deeply puddled and muddy. Watch for tidal flooding and cows near Rockcliffe.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

A long, mixed route of quiet roads with distant mountain views, field paths beside the River Wampool and Caldew, a final shared tarmac path on the Cumbria Way into Carlisle. Field sections can be wet and muddy; the Wigton-to-Thursby half has serious access problems with blocked and unclear and overgrown paths. The Dalston-to-Carlisle section follows the Cumbria Way and is shared with cyclists.

Time: 6h–12h

1 lunch spot: the Ship Inn

Warnings: The section from Wigton to Thursby has blocked field paths, no clear access through farms, barbed-wire stiles and a stretch with no footpath along the busy A595 verge. Fields by the river can be wet, muddy and churned by cattle.

Walk details: Slow Ways.