Exploring the Moffat Area with your Car

A medium sized drive with stunning scenery and cultural interest

An Art Gallery and 5 Museums

Moffat to Beattock back

Distance: 60 miles
(Suitable for a half-day or whole day)

A gruesome find and the Devil's Beef Tub

Leave Moffat on the A701, signposted Edinburgh.  The road rises steadily up the side of the Annan Water Valley and crosses a burn by a narrow bridge from which, in 1936, Dr. Ruxton disposed of the bodies of his unfortunate wife and maid whom he had just murdered.  5.6 miles after leaving Moffat, parking is available on the left, and it is worth crossing the road carefully to enjoy the view into the Devil's Beef Tub.

Monument to the Stagecoachmen

About half a mile past this, a monument on the right records the deaths in snow of the driver and guard of a Carlisle to Edinburgh stage coach.  Once over the brow of the hill, the road enters the valley of the River Tweed, at first no more than a trickle but soon to become one of Scotland's major rivers.

Broughton

A glass blower works regularly at the Crook Inn and a small museum dedicated to the life of John Buchan is on the left at the approaches to Broughton.  "The Thirty Nine Steps" is still a good read.  Continue through the village and, to visit the Broughton Gallery in its magnificent setting, turn right at the sign.

The Museums of Biggar

From the gallery, turn back towards the village, and then right towards Biggar, about 4 miles away on the B7016.  Biggar's wide main street offers plenty of parking space.  In recent years, the town's museums have developed a worthy reputation, for although each of the four is small, they contain much of interest, and together with the very worthwhile town trail, make Biggar a delightful destination.

Complete your Journey

To complete the circuit, leave Biggar on the A702, and pass through Coulter.  On reaching the motorway, you can either join it southbound and leave it at Junction 15, or take the smaller road to Crawford and then Beattock.  As over 70% of the traffic entering and leaving Scotland uses this motorway, I would advise the minor road which parallels the main west cost railway line.  However, only from the road can you now turn off at 'Beattock for Moffat'.