Hills on every side, and stars over the High Street.

Walking

Moffat is on the Southern Upland Way, the coast-to-coast route across the south of Scotland. You can walk out of the front door and be on a hill within the hour.

The Grey Mare's Tail. A short drive up the Moffat Water valley, the fifth highest waterfall in the UK. Take the upper path past the falls to Loch Skene and along the tops, and you have a day that is hard to beat anywhere.

Hart Fell. At over 800 metres it is the hill you can see from the town. Our favourite way up is over Saddle Yoke and round the Black Hope horseshoe.

The Devil's Beef Tub. A huge hollow in the hills just north of town, where the Annandale Way begins its walk down the river Annan to the Solway.

Something gentler. The river Annan runs parallel to the High Street just behind the hotel, a lovely walk with little falls along the way. The Garpol Glen is an easy walk from town, up past the golf course and over the Evan Water. Further north are the Tweedsmuir Hills, the country John Buchan used in The Thirty-Nine Steps, and to the west the Lowther Hills, where you can walk all day and meet nobody.

Come back muddy. Nobody minds your boots, and the bar is open.

Cycling and mountain biking

Moffat sits in the middle of the 7stanes, the seven mountain biking centres across the south of Scotland. The nearest is Ae Forest, a short drive away. Trails are graded from green for beginners and families through to black, and bikes can be hired at the centres.

Road cyclists know the area too. Cycle tours often stay with us and take the whole house: if you are organising one, ask us about group rates.

Stars

In 2016 Moffat became Europe's first Dark Sky Town. Every street light was replaced with one that shines down, not up, and on a clear night the Milky Way is out over the High Street. The winter months, when the nights are long, are the best time to look up.

Golf

Moffat Golf Club is on the hill above the town, eighteen holes with some of the best views of any course in the region. There are more than twenty courses within forty-five miles, down to the championship links at Southerness on the Solway coast.

Car and bike clubs

We have a large car park behind the hotel for guests, which is why car and motorbike clubs have been coming here for years, from vintage Bentleys to Harley-Davidsons. The roads of the south of Scotland, and over the border to the Lakes, are made for a run out. Planning a club tour? Get in touch and we will look after you and the cars.

Fishing

The river Annan runs behind the town, with sea trout in late spring and salmon at the end of the season, and the Nith is close by. Salmon and sea trout fishing rests on Sundays in Scotland, so plan your river days for the rest of the week.

Wildlife

From October to April the Solway coast is home to tens of thousands of barnacle geese and whooper swans, flown in for the winter. The wetland reserve at Caerlaverock has hides where you can watch them up close. Spend the day with the geese, then come back for a hot bath and dinner.

Closer to home, the Carrifran Wildwood, a few miles up the valley, is a glen being replanted with native trees, and golden eagles are being brought back to the hills of the south of Scotland.

Days out

Castles and houses. Drumlanrig Castle, Caerlaverock Castle, Traquair House, Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford and Robert Burns country around Dumfries are all within a drive.

Underground and on rails. The lead mining museum at Wanlockhead, Scotland's highest village, takes you down a real mine, and the narrow gauge railway at Leadhills is next door.

On the water. Paddleboarding and kayaking on St Mary's Loch, a short drive up the valley.

Beaches. There are several within an hour or so on the Solway coast: Powfoot, Sandyhills, Kippford, Rockcliffe and Carrick.

Shopping. Gretna outlet village is half an hour away.

In town. Moffat Theatre puts on local and touring shows, and Moffat Distillery is worth a visit. There is golf, tennis and bowls, Moffat toffee, and a High Street of independent shops and eateries. And the Annandale Arms has been on that High Street since 1760.