The peak of Criffel, at 570 metres, dominates the quiet village of New Abbey, offering excellent walking and stunning views over southwest Scotland and the Lake District. Sweetheart Abbey, a 1273 Cistercian abbey, represents the village’s history, and the village is home to a shop, a coffee shop, and two hotels. The nearby River Nith is a great fishing spot. 8 miles north is Dumfries, formerly a royal burgh and split in two by the River Nith, which flows into the Solway Firth.