The pathway was officially opened on the same day as the Cairn School Project and The Base, this being the 20th October 2000. The fact that this walk has been very well used by the public has prompted the Society to apply for funding to extend and upgrade the pathway to form a heritage walk.

The features are to include the War Memorial, the site of the old Public School (where it is hoped to erect a small cairn to mark where it stood) St. Conal’s Parish Church, Alexander Anderson Monument, The Old Sluice (this will be repaired) the Pastor’s Pool (“The Plum”) and Kelloside Farmhouse which is a B listed building.

                 
The funding for the initial stage of the pathway was obtained from Groundbase, Shell Better Britain Campaign, Scottish Natural Heritage, Solway Heritage and Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Heritage Lottery Fund agreed to fund the extension and the interpretation boards that are now displayed on the site. The work on the extension was completed in 2004 and picnic benches and summer seats were added in 2006.

It has also to be appreciated that all of this would not have been achieved without the co-operation from the Church of Scotland Trustees and Buccleuch Estates Ltd.