Caerlaverock
Castle was built by the powerful Maxwell family in the late
13th century. The eastern Solway had alternated between
English and Scottish rule until the end of the 12th century,
when it finally came under the influence of the Normans.
Then King Edward I, known as 'Hammer of Scots',
imposed English rule and triggered the Wars of Independence.
In 1300, Caerlaverock became the focus of Edward's wrath
and he laid siege with an army of 87 knights and 3000 soldiers.
Once the siege engines arrived, the castle soon surrendered.
Edward died nearby in 1307 - a monument in Burgh Marsh marks
the spot. After winning Scottish independence in 1314, Robert
the Bruce ordered that all border strongholds, including
Caerlaverock, must be destroyed to prevent them being used
by an invading English army.
Two hundred years later, the rebuilt castle withstood
the attention of an invading English army led by James
V who defeated the Scots at the 'Battle of the Solway
Moss'. After the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the
two kingdoms were finally united under his son. However,
the English-Scottish truce broke down in 1640 and during
that summer, Caerlaverock was besieged for 13 weeks by
a Scottish army of Covenanters. After its surrender, the
Covenanters partially dismantled the castle and it fell
into decay, having stood guard over the Solway Firth for
over 400 years.
Other
places to visit
Annan
Victorian
red-brick houses over-look banks of River Annan, where
anglers try for salmon and trout. Dismantled railway,
now over-grown, once led to bridge across Solway Firth.
Locally born historian, Thomas Carlyle, taught at Annan
Academy in the 19th century.
Barr's
Hill
Network
of ditches and huge bank remain from Iron Age hill-fort,
built on narrow ridge between Annandale and Nithsdale.
Beattock
Hill
Narrow
road leads to top of Beattock Hill. Iron Age fort lies
near summit, with extensive views over Annandale. In
days of steam, trains laboured to climb dramatic 10
mile incline of Beattock Bank.
Bruce's
Cave
Steep
footpath leads to cave above Kirtle Water where, according
to legend, Robert Bruce hid from the English invaders
in 1306 and, inspired by a spider trying again and again
to spin its web, carried on his struggle for independence.
Burnswark
Iron
Age defences extend 17 acres on windswept hilltop, looking
out to Solway Firth and Cumbrian coast. Remains of two
Roman siege camps on opposite hillside date from AD
155, and small Roman fort dates from AD 140.
Caerlaverock
Castle
Triangular
fortress on shore of Solway Firth has mysterious origins.
Built during 1290s, but whether by English or Scots
is unknown. Largely destroyed 1320, rebuilt a few years
later and demolished again by Scots in 1357. Pink-sandstone
gatehouse survives from castle rebuilt 15th century,
reduced to ruins in 1640. Finely carved panels remain
from mansion added to building in 1630s by Robert Maxwell,
1st Earl of Nithsdale.
Caerlaverock
Nature Reserve
Barnacle
geese from Spitzbergen and large flocks of pink-footed
and greylag geese make this 13,000 acre area of salt
marsh and foreshore a notable bird sanctuary. Wild ducks
and waders haunt creeks and reed banks. Hides and observation
towers.
Comlongon
Castle
Well-preserved
Great Hall, dungeons and fine bedrooms create medieval
atmosphere in 15th-century castle on Scottish border.
Picnic area and nature trail in surrounding woodland.
Craigcleuch
Scottish
Baronial mansion, 19th-century, houses Craigcleuch collection
of curiosities found by early Scottish explorers, including
carved coral and ivory, African sculptures, Chinese
jade animals, prehistoric ornaments and implements.
Set in parkland overlooking Esk valley, with views north
between 'Gates of Eden' hills.
Devil's
Beef Tub
River
Annan flows down this 500ft deep hollow among four barrett
hills which look, according to Sir Walter Scott in his
novel Red-gauntlet, 'as if they were laying their heads
together to shut out the daylight from the dark hollow
space between them'.
Dryhope
Tower
Ruins
of stout 16th-century tower stand by northern shores
of St Mar/s loch. Once home of Mary Scott, ancestor
of Sir Walter Scott.
Ecclefechan
Historian
Thomas Carlyle born 1795in 'Arched House' built by his
father and uncle, master masons. Restored as in his
day, containing papers and personal belongings.
Ewes
Hamlet
lying at foot of Eskdale hills. A 300-year-old bell
hangs in churchyard tree; put there for safety when
old church was demolished, stayed when the new church
was built 1867. Fine views of Ewes Water and Teviotdale.
Forest
of Ae
Road
and waymarked walks wind through woods and hills thick
with grass or bracken, some-times under trees bent over
to meet one another. Picnic site beside stream fringed
by spruce and alder.
Gretna
Green
Village
close to the border with England where runaway couples
could seek quick marriages under easygoing Scottish
law at the old tollhouse or smithy, until the custom
was banned in 1940. Old Blacksmith's Shop, where wed-dings
were performed by an 'anvil priest', now a museum.
Grey
Mare's Tail
Path
leads to foot of this spectacular 200ft waterfall formed
by Tail Burn dropping from Loch Skene to join Moffat
Water. Area rich in wild flowers has herd of wild goats.
Hoddom
Castle
Sturdy
16th-century watchtower built by John Maxwell stands
on hill above site of 16th-century tower castle. Visitor
centre is start of riverside and woodland walks.
Langholm
Thriving
mills surround this textile centre where River Esk meets
Wanchope Water and Ewes Water; spanned by several bridges.
Narrow, twisting streets of old part contrast with 18th-century
houses of 'new' town across river. Ruined peel tower
was home to the Armstrong family, ancestors of astronaut
Neil Armstrong -- first man on the moon.
Lochmaben
Nature
reserve surrounds the creeper-clad ruins of a 14th-century
castle, reputed birthplace of Robert Bruce. Both James
IV and Mary, Queen of Scots visited castle. Look for
greylag and pink-footed geese in Castle and High-tae
lochs. Statue near the town hail recalls local man William
Paterson, co-founder of Bank of England in 1694.
Megget
Picturesque
valley transformed in 1983 by reservoir, stocked with
trout. Picnic areas with good viewpoints. Visitors can
walk along top of dam.
Moffat
Sheep-farming
centre, symbolized by ram statue in high street. Spring
discovered 1633 made it popular spa. Robert Burns among
those who came to take waters. Baths Hall of 1827 now
town hall. Local crafts thrive at woollen mill.
Powfoot
Resort
created late 1700s at mouth of Pow Water. Sand yachting
on beach. Golf course. Kinmount gardens with lakeside
walks and resident geese.
Rammerscales
Manor
with Palladian frontage built 1760 for Dr James Mounsey,
physician to Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia. Annandale
views, picnic site, woodland walks and garden.
Ruthwell
Church
has late 7th-century cross, 18ft high, carved with figures
and runic verses from Anglo-Saxon poem The Dream of
the Rood; possibly written by Caedmon, a 7th-century
monk and poet from Whitby in Yorkshire. Small museum
commemorates Henry Duncan in cottage where he founded
Scottish Savings Bank. Displays include bank archives
p.' and room settings of late 18th and early 19th centuries.
St
Mary's Loch
Sailing
and angling centre. Statue of local poet James Hogg
(1770-1835) stands above Tibbie Shiels Inn. Single-track
road to beauty spot of Talla Reservoir.
St
Mungo's Church
Shell
of church lies above River Annan. Mungo was 6th-century
'Apostle of Strathclyde' who became Glasgow's patron
saint.
Telford
Memorial
Recalls
engineer Thomas Telford, born 1757. As an apprentice
he , worked on the bridge at nearby Langholm.
Teviothead
Hamlet
with a churchyard memorial marking mass grave of border
outlaw Johnnie Armstrong and 36 of his men, sent to
gallows with-out trial by James V, 1530.
Torthorwald
Castle
This
15th-century fortress of the Kirkpatricks and later
Carlyles is an unsafe ruin. View it from road.
Tweedsmuir
Good
walking country where Talla Water meets Tweed. Church
built in 1874 has war memorial from oak tree planted
100 years earlier by writer Sic Walter Scott. Covenantor's
stone of 1685 lies in the churchyard.
