We started our walk today at Hoddom Castle: our kind hostess at the Ecclefechan Hotel volunteered to drive us out to pick up the trail there as soon as she had finished serving breakfast. Now in ruins, the castle would have been a fun place to stay when it was briefly a youth hostel, before being requisitioned for military use in the Second World War. The castle is now derelict, though there is a caravan park outside its walls.
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| Hoddom Castle |
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| Hoddom Castle in its days of former splendour |
We followed the Annan all day, through the woods, past an ancient graveyard, and then across fields, where cattle had made the track rather muddy in spots!
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| More storm damage |
In the town of Annan, we visited the little museum to learn more about local history and search for records of our family name; we didn't find any, but we did find plenty of interesting files of old photographs recording life in the town and the nearby villages.
After lunching on a pint and a packet of crisps at the Blue Bell Pub, we left our bags at our bed and breakfast and walked the last five kilometres of the Annandale Way, to the mouth of the river in the Solway Firth, the inlet forming the border between England and Scotland.
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| Annan |
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| Rowanbank House |
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| Continuing along the River Annan |
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| The mouth of the Annan |
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| Solway Firth |
As we came to the sea it started to rain, but just when as reached the cairn marking the end of the trail the sun came out!
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| The end of the Annandale Way! |
Hoddom Castle - Annan - Solway Firth and back to Annan 20.5 km
Total over 4 days: 85 km
Great trip, and good memories, Joanne. Thanks for accompaning me down this "memory lane" walk. Looking forward to the next one!
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