Annan

The historic royal burgh of Annan comes alive in the summer, with the historic Riding of the Marches and the skirl of pipes at the annual bagpipe festival. There is award-winning food all year round!

The western approach to Annan affords a spectacular view of the town. The plans for the 176 year-old road bridge with its graceful arches were by the great engineer Rennie. Outstanding amongst the important sandstone buildings at this end of the High Street is Bridge House, built in 1780 and considered to be one of the finest Georgian town houses in Scotland. From 1802 to 1820 Bridge House served as the town Academy, where Thomas Carlyle was both pupil and teacher. Plans are under way to restore this Grade A listed building for public use, and to build a museum for East Dumfriesshire which will house the present collections of the Historic Research Centre and provide permanent and temporary exhibition galleries and a café.

In September, the Princess Royal will be opening a completely refurbished Annandale Distillery, closed for over 95 years. This, the first ( and last) distillery in Scotland is the ambitious project of a local entrepreneur and offers a full visitor experience at the start of a whisky trail. The coffee shop is worth a visit in its own right!

Recently relocated is the Devil’s Porridge Museum at Eastriggs where an exhibition of the WW1 munitions factory combines history and humour.