Round and About (3)

• The Town • The Harbour and Waterfoot • Round and About (page 1) • Round and About (page 2) • Round and About (page 3) • Printable Version

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Eaglesfield Village was the birthplace of the artist W.E. Lockhart RSA RSW. Bar meals and dinners are available.

In the ruined churchyard of Kirkconnel on the banks of the Kirtle in Springkell estate is the grave of Fair Helen Irving of Kirkconnel Lea of Robert Burns' poem. (G.R. 250754).

The Merkland Cross (G.R. 250721), in a field next to the M74 at Kirtlebridge, is of 15th Century date and is associated with legends of the slaughter of a military commander.

The village of Kirkpatrick Fleming offers bar meals and has a caravan site, adjacent to which is Bruce's Cave, reputed to be the cave where Robert the Bruce saw the spider.

Three kilometres south west of the village, on the B6357, is Westlands Outdoor Activity Centre, offering a variety of challenges and games for all ages. (Web site: www.westlands-activities.co.uk).

Two of the many border tower-houses, reminders of the endless raids of the Border Wars, are within easy reach of Annan.

Bonshaw Tower (G.R. 243721), the scene of fierce fighting, is still the seat of the Irving clan. (Visits by special appointment only).

Stapleton Tower (G.R. 235689), built by the Johnstones, is empty but kept in good repair by the Vivers family. To the north west of this the giant towers belonging to Chapelcross Power Station have been constructed on the side of the runway of R.A.F. Annan.

Many of the huts of this Second World War airfield still survive in the village of Creca (G.R. 227704). The three main hangars which housed Magisters, Hurricanes and Typhoons are still used by the Power Station; they are not accessible, but are visible from the B722 road.

The churchyard in the village of Dornock has two early mediaeval coped grave covers propped up by four Romanesque capitals from a 12th Century belfry.

The modern burial ground for Dornock is at nearby Eastriggs, a town created in the First World War to provide for workers at the Gretna munitions factory.

St John's Church in Dunedin Road houses the fascinating exhibition about the workers, The Devil's Porridge (Telephone 01461 40460 for opening times. Web site: www.devilsporridge.co.uk)