AWG had its first walk on Sunday 13th July 2003. The walk, Lochmaben's Four Lochs, was led by Jim Hawkins.
However the origins of the Group date back to 2001 and a tragedy that impacted on the area at that time, namely a widespread outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease throughout Britain. That outbreak of some 2000 cases is estimated to have cost some £8 billion and led to the culling of millions of animals. It took some 9 months to bring it under control. One of the side effects was that movement was restricted and in effect the countryside closed down with a resulting harmful impact on the wider local economy and a significant reduction in visitor numbers.
Following the outbreak national and local government facilitated local actions aimed at repairing the economic damage to rural economies. One such was the encouragement of Walking Festivals.
Locally the Annan Initiative organized an Annan Walking Festival in May 2003. Annan Initiative was a community group whose aim was to initiate and support sustainable development projects in the area. It was led by Bunty Taylor assisted by support worker Alan Thomson and volunteers. Prior to the Walking Festival the Initiative had provided the descriptions of local walks for a booklet "Walking in and around Annan", one of a series covering the region. Contributors included Albert Cook, Jim Hawkins, Norman Martin and Alan Thomson.
The initial Walking Festival was enjoyed by participants but did not draw many people from further afield. However the positive feedback from local walkers included a suggestion from Ann Campbell that such walks all year round would be great. The Initiative thereafter invited those interested to a meeting at which it was agreed that the Annan Walking Group (AWG) be established and that walks be arranged for the second Sunday and fourth Saturday of each month.
Membership in its first year (2003-2004) was 88, of whom 6 were 16 years or younger. Its initial Secretary / Walks Coordinator was Roderick McCallum. At the outset travel to walks was by car-sharing but within a year or so the Group started to use a community mini-bus through membership of Annandale Transport Initiative (now Annandale Community Transport Services) with some members volunteering as drivers.
In short - good came out of bad.
Today (August 2024) AWG has some 70 members with around 20 members on average enjoying the individual twice monthly walks throughout Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria plus the additional pleasure of a yearly Day Away (Glen Trool this year) and a biennial Weekend Away (Cumnock / Dumfries House in 2023)
Photo of Annan Walking Group in 2018:
