Follow the banks of the River Annan between the eponymous town and the village of Brydekirk. There are paths on both sides along wooded banks rich in wildflowers in early summer, making for a beautiful riverside circuit.
Bog Factor
Riverside paths and tracks; some sections can be muddy.
Everholm car park, Annan.
Bus or train to Annan.
NY192665
The walk begins from just off Annan High Street - turn down Battery Street alongside the Blue Bell pub to reach the Riverholm car park. Begin by heading out the car park entrance and turning right to join the surfaced footpath along the beautiful riverbank, with several benches. The path runs through a park at first; after a small gate it becomes unsurfaced and continues through woodland.
Continue by the riverside, eventually passing beneath the A75 bypass. A more open stretch of river follows. The footbridges shown on some OS maps both before and after the A75 have gone without trace. Further on, head through the gate ahead and pass to the right around the electricity substation before rejoining the riverbank beyond.
The next stretch is popular with fishermen. After a gate the path leads through a field - this is often grazed by cows and is liable to be extremely muddy. After another gate the path runs through more riverside woodland, with some mighty oak trees.
Keep left at a fork, crossing a footbridge over a tributary and then reaching a fishing hut. Join the rough track behind the hut, following it until a marker post indicates where the path forks left to the riverbank. Continue along the path until reaching the road bridge at Brydekirk. Cross the bridge.
On the far side turn left immediately down River Street, then fork left onto a path when the road curves away to stay on the river bank. A woodland stretch follows, with the route climbing higher above the water.
Keep left at a fork and continue by the river. There is a muddy stretch alongside fields before some wonderful oakwoods are entered. Beyond is another more open stretch, where the route follows a grassy track for a time. Continue downriver, passing to the right around a fenced building to cross a parking area. Back by the river, cross a footbridge over a tiny tributary and up a few steps. At a track turn left to rejoin the river. Cross another tributary before passing under the A75.
Follow the path until it joins a track, then fork left when the path runs off to rejoin the river once more. Pass through a gate for a stretch across riverside meadows, rich in wild flowers. There's another gate before the final meadows; at the far end head up steps up to the road bridge over the Annan, and turn left here to head back onto the High Street.
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