Annan

Annan in Scotland is the third largest town in Dumfries and Galloway and is situated towards south-west direction of Scotland. The Royal Burgh of Annan is the principal town of Annandale and Eskdale. It stands on the River Annan nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles from Dumfries, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland. Eastriggs is about 3 miles to the east and Gretna Green is about 8 miles to the east.

This town houses many prominent buildings with a unique construction style, red sandstone is the material mainly used for the construction work. On the west end of Annan is the High Streets where the Town Hall stands, which is one of the most historic buildings here, it was build in 1878 with a clock tower which was the main feature of the town halls built in that time. Among the public buildings is Annan Academy, a Georgian building now known as "Bridge House". The writer Thomas Carlyle was a pupil at this academy. The Town Hall, a Victorian style building, which was built in 1878, makes use of the local sandstone for its construction. In Port Street, some of the windows remain blocked up so as to avoid paying the notorious window tax. Annan also features a Historic Resources Centre.

Annan Bridge, a stone bridge of three arches, built between 1824 and 1827, carries road traffic over the River Annan. It was designed by Robert Stevenson and built by John Lowry. There is also a railway bridge and a nearby pedestrian bridge over the River Annan, and the town is served by Annan railway station. This place served as a maritime town whose shipbuilding yards built many clippers and other boats. A cairn on the jetty commemorates Robert Burns, who worked as an excise man here in the 1790s.

Annan has many charming building and places to look for the Town Hall, the Annan Bridge, and the Church Street. Housed in a Grade B listed building, the Annan Museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of Annan, which takes you on a fascinating walk in time right from the prehistoric period to the first world war with interesting interactive sessions and activities for children; Open Monday - Saturday and most Bank Holiday Mondays, 11am - 4pm Tel: 01461 201384

The Corner House Hotel showcases the elegant architectural style of that time, other attractions are the war memorial, and the Commercial Inn.The town takes us back to the past with its historic resemblance and style. The railway bridge which boasts the main railway link connecting to Dumfries and Kilmarnock keeps the pace going.

Annan's location on the Solway Firth has made it a popalar destination for many interesting walking trails that offer great views. One of the most popular among them is Annan shore walk, which is a circular walk of about 5 miles.

Annan holds some great hotels and restaurants all with an historic blend ready to serve tourist and provide them the best amenities. History recounts that Annan was the first place in UK to hold a Nuclear Power Plant for the military purpose.

Region

Dumfries & Galloway

Travel Directions to Annan

Roads

A75 Gretna to Stranraer

Local Sights & Activities for Annan

Things to Do in Annan

Visit the Madcap Brewery (Madcap Brewery, Annan, Dumfries & Galloway, DG12 6ER) A one barrel brewery in Annan

Around Annan

The verdant countryside of Annan offers a perfect blend of joy and tranquillity. The quiet villages of Brydekirk and Dalton in Annan have pubs that provide bar meals and the picturesque estate at Hoddom Castle has a restaurant and camp shop and all these convert Annan in Dumfriesshire an ideal stopping place for the walker or cyclist.

Interesting Local Resources:

Local Annan Canoeing Guide

The villages like Kirkpatrick Fleming, Kirtlebridge, Eaglesfield and Ecclefechan are known for its scenic natural beauty. All these villages have facilities to cater the needs of the walkers and cyclist. It also has many places that have historical and literary significance. Lockerbie is a market town with strong links with the dairy industry. The town of Lochmaben with its attractive loch side is nearby. The Forest of Ae, with several off road routes suitable for the mountain biker, is situated to the north of Lochmaben.

Moffat

Moffat in Annan was formerly a spa town and today is well known for floral displays and has many cafes and shops; the village of Beattock is nearby. Langholm is noted for the fine tweeds produced by its weaving industry. These factories were originally powered by water mills on the River Esk. In mid summer, the town's Common Riding takes place when a mounted cavalcade checks the boundaries. You can have refreshing drinks in numerous pubs, cafes and shops available in the town.

Eskdalemuir

The small upland hamlet of Eskdalemuir is originally a sheep farming area is now heavily forested. The Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist temple is just to the north of the hamlet. Canonbie is a picturesque village situated on the River Esk where bar meals can be obtained. To the south lies "Scots Dike" a four mile long earthwork which was constructed in 1522 to settle the dispute over "Debatable Land". Hollows Tower is an example of a fortified house.

Rowanburn

The nearby village of Rowanburn was built about 1860 for workers employed in the local coal mines. Major mining ceased with the closure of the main pit in 1922. The Canonbie Coalfields still has large reserves of coal but the seams are very deep. Today the village has won several awards for being one of Scotland's best-kept villages.

Annan Hotels & Accommodation

Self Catering Cottages in Annan

Nith House Sleeps 4
Kirtle Cottage Sleeps 2
Derwent Apartment Sleeps 6
Annan House Sleeps 4
Liddle Apartment Sleeps 4
Esk Apartment Sleeps 4
Cree House Sleeps 6