Langholm

About Langholm

At the confluence of the Ewes Water, Wauchope Water and Border Esk, Langholm nestles among rolling hills just six miles north of the English border. Established as a burgh in 1621 but with a history stretching back centuries earlier, the Muckle Toon as you see it today was built on textile production. While many mills have come and gone over the years, the industry remains a vital part of Langholm’s identity.

Langholm boasts countless claims to fame. The pioneering engineer and architect Thomas Telford was born in Westerkirk, just north of the town, in 1757 and went on to construct such marvels as the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Caledonian Canal. Hugh MacDiarmid, the pre-eminent Scottish poet of the 20th century, hails from Langholm and a memorial to the man and his work stands proud on Whita Hill above the town. More recently, in 1972, the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong – inspired by his family heritage – visited Langholm to be awarded the freedom of the burgh and was proud to call it his true home. And perhaps the event most synonymous with Langholm is its Common Riding, held on the last Friday of July each year. Hundreds of horses and thousands of visitors join the festivities relating to the traditional marking of the town’s boundaries, which have been carried out in their current format for more than 260 years.

Modern-day visitors don’t have to wait until the end of July to enjoy the best of Langholm. The town is a hub for hikers, mountain bikers and bird watchers. A network of waymarked walks shows off the best of our scenery. And the biggest community land buyout in the south of Scotland is paving the way for the establishment of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, encompassing more than 5000 acres of Langholm Moor. Here, a rewilding project is underway, promising a positive future for native species such as hen harrier, short-eared owl, and red and black grouse.

The area around Langholm has some of the lowest levels of light pollution in the UK, as does the whole of the South of Scotland. This makes it a perfect place to enjoy fabulous vistas of stars. Book a guide, or on a clear night take a walk after sunset and turn your gaze skyward, you’ll be blown away by the sheer beauty of it.

Meanwhile those with a taste for history can visit the Clan Armstrong Centre at nearby Gilnockie Tower or follow the Prehistoric Trail north through the scenic Esk Valley, discovering ancient stone circles, farm steadings and citadels. Langholm also boasts one of the region’s leading concert and cultural venues in the vibrant Buccleuch Centre.