Duchess Bridge Circular Walk

Starting at Kilngreen car park, walk towards the town centre and turn right over the bridge across the Esk (Thomas Telford Road).

Continue along this road, passing Langholm Academy on the right and then the Eskdale Sports -Complex. Just beyond the sports complex and new primary school, head along the path beside the grassed area and all-weather pitches. Continue alongside the wall to reach the River Esk. Go left with the path and in about 250 metres turn right over the Duchess Bridge, a very attractive arched span across the river. This was in fact the first cast iron bridge ever built in Scotland and when erected in 1813, to a design by William Keir, and it drew a great deal of attention. It is worth pausing here to look up and down river. The views themselves are lovely and birds you may see include heron, dippers, gulls and goosanders.

Once over the bridge, turn left and continue along the clear riverside track, with fields to the right. After about 500 metres the track turns sharp right and at the end of the field, climbs a little to reach a junction. Continue uphill by the field edge to reach Holmhead. Turn left here on the track to North Lodge.

The walk turns very sharply right at the Lodge to start the return journey inside the wall. Keep on the main track, ignoring side paths, through the attractive woodland and along the area known as Castle Bank. There is a mixture of coniferous and deciduous -trees including hemlock and beech. The colours are especially fine in autumn, and this is also a very pleasant walk in winter, with a pale sunlight filtering through the trees and still sufficient cover to provide shelter. Half a kilometre after leaving North Lodge, turn sharp left between fields and then right, coming down from Castle Hill here. Follow the track and then road round to the right through Pathhead, and out past the sawmill to the Ewes Bridge, and thus back to the car perk.

The Langholm Walks Booklet of 14 way-marked walks is available from Welcome to Langholm in the Market Place, The Paper Shop on the High Street, The Buccleuch Centre or by mail to langholmwalks@gmail.com