Duchess Bridge & North Lodge, Langholm

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
5 kms	01:20 (hrs:mins)	20 metres	Explorer 323: Eskdale and Castle o'er Forest

Description

From the 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 new Eskdale Sports Complex. From spring 2001, a new footbridge will cross the Esk behind the complex, providing access to playing fields as well as to the castle site. Just beyond the sports complex, and as the road starts to climb, go right down steps then left along the field edge and continue inside a 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, 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 and gulls. 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 (joining Walks 2 and 4) on the track to North Lodge. However, whereas the other two walks continue on towards Potholm, this 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. 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 park.

Access Info

From Dumfries follow the A75 to Annan, from Annan follow the B720 to Langholm.
For public transport from Dumfries, there are a number of services via Lockerbie and Annan with a change from Langholm.
Dumfries to Lockerbie - 81,117,175