Pesda Touring Mini-Guide
RIVER ANNAN
INTRODUCTION The Annan is a pastoral river of some
30km, flowing through the eastern Dumfries-shire, now known better to travellers in Scotland as the M74 corridor. It
rises in the hills above Moffat, in the spectacular box canyon
known as the Devil’s Beeftub, and is usually seen first by trav-
ellers at the Johnstonebridge Services on the M74, where it
curls around the artificial ponds. Distances are given, however,
2km Water of Ae joins right.
ing an oxbow lake. Dryfe Water joins left.
6.5km Creamery on left bank. Road bridge (A709). Loch-
maben 2km right, Lockerbie 3km left. After the bridge, river winds, and has marshy banks for next 7km. Hightae, then
Smallholm hamlets on right bank. Scenery becomes wooded.
15.5km Island, and Linn Mill left. Remains of old broken
river provides sections of grade 1 and 2 with four weirs.
17km St Mungo’s Church (historic) on left bank.
WATER LEVEL Peep over a few bridges to check for water.
19km Weir.
ACCESS Millhousebridge
(103 855),
A709
bridge
weir in low water.
18km Mills on both banks.
20.5km Water of Milk joins on left.
22.5km Hoddom bridge. Local paddlers tend to paddle
(106 807), minor road bridge (118 761), Hoddom bridge
from here to Annan.
(191 665).
26km Brydekirk bridge, village right. Weir just below.
(163 728), Brydekirk bridge (187 705) and Annan bridge
CAMPSITES & ACCOMMODATION Lochmaben, Hod-
dom Castle and Annan (near to the finish).
DESCRIPTION –km Millhousebridge, 1km west of the M74.
1.5km Applegarthtown village left bank. Ancient motte.
The Grey Mare’s Tail near Moffat | ©iStockphoto.com Björn Kindler
4.5km River has many bends, a lagoon to right fast becom-
from the next road bridge, 8km down, as the Annan is joined
soon after by Water of Ae which nearly doubles its size. The
#09
WHEREVER THERE’S WATER
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24.5km Mein Water joins left. 27km Large island. 28km Weir.
28.5km Annan by-pass bridge (A75).
29.5km Road bridge, on west side of the town of Annan.
Egress here where the river becomes tidal. Contributor: Eddie Palmer
Excerpt adapted from Scottish Canoe Touring, an SCA Canoe & Kayak Guide ISBN 0954706137, published by Pesda Press, Caernarfon. For details of this and other books, as well as downloads of further mini-guides
W WW.C ANOE K AYA K. CO . U K
and route cards in this series, visit:
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#09 RIVER ANNAN
PESDA TOURING MINI-GUIDE
LENGTH
30 km
OS SHEET
78/85
GRADE
0
1
2
3
4
5km
OS map data reproduced with the kind permission of the Ordnance Survey
1/2
Design & text adapted from the SCA guide to Scottish Canoe Touring, published by Pesda Press, Caernarfon.