River Annan

The River Annan flows through the hills and towns of Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland. It begins on Annanhead Hill and passes through the deep Devil’s Beef Tub before reaching the sea at Annan after about 40 miles. Nearby lie the sources of the Tweed, only 1.9 kilometres away, and the Clyde, 10.4 kilometres distant. Along its course it is joined by streams such as Moffat Water from Loch Skene and Evan Water from Lanarkshire. The river also meets the Kinnel Water and Dryfe Water before flowing past Moffat and Lockerbie. Newbie Harbour once served the Barony of Newbie where the Old Mill Burn meets the Annan. The Annan appears in old folk songs from the Borders, often as a dangerous force that drowns those who try to cross it. One well-known song is Annan Waters, recorded by artists including Nic Jones and Kate Rusby. In the online comic Gunnerkrigg Court, the Annan Waters separate a scientific court from a magical forest. The Decemberists also wrote a song called Annan Water for their 2009 album. Visitors can walk beside the river where it winds through quiet countryside and small towns. The stretch near Moffat offers views of the surrounding hills and the point where the Evan Water meets the Annan. Near Annan, the river widens as it approaches the sea, with Newbie Harbour marking an old crossing place. The landscape around the Devil’s Beef Tub shows the river’s deep, steep-sided valley. The Annan’s course links upland sources with a working port town, giving a varied journey through southern Scotland.