Overlooking the upper reaches of the Solway Firth is the Royal Burgh of Annan with it’s wide main street and imposing buildings.
After leaving Carlisle we take the M74 north, then just after the Greta turn off, we exit left and onto A75 towards Dumfries. Annan is almost hidden to the casual driver en-route west apart from a few signs indicating the town. Indeed it was not to be our original destination today except that the extra cup of tea that dad had for breakfast was, shall we say, wishing to make it’s escape.
Charlie has a bandage
Upon entering the town we followed the blue ‘P’ symbols to a wide open car park just behind the main street. Unusually for a town these days parking was free and so we set off for our walk.
Charlie wears a bandage
Today was the first day that Charlie has really been in the big world, since he had a bit of an incident with a prickle stick.
Just over a week ago Charlie went for his routine injections and all seemed well until around three days later when he developed a temperature and a big lump on the back of his neck.
Mum rushed him to the very nice vet person and in exchange for some biscuits, he was allowed to investigate the problem.
It turns out that Charlie had a nasty infection and needed a bit of an operation to clean out loads of gunk from the back of his neck.
He returned a few hours later smelling horrid and with a bit of gauze threaded between two holes between his shoulders. Dad said he looked like a pyjama case ready to be hung on a bedroom door. I don’t think this really helped!
Fresh Scottish grass...
Loads of pills and chews later he seems to be a lot better and he no longer needs his bandages. With his wounds healing and Charlie returning to full strength, it was felt that he could have an adventure today to make him feel a little happier.
To the park
Keeping to the right hand side of Annan High Street, which turned into Fish Cross and Church Street without us even realising it, we spotted an old blue sign indicating that Seaforth Park could be found up a side street known as Solway Street.
Any sign that indicates flower gardens always gets mums attention and this one was no exception.
After about ten minutes walk all seemed lost as we just could not see any gardens. We did however, spot a big field adjacent to Annan Academy and we were able to have a good trample around and stretch our legs.
It is well documented that dad always finds an adventure and with spirits a bit low, we all decided to press on up the hill away from the main town.
Do you know directions?
What is the one un-written rule that says you will always be asked for directions in a town you are visitors to?
A well earned drink fresh from the tap.
Today mum and dad were stopped three times by people asking where a car boot sale was being held and for a place they had never heard about.
It became a bit of a joke when a car would pull up and the window was wound down. Sadly the third people to do this were laughed at which didn’t really help.
Berries and roses
Following the path up the hill, dad spotted a well trimmed path leading away from the road and he decided we should investigate.
A small smouldering fire was sending drifts of wood smoke down the lane adding to the mystery of the adventure.
High, well managed hedges lined our route whilst two track marks below our feet indicated the path was used by the occasional vehicle.
Ahead of us was a dark area of thick trees which, if we were here in the dark, would make the whole experience very scary.
Sniffing out our route, Charlie spotted an opening in the hedge to our right with a well maintained path, complete with kerb stone edging. The path opened out to a collection of allotments arranged around a central woodland area.
Annan Town Hall
Close cut grass paths and wide open spaces made this an ideal place for allotments according to mum. Birds and insects could live in the protected woodlands and undergrowth whilst helping the gardeners keep pests and nasties away.
Charlie even found a tap with fresh running water and at an ideal height to get a long drink from. Thank you to the gardeners for thinking of us.
Back towards Annan
Dad spotted a white iron bridge as we entered the allotment area and this was to be the next part of our Annan adventure.
It turns out that the bridge goes over the railway line and that it has a few wobbly planks.
Annan High Street
Our onboard compasses soon worked out a path back to the town and before long we were looking at the town hall.
Built in 1878 the impressive town hall features a 2m high statue, erected in January 2010 of Robert the Bruce.
In front of the town hall is a war memorial set in the middle of a very wide main street with shops on either side.
Many of the older buildings feature crests and ornate stone decoration.
What is in the brown bag mum?
Around half way along the high street as it starts to narrow we spotted a number of humans leaving a shop with brown paper bags.
Mum was dispatched to investigate, as a sign on the door said we were not allowed in.
She returned a short while later clutching a brown paper bag and a big smile.
Around ten seconds passed then the cogs started to locate in our minds and mum was rumbled. The unmistakable smell of a hot sausage and chips.
We made ourselves comfortable on a nearby park bench and shared the freshly cooked goodies just purchased from the Cafe Royal.
With some hot food in our tummies it was the perfect time to leave Annan. We enjoyed our brief visit and will return when Charlie is fully recovered.
Until next time
Buster and Charlie
