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White arched footbridge crossing a wooded river gorge
Dumfries and Galloway

Duchess Bridge

A cast-iron footbridge of 1813 over the Esk, and a short walk through the woods.

Welcome

The Duchess Bridge throws a single cast-iron span of a hundred and four feet across the Esk at Langholm, and it is a remarkably light thing to have been made in 1813.

William Keir the younger, of Millholm, designed it for the fourth Duke of Buccleuch to replace a rotting wooden bridge in the grounds of Langholm Lodge, and the castings came over from a foundry at Workington. It is among the earliest iron bridges in Scotland - sources differ on whether it is the earliest surviving or the second - and it is category A listed. It still carries a public path, so the way to see it is to walk it: out from Langholm through the estate woods, over the river and back, level all the way and easily done after lunch.

A short drive awayFirst BiteA cafe on the High Street in Langholm, with home cooking, breakfasts, generous lunches, cakes and a courtyard, and dogs welcome.3 min by roadSee itCafé counter with chalkboard menus, cake display and "First Bite" sign above the till
Before you go
How long
Half an hour to an hour
Cost
Free
Getting there
Walk out from Langholm through the estate woods; the path is level.
Where it is

In the grounds of Langholm Lodge, a short walk from the town.

Close byThe rest of Dumfries and Galloway, near at hand.
  1. Barn owl flying low over green hillside with wings fully spreadTarras Valley Nature ReserveUnder a mile2 min by road
  2. Spending A Day In Scotland’s Debatable LandsGilnockie TowerThe Armstrongs' tower on the Esk, in what was once the Debatable Land.5 miles9 min by road
  3. The Milnholm Cross, a tall stone cross inside iron railings in a roadside field, green hills behind.Milnholm CrossA tall medieval stone cross in a field south of Newcastleton, set up in memory of a laird of Mangerton, carved with initials and a sword.14 miles20 min by road
  4. Gretna Green Old Blacksmiths ShopGretna Green Old Blacksmiths ShopThe smithy at the crossroads where the runaway marriages were made.15 miles21 min by road
  5. Wooden sculpture of two clasped hands rising against a pale skyThe Clasping Hands, Gretna GreenA tall sculpture of two clasped hands in the free sculpture garden at Gretna Green, a symbol of marriage in the village famous for weddings.15 miles21 min by road
Directions
Café counter with chalkboard menus, cake display and "First Bite" sign above the tillCafeFirst Bite1.0 miles
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