Hoddom and the Repentance Tower

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Keepers Cottage, Hoddom

We spent this year’s May Day Holiday weekend in a converted gamekeeper’s cottage on the Hoddom Estate, between Lockerbie and Annan in Dumfries and Galloway. Nice views roundabout, and the NEIGHbours were friendly.

Hoddom NEIGHbour
View from cottage
Hoddom NEIGHbour

On Trailtrow Hill behind the cottage stands Repentance Tower (1565), so called after the inscription above its door. There are several potential explanations for the name, including that the builder, John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries, had unwisely used stone from the Trailtrow Chapel that once stood on this site in the construction of Hoddom Castle, with the result that Alexander Gordon, Archbishop of Glasgow, might have required that a watch tower be built in compensation. Alternatively, Maxwell might have been repenting the death of fourteen Scots who were held at Carlisle Castle. He had pledged not to fight the English, and when he broke this pledge the hostages were executed, so the tower could have been a monument to them. Whatever, he sounds like a nice chap.

Repentance Tower
Repentance Tower
Repentance Tower

The views from Trailtrow Hill are lovely – you can see right down to the castle, or what’s left of it: an old coach house. It’s now a caravan park which, when we were there, had a bar / restaurant in the Coach House. I see the bar has now closed, but fortunately we were able to sample the beer before that happened.

View from Repentance Tower
View from Repentance Tower
View from Repentance Tower
View from Repentance Tower
Hoddom Castle
Hoddom Castle
Hoddom Castle beer!
Hoddom Castle beer!

The River Annan runs through the estate: the Salmon Trail has some interesting signs.

River Annan Salmon Trail
River Annan Salmon Trail

The day after we arrived, we walked part of the riverside path between the village of Brydekirk and the town of Annan. There were two ruined footbridges en route which looked as though they had been swept away some time ago, though I read later they had been destroyed by severe flooding just six months before. We’ve seen a lot of trees down on our travels as a result of last winter’s storms, but these were the first bridges.

River Annan
River Annan
River Annan
River Annan
River Annan
Quarter Cake, Annan
River Annan
River Annan

Annan itself is a handsome little town which celebrates former residents such as Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns and Thomas Carlyle. And, of course, has more beer.

Annan beer!
Bluebell Inn, Annan
Annan Town Hall
Annan Town Hall
Church in Annan
Burns stayed here, Annan
Robert the Bruce, Annan
Robert the Bruce, Annan
Thomas Carlyle, Annan
Thomas Carlyle, Annan

The next day we learned about The Devil’s Porridge, but that will have to wait for another post. I didn’t actually expect to have a post ready this week, because I should have been on Jury Duty. However, after two and a half years of successfully avoiding it, Covid has finally got us both and we are isolating at home. Fortunately, our symptoms are mild (so far). And I know that Jury Duty will eventually get me too! They don’t give up and neither, it seems, does Covid.

Scotland, UK , , ,

59 Comments »

  1. Interested to read about a Maxwell as my paternal grandmother was descended from Scottish Maxwells.
    At least you got out of jury duty but sorry you both got Covid. I got it too in the middle of last month (pretty sure I picked it up in London at the end of my UK trip). Had avoided it up to then despite being in close contact with other family members when they must have been infectious. All good now though. Hope you’re both feeling much better 🙂

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  3. It was lovely to read about some old haunts from my childhood days. Back in the 60’s and maybe into the early 70’s you could go inside the Repentance Tower and climb up to the battlements. It was a fab view for miles around and across the Solway. The floor inside wasn’t very safe and I have a vague memory of a friend falling through the floorboards and breaking her arm. Maybe that was when they closed it to the public!
    Hoddom Woods was where we went to gather conkers every year.

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  4. I seem to be over it or very nearly so, but Mary has it now. Luckily, she seems to be on the way to recovery by now. We both hope, of course, that there will be no later effects.

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  6. Hope your testing negative now Anabel, amazing that you haven’t caught it before! Annan looks nice. It’s actually not that far from our van in Cumbria. Sometimes we have a hankering to have a day at the beach from the caravan, we usually head somewhere like Alonby on the Cumbrian Coast. Don’t think the Annan area is that much further. X

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  8. I’m glad you got most of your trip in before you got sick! It looked like a fabulous place. I’m so sorry about getting Covid, and hope the symptoms remain mild. I honestly think everyone is going to get it, at least once. Hang in there! (I found drinking lots of water helped, not sure why but it did.)

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  9. Sorry to hear that Covid caught you but it’s good to know you are now recovering. Are we taking bets on how many times you can avoid Jury Duty? 🙂 I love the horses, they are the sort of NEIGHbours I would be very happy to have 🙂

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  10. After reading your gallivants for years, I realize I really should get myself a map of Scotland!
    Bummer about the Covid. Glad it’s mild and wishing you a quick recovery.
    I chuckled over the title of the Burns poem. Nobody likes the tax collector! Loved the Salmon signposts/sculpture.

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  14. Another part of the borders I’ve not been in much. Sorry to hear you both have Covid. I found cold and flu strength lemsip , half a single packet morning and night helped a lot and also several packets of sweets to suck. Murray mints were
    long lasting and very pleasant. Not had them for years but they are brilliant.

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  17. Oh man, I hope you are both getting better with no side effects. Michael and I have, so far, been spared. I love your horsey neighbours and the sign. The o e is a bit of a walk the one tower looks like it’s been built into another building. Too bad those foot bridges are gone but I hope they get fixed soon

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  18. “Hoddom NEIGHbour” – great play on words! 👍😊
    Am keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll soon recover from Covid and that it will be a mild bout only, with no after effects!

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  19. Hi Anabel – I do hope you both ease through covid and recover fully – take care. It looks an interesting tower and castle – while I love the images of the two of you enjoying your beers! Cheers Hilary

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  20. Not a part of the country I’ve ever visited so I enjoyed this virtual tour. But I’m sorry to hear that Covid has finally got to you. I hope the symptoms remain mild. I’m intrigued by the reference to Devil’s Porridge and look forward to hearing more!

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  21. Oh no, sorry to hear you got Covid! I hope your cases stay mild. I think I’ve avoided it so far, unless by chance I got it and was asymptomatic.

    It looks like you had a beautiful time in that stunning countryside among your NEIGHbors! You even appeared to have a lot of sunshine.

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  22. Sorry to hear about the Covid. Wishing you both a speedy recovery. Annabell was required to do Jury Duty but was unable to do so. Doctor wrote a letter to the Sheriff and she was excused. Next year – she recieved a letter from the Sheriff requesting her to do Jury Duty. Doctor wrote a second letter to the Sheriff and refered to his previous letter. We never heard from them again.

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  24. A very dramatic shot of the flood-destroyed bridge. You also captured one of my favourite pubs from my coastal walk, although I don’t think the shot of you drinking is from there? I recall it being a little more down to earth than that.

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