Common Riding Day 2026

A lovely morning in the Market Place and the crowds seem larger than ever. I love to see the Emblems on display and in this case the Crown and Thistle. Delighted to see Stevie Barker has grown this year's Thistle.

Cornet Thomas Hope and nice to see a name I am familiar with as my father was called Thomas Hope Graham.

Stevie Barker's Thistle and a splendid specimen it is.

The Barley Bannock at the front of the procession

Myself and Sandria in the garden during our quick Coffee break

Bruce Latimer and John Irving have been my Langholm friends for over 60 years from when I came to Langholm from Rowanburn in 1958. John now lives in Edinburgh and Bruce lives in Hastings. We dont see too much of Bruce, but he try to make it back every year for Common Riding.

John with his two Granddaughters Charlotte and Imogen. They loved their first experience of Langholm Common Riding and Charlotte won the girls under ten race on the Castleholm with a prize of £20 so she will have to come back next year to defend her title. We had a lovely day with a superb lunch at Birkwood for about 25 people.

 

A Visit from John

John Irving arrived to spend a couple of days with us on Friday. Its a few months since he was last in Langholm so it was nice to see him and we planned a couple of walks. The first was a 4.5 mile circular walk round St. Bride's Hill which takes you up towards Arrisgill and then over into the next valley to Westwater. 

The start and finish of the walk at Wauchope School House.

This is the Forestry Road which takes you down into Westwater

The beautiful new house built up at Shaw by a young Langholm Businessman who has done so well in his contracting Forestry business. It is the perfect site with wonderful views.

The early part of the walk and the road up to Arresgill

This is a Falconry Breeding Centre established fairly recently at Westwater

The Forestry Road that takes you from the Logan water up the hill towards the Westwater Valley

This is the start of the last section of the walk which is on the B7068 road. We were fortunate in that this road is closed at the moment so there was no traffic at all on it. 

A view from the highest point up the valley towards Arresgill

The Logan Water on the way up towards Arresgill

The Farmhouse at Westwater

 

Saturday morning and another walk but this time it was not as clear and sunny as it had been on Friday. Tom joined us and we walked round The Pheasant pens and The Curly Snake

Taking it very carefully down the road from Pathead as the road was very icy underneath a light covering of snow. 

Tom and John on the Castleholm which hopefully will soon below to the community. It has been a hectic 36 hours and included dinner at the Eskdale on Friday evening and a visit to The Market at The Buccleuch Centre on Saturday morning. 

Common Riding Day

Ready for the first Fair Crying at 9.15 am

Its Langholm Common Riding day and Cornet Christopher Tait carries the flag through the Market Place

Up at the sports field and Tommy has a win on the first race of the day

Our friend Bruce Latimer up from Hastings in Kent

My long time friend John Irving from Edinburgh and his son Craig were down just for the day.

Granny Gaye with her two boys son Fraser and Grandson Tommy

John and Bruce and myself have met at this very spot on Common Riding Day for many years and its 9 years since Fraser was last at the Common Riding.