A Spring in my step as I take a Riverside Walk by the Nith
One of the most pleasing things about living in Southern Scotland is walking by the Nith in Dumfries during early springtime.
The light, the water, the birds, the history and the greeny are a lovely mix that many places are not fortunate to have. The river is home to both wildlife, and a riverfront that lends itself to pleasure walks.
Dumfries is special in this regard. It has a wonderful river which meanders through the town. Along prone to occasional flooding it is certainly an asset to the town.
Each morning, I am fortunate to walk down past the river. It gives me an enormous sense of well-being (to quote Blur's Park Life).
The Riverfronts
Indeed, one feature of Dumfries that is overlooked is the riverfront along the Dumfries side of the river. Along it from Devorgilla Bridge is the white sands, an area where the fair is currently in residence. The white sands offer a short promenade feeling and good parking.
As you continue along you will come across another couple of bridges and then hit Dock Park, home of the former dock stands of Dumfries when trade passed through the town, now it is a lovely local park with many large and established trees that give walking around the park a grand feeling.
Further along, as you reach the Macmillian-Kirkpatrick bridge you will see Castle Dykes Park on your left and straight ahead you have a long well-maintained path that follows the river all the way down to Kingholm Quay and allows you views of the River entering the Solway Firth.
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Along the other bank of the river (the Maxwelltown side) from the Devorgilla bridge you will pass the Toll Booth House, believed to be the oldest house in Dumfries.
Then a little further along just pass the cull you will come upon a former mill that is now home to the Burns Centre and the Bonnie Bistro. Right next to the former mill is a small playpark and grassy bank with trees that offer dappled shade in the summer.
After this is the impressive Rosefield Mills, then a lovely walk past a graveyard until you hit the Macmillian-Kirkpatrick Bridge.
The entire area is steeped in history, from the Covenanters to Scottish Wars of Independence to Burns and Norwegian World War Two graves and a small slice of Britain's industrial heritage.
Walking along in Springtime
For me, I am not lucky enough to go down to Kingholm each day, I do however, find the walk each morning a lovely way to prepare for the day.
Currently, the river is low and it gives you great views of the river bed, the occasional discarded bike, and all the wildlife that calls the river home.
Today, I got to witness Oyster catchers lying low above the water making their distinctive calls, and greater gulls padding on a sandbar looking for eels. Ducks quacking and generally being ducks.
In the past, I have seen otters, kingfishers and herons.
So walking along the river at the moment is an absolute pleasure, the sunshine and light combined with the still cold morning give the light an ethereal feel. The noise of the water sloshing by and the birds making a walk along the Nith is one of life's pleasures.
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