The Johnstone Tour
Visit a number of sites in the South West of Scotland associated with the powerful and influential Johnstone family.
A day tour from Dumfries or Lockerbie (it only takes one hour by train to Lockerbie from either Edinburgh or Glasgow). We can provide this tour as part of a multi-day tour package.
Tour Highlights
Tour Highlights
• Pick up from Dumfries accommodation or Lockerbie Station.
• Meet Lord Annandale (Johnstone Chief) at his St Ann’s Bridge Annandale Estates Office. If he is available.
• With Lord Annandale’s permission visit Raehills and current, home of the Johnstone Chief.
• Johnstonebridge and Johnstone Church.
• Visit the ruins of Lochwood Castle.
• Upper Annandale Parish Church, Moffat. Built on land bequeathed to the town by Lord Annandale. The original church was known as The Flying Spur Kirk. Meet the Church Session Clerk and the Minister Elsie Mcrae.
• Moffat Old Kirk Cemetery - see the Johnstone coat of arms on the Kirk walls and on the town’s war memorial.
• Lunch in Moffat with option to visit the Moffat Distillery.
• The Devil’s Beeftub. The Johnstone’s were known as The Devils due to their cross-border raids and feuds with neighbouring families. The cattle they stole often ended up in this natural bowl in the Moffat Hills.
• Dryfe Water and the site of the 1593 battle of Dryfe Sands where the Johnstones and their allies inflicted a devastating defeat on the Maxwell family.
• Hoddom Castle – acquired by Lord Maxwell of Terregles through marriage to Agnes Herries. Lord Maxwell’s Repentance Tower - hear of his betrayal of Lord Johnstone as they tried to negotiate a truce.
If time allows (or on separate day) we may also visit;
• Ruthwell Church – with the oldest Celtic cross in Mainland Scotland.
• Caerlaverock Castle – The Maxwell stronghold. Or it was until it was attacked by a Protestant Covenanting army in 1640 and the Maxwells were expelled.