Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 2 on 5/6/2002.

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Dumfries & Galloway

Broadcaster and writer Fiona Armstrong, who lives and works on the English border, takes a look at the fascination of this unspoiled and magnificent part of the country

This is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. But, then I would say that, wouldn’t I? Living here in the eastern stretches of the region, on the banks of the glorious Border Esk.

It’s where green-clad fly-fishers come to try for silvery sea-trout and, truly, if you’ve never eaten a fish from a Dumfries and Galloway river, you’ve never lived! Pulled from the water, pink and moist and needing only a brisk fry in a buttery pan and a twist of lemon.

The spring fishing beckons now; the long nights are passing and we look forward to brighter days. The snowdrops are passing, to be followed by the bluebells and eventually the ubiquitous rhododendrons.
I live just a few miles north of the border with England. It’s definitely Scotland, but 500 years ago, this area was called the Debateable Lands, because no-one knew if it belonged to England or Scotland.

Back then our ancestors didn’t spend their time writing. No, in those days, they had many more exciting things to do – like attacking the English.

Armstrongs, Bells, Moffats, Maxwells, Crichtons, Irvings and Johnstones; these were just some of the families in this part of the world; folk who regularly rode across the divide, wearing steel bonnets and bearing long lances, to wreak havoc on the other side.

The Armstrongs, in particular, were a fearsome lot. According to the historian, George MacDonald Fraser, at the height of their powers, they could put 3,000 fighting men in the saddle. He also says th.....

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By Fiona Armstrong

Section : Scottish History

Page number : 46