Following their popularity in previous years, Kirkcudbright History Society is offering free guided walks around the town’s historic centre and the kirkyard in July and August.
The Kirkcudbright town walks offer a guided tour of the historic centre of the medieval port and burgh, granted a royal charter in 1455, and at one time defended by a town wall and gates of sufficient strength to withstand an English attack in 1547.
Starting and finishing at the Information Centre, the tour proceeds over the Moat Brae to the High Street and down to the Tolbooth, then to St Mary Street and back by the parish church to Harbour Square.
The route is a walk through time from the medieval period to the present day and introduces many colourful characters and surprising events from the town’s past.
Although a little out of town on the road to Gelston, the setting and history of Kirkcudbright or St Cuthbert’s kirkyard makes it well worth seeking out.
It is particularly important as the site of the original kirk of St Cuthbert, possibly built sometime in the period 750-850, which gave the present town of Kirkcudbright its name and the site of the most southerly Viking burial in Scotland.
There is much of historical interest besides, not least the variety of gravestones and the individuals commemorated on them. Of particular note is the headstone of Billy Marshall – the Gypsy King – which records that he lived to the age of 120.
For safety reasons places on the town walk tours must be pre-booked online at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kirkcudbright-town-walk-tickets-315219258287
Kirkyard Tours take place on these times: July 13 (7pm), July 20 (2.30pm), July 27 (7pm), August 3 (2.30pm), August 10 (7pm) and August 17 (2.30pm). The event lasts approximately one hour. Meet at the kirkyard gate. Pre-booking is not required.
