| Where: | Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway starting at Bladnoch Park, then Wigtown County Buildings; Crowning in Town Gardens |
| When: | A Sunday in July (usually the 2nd or 3rd Sunday but not always) |
| Time: | From 12 noon |
The Wigtown Riding of the Marches is a recently revived ancient custom, which took place in 2015 after a break of over 50 years.Common Ridings are boundary marking customs on horseback and at Wigtown the Principals are the Cornet and party, who lead the cavalcade of around 50 equestrians around the boundaries. Ridings are mainly held at locations across the Scottish Borders, perhaps because this area suffered from centuries of raiding and reiving between local families and the English, and the locals needed to protect their lands from encroachment. Expect bands, flags and lots of enthusiasm! The Riding is usually preceded by the crowning of the Festival Princess in the Town Gardens, and the fancy dress competition.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be on Sunday 21st July.
The revived 2015 ride was a 6-mile route held in the evening; it’ll pay to keep double-checking for changes which may be necessary as it continues to develop – the change to a Saturday afternoon, then to a Sunday from 2020 will presumably allow more participants to attend and I would expect this will continue, though the route and the starting time are still evolving from year to year.
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wigtownridingofthemarches
As a young Sorbie piper, Mrs Stewart, wife of the garage man, I believe, used to drive to Sorbie and pick me and my bagpipes early in the morning, so that I could play the pagpipes around the Wigtown area. Then she would cook a lovely breakfast for me before motoring me back to Sorbie.
have lived in Australia since 1979.