| Where: | Langholm town centre and environs |
| When: | Last Friday in July |
| Time: | From 5 am to 9.30pm |
The Common Riding at Langholm takes place on the last Friday in July. Common Ridings are a boundary marking custom on horseback. They 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. Long after this was necessary, the Ridings survived to become major festivals and a great day out! As with all the common riding customs, expect lots of equestrians and flag waving and , uniquely to Langholm, the four emblems of the festival which are carried in the procession. They are a barley bannock & a salted herring on a pole, a spade, a giant thistle and a crown. Watch out for the spectacular gallop up Kirk Wynd and the Fair Crying, when the proclamation is read by a man standing on the back of a horse! The equestrians ford the river to get to Castleholm, where racing follows ; dancing and other sporting events take place around town throughout the day.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should take place on Friday July 25th.
Click here for the event website: https://www.langholmcommonriding.com
Click here for the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/langholmcommonriding
Click here for the alternative Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LangholmCommon/
I don’t seem able to find any kind of itinerary for the day’s events – is there one? And, if so, where will I find a copy?
Also, what exactly takes place at 5am? Is anybody up at that time in the morning?!
Hi Susan!
I haven’t yet been to the Common Riding at Langholm, so haven’t got any first hand experience to pass on to you. However, having done a bit of ferreting about I suggest you contact Kate Pearson who is involved with the Return to the Ridings project. Her email is
email: kpearson@scotborders.gov.uk and
telephone: 01835 825 060. Hope that this info is up to date – if she hasn’t an itinerary herself she should be able to give you contact details of someone who does.I thought it might be better for you to make direct contact then there’s less chance of me asking the wrong questions on your behalf! It isn’t the easiest event to find out about – plenty of references but no exact details.I expect it’s something that follows the same format each year so if you’re a regular it doesn’t need spelling out.I’d like to attend myself some day (don’t think I can this year, though)and would be grateful if you pass on any details you mange to find! It looks as though the majority of the action in the town follows the return of the riders in the late morning so hopefully there’s no need to be up for the 5am start unless you’re part of the ride!!
Kind Regards,
Averil
The town is roused by the flute band parading the streets at 5am , waking you in time for the first event which is the Hound trail at 5.30am on Whita hill, a visit well worth making.The main parading with the brass band and the pipe band starts about 8/8.30am from the road that leads from the Skipper’s bridge. The company then gather in the square for the crying of thee faie and the hand over of the standard to the Cornet. He then leads the horsemen on a thrilling gallop up the Kirk Wynd. If you can get a seat on the wall up the Wynd it is a VERY exhilarating sight.After the cutting of the turf ceremony on the hill the parade makes its way to the Castle Holm for the afternoon’s hose races and other games and highland dancing. The day comes to an end about 9pm when the Cornet brings the standard back to the Town Hall to hand in. He is followed by the ‘revellers’ who stop at various stations on the way back down the High Street for various country dances. A unique way of ending what hopefully will have been a perfect day.Incidentally the pubs are open just after the hound trail finishes serving ‘refreshment’ . Do try to keep sober!
Many thanks, Averil.
I’ll contact Kate and get back to you with anything I learn
Regards, Sue
Girls the Secretary is Kenneth Hill and his business address is High Street. At 5 ‘clock the town is perambulated by the flute band rousing the townspeople and visitors who are not already awake. I will gladly answer any further questions you may have.
Many thanks! Where would I find a programme with all the times and places that the different parts of the event happen at? That would be really helpful – I guess not everybody will be able to make it for the 5 o’clock start (!) but might like to join in later in the day.
Best Wishes,
Averil
Making any progress ?? The Cornet for 2012 will be elected next Friday the 11th of May.
Hi ive just returned from Langholm Common Riding and as always i loved every minute of it even the flute band at 5am! I have rode the common twice before and it is an amazing experience and my daughters and i hope to ride next year,we have a horse of our own but he wouldnt be able to cope with the noise of the bands and the cheering,the horses and ponies are all used to the common ridings as they probably are ridden in the other border towns common ridings. I am in Langholm a lot as my mum lives there so i have been going since i was a little girl. I hope if you do go to any future common ridings i can assure you that you wont have experienced anything like it! Its a wonderful day i love it! I hope this helps.
Hi Elaine! Thanks for getting in touch. I went to Langholm for the Common Riding yesterday for the first time – I wasn’t there for the full duration but thoroughly enjoyed what I saw including the proclamation at 11 am and the horses crossing the river. It seems to be one of those events that appeals to people of all ages from the toddlers and young kids with thier heather besoms right up to old folks who’ve been attending all their lives.Looks like it’s set to continue for generations!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hey, i live in Langholm and have for all my life, and i play in the town band, my father is the spade bearer and my whole family is involved with the common riding. If you have any questions regarding the common riding, I will gladly answer them, my email is reid.anne16@btinternet.com and I will get back to you asap 🙂
Thanks Anne,
That’s really helpful! It sounds like a real family affair. Does the day follow exactly the same format every year – knowing that will be very useful to people planning to attend for the first time next year.
Thanks!
Averil
yeah, always the same every year apart from the cornet and the ribbons that everyone wears, they are decided by the derby winners silks 🙂
But also, there is always time keeping issues every year, so some things turn out a bit later than the programme that gets sold for £2.50 during the ride-outs and such
That’s interesting about the ribbons! I guess it’s pretty difficult to predict exactly how long things will take (especially with animals involved!), but as long as people turn up in plenty of time they’ll just need to be prepared to be patient if things run a bit late. I would have bought a programme last week if I could have found a shop open to sell me one on the day – but I think all the shops were closed so that the shopkeepers could take part in the fun 🙂
Hi Anne can you tell me what time the horses come back in the morning from the march riding? Thanks. Betty
Hi Betty,
They get back around 8.30 am – for a detailed schedule click on http://www.atasteofnorthumberland.co.uk/langholm-common-riding-timetable-1.739882?referrerPath=2.3214 as all the places and timings are listed here.Enjoy – we went last year and it’s well worth going!
Best Wishes,
Averil
I was wondering if anyone could help me. My husband and his family grew up in langholm until himself and his family moved further north with his dads bank job. My husband serves in the Royal Air Force and is currently serving in Afghanistan. His dream is to see his daughter ride in the common ride 2013. I was wondering if children or myself are allowed to ride and also who would be the best person to contact reference this. Thank you.
Hi Stacey,
If you go scroll down to the comments section on thre Langholm page, you’ll see a message from Anne posted on August 1st this year – she’s very well connected with the event and I’m confident that she’ll be able to help you. Her email address is on the comment. Good luck!
Kind Regards,
Averil
My father has happy memorys of the common riding he has family that stays in langholm .he had videos of the common riding that we were going to put on to DVD but my mother went and put them in the bin by mistake is there any wair that I can buy DVDs of the common riding many thanks
Hi Brian,
I bet she kicked herself afterwards – what a shame! I don’t know of any DVDs but we live a distance away from the town – might be worth contacting http://www.langholm-online.co.uk as they’ll have up-to-date local knowledge. Hope you find some!
Best wishes,
Averil
Thanks averil I will tell you how I get on many thanks brian
Can anyone tell me what time the A7 is closed off in Langholm on the 31st please? I have to go to Carlisle to meet family off the bus and it would be helpful to know when I can and can’t get through. Thanks and have a great Common Riding everyone 🙂
Hi could you tell me if there is road access from Langholm to Carlisle on A7 on the Friday 31st July, like last comment, i need to get to get to carlisle on this day, and i had heard that there was no road threw on this day from very early morning til early evening. Much appreciated for the feedback.
Have and enjoy the common riding
Hi Shirl,
Follow this link for the road closures scheduled for Langholm : http://www.tellmescotland.gov.uk/notices/dumfries-galloway/traffic/00000104848/
If you need more detail I’d suggest ringing the number at the bottom of the page – I’m not from Langholm myself and wouldn’t like to give you the wrong info!
Best wishes,
Averil
Can anyone recommend a guest house nearby so that we can attend the event in 2016?
Hi Lynne,
There’s a list of places to stay at Langholm in the following link: http://www.langholm-online.co.uk/pages/content.asp?pageid=59
I haven’t any first-hand knowledge but maybe other readers might be able to help?
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil i have a walking stick that i bought some time ago it has a silver plaque on it Langholm common riding 1949 presented to Gilber E Bell semi jubilee in 1924 I wonder if you have any history on this stick or recipient
Thanks Terry
Hi Terry,
Calendarcustoms isn’t connected to the running of the Riding at Langholm- I think your best bet for finding out about Mr Bell and the history of the stick and it’s plaque will be to contact the Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/langholmcommonriding and https://www.facebook.com/groups/LangholmCommon/ or the official webpage at https://www.langholmcommonriding.com/?fbclid=IwAR3flU-5itbayaJp8c4HzV2qiN91_PrWaHAgww2GkLOFNoF6JksaPjw8wyg as they all have contact links which are likely to be people who will be much more knowledgeable about the history of the Riding and the local area around Langholm. I hope you manage to find out all about it!
Best wishes,
Averil