C125n (Dumfries and Galloway)

This article is about the Class III road numbered C125n maintained by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
For other roads numbered C125, see C125.

The C125n is perhaps the longest C road in the country. It stretches for over 24 miles through Nithsdale, sometimes on the river bank and sometimes away in the hills to the west. The route starts on the A76 at Cadgerhall on the south side of Kirkconnel Bridge and heads south east past Kelloholm as it follows the Nith downstream. It is almost on the riverbank as it passes Sanquhar on the opposite bank, but then climbs away for a time before returning to the river at Eliock Bridge - the bridge is included as a short spur.

After several miles on the riverbank, the bridge at Glenairlie is also included as a spur, and then the road turns away from the river, passing Burnmouth as it squeezes between the hills. Keeping right at the fork at Kirkcaldy, the C125n meanders between the hills, passing scattered houses and farms until it reaches the A702 at Penpont. After crossing the Scaur Water, the road follows it downstream back to the Nith, although now running along the hillside above the river. At Cleuch, the road starts climbing again, leaving the Nith for the last time as it winds round below Blackwood Hill to find the small valley that leads to the C114n at Cairnhall. There is also one final spur, crossing Cuil Bridge, although it is not clear where it goes next.

The earliest written evidence of its existence comes from its status as a Statute Labour Road. Statute Labour Roads were first recognised in the 17th Century as a public response to the need to maintain existing roads and trackways. In Nithsdale most of these roads will have been existing estate roads of the Duke of Queensberry. Both the Old Statistical Account of Dumfriesshire, 1793 and the minutes of the District Statute Labour Road Trustees (1815 onwards) refer, perhaps inevitably, to the generosity of the Duke(s). After the Report of the Commissioners for enquiring into Matters relating to Public Roads in Scotland, 1859 the management and maintenance of highways became the responsibility of County Road Trusts (Roads and Bridges Act, 1878) and after 1889 Dumfriesshire County Council. A List of Public Roads required under the Roads(Scotland) Act, 1984 identifies the C125n running 38miles from Cairnhall to Penpont and Cadgerhall. None of the early maps of Scotland have enough definition to show the road. The earliest maps that define the route of the road are those of Crawford, 1804, and Thomson,1882. The Crawford map, in particular, reveals that the final connection to the 'A76' at Kirkconnel was not complete, suggesting that traffic was primarily with Dumfries and the Solway and not Ayrshire. It also shows that the original road does not stop at Cairnhall but continues on directly to connect with the east bank road to Dumfries. Ordnance Survey maps first appear in 1851 and continued to be produced regularly. The earlier maps show minor changes to the width of the road at its junction with the A76. Between 1958 and 1981 key changes are shown to both the A76 and the C125 reflecting realignment and upgrading of the A76 and realignment of the C125 to facilitate access to the Cadgerhall Opencast Coal works.