Annan, Dumfries and Galloway the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a procession, sports, field displays and massed pipe bands. Annan stands on the River Annan—from which it is named—nearly from its mouth, accessible to vessels of 60 tons as far as Annan Bridge and 300 tons within of the city. It is from Dumfries by rail, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland. Eastriggs is about to the east and Gretna is about to the east. Roman remains exist nearby. Annan
Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency) and Caerlaverock wards, as they were when the constituency was created, were excluded from the constituency. Ward boundaries changed in 2007. Dumfries and Galloway's predecessor seats, Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (1983-2005) and Galloway (1918–83), had been represented by Conservative MPs in all but two parliaments since 1931. Galloway and Upper Nithsdale was won by the Scottish National Party in 1997 but became the only Scottish seat to return a Conservative MP at the 2001 general election. Boundary changes for the 2005 election saw the new seat have a very slim Labour majority over the Conservatives, and the SNP were in