The mystery of the Victorian boating pond that has run dry

A trip to the popular Victorian boating pond in the tourist town of Moffat used to be a childhood treat for anyone living nearby or passing visitors.

However, it has been out of use for about three years after a section of wall collapsed and the pond emptied. Despite a series of repairs, the water loss has continued - and baffled experts.

Where once the brightly-coloured pedal boats shaped liked swans, flamingos, dragons and unicorns floated by, there is now a wide expanse of dry rubble with grass and weeds starting to sprout through.

Residents and tourists have voiced frustration at the situation while Dumfries and Galloway Council - which manages the park - has said it remains committed to finding a long-term solution.

The pond's plight was highlighted via BBC Your Voice where people can suggest stories they feel should be reported.

Leys Geddes, of the local community council, has fond memories of boating across its waters in the 1950s and 1960s.

"I remember the history of this place, you know," he said.

"If you were a child, it was the highlight of your holidays to go out on the pond in a boat - a rowing boat or a canoe or something like that.

"It was such an exciting thing."

He said that for a town built around tourism, its loss has been keenly felt.

"It was a massive attraction and our town depends on people who come here to visit because it's a beautiful place and we had a fantastic park," he said.

"But the decline has been terrible and that decline harms our industry, our businesses, all of whom are dependent on visitors.

"We always said we hope to be the jewel in the crown of southern Scotland but too many people now are driving past."

Maureen Whitelock, from Edinburgh, had stopped off on her way south and has been a regular visitor down the years.

"This was always a spot that we came to, this park," she said.

"It was always lovely, full of kids.

"The swans used to be out and our kids had fun in it and it was awfully disappointing coming today and thinking, gosh, what's happened? It's just a bit of a wreck, really."

She said it used to be a "lovely hub" where people met up for a picnic and used to bring their children.

"All of a sudden, it's just all rocky and sandy and there's nothing happening," she said.

"It does look a little bit sad, apart from a few ducks.

"It's a shame to see it like that, isn't it?"

Mick Barker, who chairs the community council, said the pond had been a "key part" of Moffat's appeal since Victorian times.

"Visitors would come to enjoy the water and the glorious gardens, there was even a small branch line from the main railway line from Beattock to Moffat for the visitors," he said.

"Moffat's economy is not based on manufacturing industry, it's based on hospitality.

"Reputation is all in the tourist sector, and this third year of a non-functioning boating lake has been the cause of dismay to the local community and the visitors."

He said there were other concerns but the "big, big issue" was the pond.

"After three empty summers no-one has got to the bottom of the water shortage that has suddenly appeared after 100 years," he said.

"The rainfall averages are the same as 100 years ago - some work has been done, but not enough to resolve the situation."

The local authority said there had been ongoing issues since part of the pond wall collapsed after significant flooding during the winter of 2022.

It said that since then a range of repair works had been carried out but had not been able to stop it emptying.

"When the pond was refilled in April 2025, it was found that water was still escaping," it said.

At that stage specialist external assessment was used to try to identify the cause of the "ongoing leakage".

It concluded the volume of water entering the pond was "insufficient to sustain a pond of this size".

Heavy rainfall earlier this year raised hopes and allowed boating to resume briefly but water levels then fell once more.

The council said it recognised the importance of the pond and understood the disappointment over its continued closure.

Now a report will be prepared to finally try to get to the bottom of the issue - and update on potential reopening timescales after that.