[2] The port of Dumfries lay upstream and downstream quays or harbours were located at Laghall, Kelton,[3] Glencaple, Carsethorn[4][5] and Kirkconnell Jetty.

[7] The quay lies on the east bank of the River Nith and has a single basin with associated red-brick, single-storey transit sheds.

[15] By 1829 the mill was processing oatmeal and feeding stuffs, however warehouses had been built along the river front quay, with one demolished on the north side of the basin.

[11] The poet Robert Burns lived in Dumfries from 1791 to 1796, working as an Excise Officer or Gauger and may have visited Kingholm Quay on official business as well as in his leisure time.

His friend and physician Dr William Maxwell lived at Kirkconnell House on the west bank of the Nith, with its own jetty as previously mentioned.

[23] Laghall Quay on the west bank in 1848/58 was a small but safe harbour with mooring-place for two Vessels of about 50 or 60 Tons and imported mainly coal and timber whilst Kingholm Quay[1] was described as a small but safe harbour with mooring places for about twelve vessels of about 60 or 80 tons.

[2][9] The commerce at Kingholm involved the import of tobacco from the North American colonies and unloading cargoes of lime and coal.

The harbour basin has a floating pontoon and ships can berth here with a new slipway slightly downstream providing access to the river for smaller boats.

The site is owned by the Nith Navigation Commissioners and the Port of Dumfries Development Group have carried out improvements, such as the construction of the aforementioned slipway.

The River Nith has recently been dredged to permit access to the quay and Kingholm offers a variety of wintering options for all sizes of pleasure craft and small commercial vessels.

The incoming tide is forced by the shape of the land to form a wave of water that travels against the current up this funnel-shaped river.