Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries & Galloway is distinctively Scottish… and yet it is a world apart. 

This beautiful region is a continuation of the Southern Uplands, the hills and moors that run right across Scotland immediately to the north of the English Border. Here you can walk, cycle and horse ride; enjoy mountain biking on the world-class “7stanes” trail; sail, and water ski on Loch Ken; study the Heavens in Britain’s first Dark Sky Park in Galloway Forest Park; and enjoy the sights, sounds, delicious food and shopping opportunities offered by ancient market towns like Moffat and Langholm.

Fringing the hills and moors to the south is a strip of rich and fertile farmland, broken up by the numerous bays and inlets of the Solway Estuary. Amidst the farmland you will find ancient Royal Burghs like Dumfries and Annan, and a visit to Gretna Green is essential. The beautiful coast, famed for its wildlife, also boasts golf, sailing, sea angling and some marvellous beaches and viewpoints. You can also visit the famous artists’ town of Kirkudbright and harbour villages like Portpatrick and Port Logan.

The past is ever-present, and Whithorn, the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, the Robert The Bruce Trail, Sweetheart Abbey and sites associated with Robert Burns are all there to be enjoyed, as are the many events and festivals: music, books, arts & crafts, outdoor activities, motorsports, galas...the opportunities are endless!