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Dumfries and Galloway Attractions

The southwestern part of the Scottish Lowlands between Dumfries and Stranraer has much to entice visitors: the scenic charm of the hills around the spa town of Moffat, the wilderness of Galloway Forest Park, the long sandy beaches and the breathtakingly beautiful rocky coast along the Solway Firth.
Read More New Abbey - Sweetheart Abbey
A Medieval Christian Site, the ruins of Sweetheart Abbey make for an interesting tourist attraction.
Ardwell House Gardens
Although the 18th century country house itself is not open to the public, visitors are welcome to wander through the beautiful park with rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, roses, three small lakes and a fine view of Luce Bay.
Address
Ardwell Gardens
Ardwell DG9 9LY
Scotland
Parking
Free
Typical Visit
1 hour
Dundrennan Abbey
Dundrennan Abbey, a 12th century Cistercian monastery, still retains some of its earlier splendor. The transepts and the chancel in Late Norman Transitional style are well preserved and the gravestones are of interest. May 15, 1586 is said to have been the last night Mary Stuart spent in Scotland, before seeking refuge in England.
Address
Dundrennan Abbey
Dundrennan
Scotland
Hours
April 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:30Closed9:3014:00
Close18:3018:3018:3013:30 18:3018:30
Cost
Adult 1.50
Concession or reduced rate 1.10
Child .75
All values are in local currency
Parking
Free
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Typical Visit
1 hour
Galloway Forest Park
The A712 between New Galloway (to the northwest of Castle Stewart) and Newton Stewart passes through the magnificent woodland of Galloway Forest Park (152sq. mi/400sq.km).
Tips
Park is open all year.
Typical Visit
1 hour
Read More Whithorn - Priory & Museum (Cradle of Christianity)
This early Christian abbey, along with the shrine of St Ninian, was once a place of pilgrimage. It later became a parish church and eventually fell into ruin. The museum contains one of Scotland's earliest Christian monuments.
Cardoness Castle
Follow the A75 coast road from Newton Stewart eastward. The ruined Cardoness Castle with a 15th century tower house is situated about 18mi/30km away at the north end of Fleet Bay. It was formerly the seat of the McCullochs of Galloway.
Address
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Jedburgh TD8 6JQ
Scotland
Hours
April 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Close17:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:3017:30
October 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosedClosed9:309:30
Close 16:3016:30
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Cost
Adult 4.00
Concession or reduced rate 3.20
Child 2.40
All values are in local currency
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Castle Douglas, Scotland
Castle Douglas (pop. 3,900) sits on a small island in the Dee.
Address
Castle Douglas Tourist Office
Market Hill, King Street
Castle Douglas DG7 1AE
Scotland
Threave Castle
(Dumfries and Galloway)
Medieval Threave Castle sits on a small island in the Dee. It lies barely 3mi/5km southwest of the small town of Castle Douglas. The four-story keep was built by Archibald "the Grim", Lord Galloway, between 1339 and 1390. Three corner towers were then added c 1450. However, as the last of the Douglas fortresses, in 1455 it had to be handed over to King James II. By the middle of the 17th C it had been dismantled.
Address
Threave Castle and Garden
Castle Douglas DG7 1RX
Scotland
Hours
February 11 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosed10:0010:0010:00
Close 17:0017:0017:00
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
November 1 to December 23
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosed10:0010:0010:00
Close 17:0017:0017:00
Always opened on:
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Cost
Family 27.00
Adult 11.00
Concession or reduced rate 8.00
Grounds / gardens only around attraction 6.50
Child 5 & underFREE
All values are in local currency
Tips
House hours - 1 Apr to 31 Oct Wed-Fri and Sun 11-3.30.
Parking
Free
Facilities
Gift shop
Wheelchair loan or rental
Transit
Bus: McEwan's from Dumfries to Castle Douglas.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Castle Douglas - Nether Corsock, Scotland
The gutted remains of Glenlair, destroyed by fire 1929, was the home of Maxwell, writer of the acclaimed Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism.
Criffell, Scotland
Solway Firth and the English Lake District beyond are visible from points to the southwest of Criffell (1,866ft/569m).
Typical Visit
10 minutes
Dalbeattie, Scotland
Dalbeattie is located southwest of Dumfries near Castle Douglas.
Address
Dalbeattie Tourist Office
Town Hall
Dalbeattie
Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
This annual ten-day festival runs in May, offering more than fifty different performances. Events include operas, orchestral, chamber, jazz and folk concerts, theatrical and dance performances and visual arts exhibitions.

Classical and early music combines with contemporary and modern works to ensure a diversified program. A number of venues are used for the festival, including the Bonshaw Tower.
Address
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
Festival Office
Gracefield Arts Centre
28 Edinburgh Road
Dumfries DG1 1JQ
Scotland
Fleet - Gatehouse
The oldest house in Fleet is the "Gate House", a must for model railroad enthusiasts.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Fleet - Kilt-making
Visitors to Fleet can watch how a kilt is made at the "Kiltmaker at Work" attraction.
Address
Kilt-making
Fleet
Scotland
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Galloway - Bruce's Stone
On the banks of Chatteringshaws Loch a granite stone commemorates the victory of Robert the Bruce over the English in March 1307.
Typical Visit
10 minutes
Kirkbean - Arbigland Gardens
The splendid gardens at Arbigland House near Kirkbean were laid out ca. 1700. During the 18th century John Paul Jones, the "Father" of the U.S. navy, worked here. He was the son of the head gardener.
Address
Arbigland Gardens
Kirkbean DG2 8BQ
Scotland
Hours
May 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close 18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Always opened on:
Summer Bank Holiday - Scotland (1st Monday, August )
Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian (May 28)
Parking
Free
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Machars, Scotland
Scattered over the farmland of the Machars peninsula to the south of Newton Stewart are a number of prehistoric sites. The standing stones at Drumtrodden and the remains of an Iron Age fort at Barsalloch are particularly impressive.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Machars - Galloway House Gardens
Lord Garlies the oldest son of the sixth Earl of Galloway laid out this beautiful garden on the banks of Wigtown Bay in 1740. In early spring a carpet of snowdrops and narcissi bloom between the old trees. Later on, rhododendrons and azaleas provide a splash of color.
Hours
March 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Typical Visit
1 hour
Murray Isles
The Murray Isles are located off Carrick Point. They are two small, uninhabited islands in the Islands of Fleet.
Palnackie, Scotland
(Near Dalbeattie)
Palnackie is located on the A711 southwest of Dalbeattie.
Palnackie - Orchardton Tower
The only existing round tower house on Scottish soil is the medieval Orchardton Tower (15mi/24km east of Kirkcudbright near Palnackie). It was built in the 15th century at the behest of John Cairns of Orchardton.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
River Fleet Mill
The history and development of the region is illustrated in an old mill by the River Fleet.
Slide shows, a model village and exhibitions about the restored cotton mill are offered from March to October.
Address
Mill on the Fleet
High Street
Fleet DG7 2HS
Scotland
Hours
March 28 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Rockcliffe
Rockcliffe is a small coastal town on the Rough Firth. The area can be explored on guided walks during summer months.
Address
Threave Castle and Garden
Castle Douglas DG7 1RX
Scotland
Parking
Free
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Southern Upland Way National Walking Trail, Scotland
The 212mi/341km trail stretches from Portpatrick on the Scottish southwest coast to Cockburnspath on the east coast. The trail passes through valleys, forests and rugged uplands, with long and demanding stretches through remote hill country. Numerous shorter sections link rural towns and villages and are suitable for a day's leisurely walk.
Address
Avalon Trekking Scotland (BTA)
Bowerswell Lane
Kinnoull
Perth PH2 7DL
Scotland
Tips
Trail is marked by posts showing thistle emblems. Hiking experience necessary for trekking full route.
Whithorn - St Ninian's Chapel, Scotland
The remains of a small chapel can be seen on the offshore island of Whithorn at the southeastern tip of the peninsula. It was built ca. 1300 probably for pilgrims who arrived by boat.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Wigtownshire, Scotland
(Near Castle Douglas)
Wigtownshire is located near Castle Douglas on the A714.
Wigtownshire - Logan Botanic Gardens
The 24 acre/10ha Botanic Garden is an outstation of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. A favorable climate aids the growth of subtropical plants, including some rare palms and ferns from all over the world, eucalyptus, magnolias, various water lilies and other colorful flowers.
Address
Logan Botanic Garden
Port Logan
Stranraer DG9 9ND
Scotland
Hours
February 1 to February 28
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosedClosedClosed10:00
Close 16:00
March 15 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Cost
Family 10.00
Adult 5.00
Concession or reduced rate 4.00
Child 1.00
All values are in local currency
Parking
Free
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Typical Visit
1 hour
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