This area is full of ancient history, with standing stones and ancient “Pele Towers” dotted all over. Early Christians arrived at the Isle of Whithorn and ancient abbeys abound. Sweetheart Abbey at nearby New Abbey (12 miles) is worth a visit.
Shambellie House (15 miles) houses the national costume collection. John Paul Jones’s birthplace (founder of the American navy) is at Arbigland.
Drumlanrig Castle is close to Dumfries and is a splendid place and Threave Castle ( National Trust for Scotland – www.nts.org.uk and garden are very close.
Further afield visit Broughton House (NT) at Kirkudbright, “The Devil’s Porridge“, www.devilsporridge.co.uk at Gretna (35 miles), or take a full day to go to the World Heritage Site at New Lanark. Visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk .
