Things To Do

Exploring Towns

Dalbeattie, the nearest town (5 miles), is an old quarry town, small and useful for basics.

Castle Douglas is about 11 miles away and is a “food town”, especially good for butchers.

The fishing port of Kirkudbright is about 20 miles away and is an artist town. See the multi-coloured houses, the wide streets and the galleries. The Summer Exhibition is a must and is free.

The largest town in the region is Dumfries, which is about 20 miles away. Go for shopping, the “camera obscura” and the Rabbie Burns story.

Wigtown at the end of the Mull of Galloway is a “book town”.

Walking

There is walking everywhere! Cliff paths and forest trails are on the doorstep. Further afield is the Galloway Forest Park, where the highest mountains are to be found, including Merrick 852m high. www.visit-dumfries-and-galloway.co.uk has more information.

Sailing and Water Sports

The Solway Yacht Club at Kippford welcomes visitors. For more information see www.thesyc.co.uk . It is possible to launch other craft (eg inflatables, canoes etc) for £5 a day at the Slipway in Kippford village – www.boatlaunch.co.uk has all the details. The Solway Firth is well worth exploring and there are lots of activities at Loch Ken 20 miles away.

Cycling

There are lots of cycle routes for all abilities and home of some of the famous “7 Stanes” mountain bike trails. See https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/activities/mountain-biking/7stanes

Adventure

For more exciting activities, such as rafting, contact www.visitscotland.com/adventure.

Golf

This is Scotland! The nearest round – Craigieknowles – can be found at the Barnbarroch junction, that is nine holes. Just along the coast, Colvend is 18 holes and more testing.

Gardens

Dumfries and Galloway is washed by the Gulf Stream, so there are exotic gardens in the extreme west – visit Logan Botanic Garden, Glenwhan Garden and Castle Kennedy Garden. Nearby are Threave and Arbigland and a host of small gardens and nurseries.

Houses & History

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 .

Arts and Crafts

This area is renowned for craft workshops and galleries. See Tourist Information centres. Because of the special light, Kirkudbright is known as “artists’ town” and was a venue for “The Glasgow Boys”.

Wildlife

Because of the estuaries and the Solway Firth, this area abounds with bird life. You can watch wading birds from the house, The Mersehead bird sanctuary is 12 miles away and Caerlaverock Castle (30) miles is more famous.

See www.rspb.org.uk/scotland. For ospreys, visit wigtownbayospreys.co.uk and watch kites in the Galloway Forest Park. Don’t forget the red squirrel and otters on the doorstep!

Activities for Children

Well, it depends on what you want. There are no water parks, theme parks,etc. – just ruined castles and nature and the sea and mud and Beaches (see below). Mabie Farm Park is just down the road.

Beaches

There is a cockleshell beach at the end of Rough Firth (200 metres). Rockliffe has a sandy beach, one and a half miles to walk, about 6 miles by car.

There is a splendid sandy beach at Sandyhills eight miles away. (Charges for car parking). Further afield, the Galloway coast is littered with lovely beaches and coves.