What to See & Do 2013-14 Explore: Dumfries & Galloway NaturalNatural WondersWonders Over 150 attractions to choose from, inspiring ideas for great days out Glorious GardenGardenss Enjoy thrilling activities, from 7stanes mountain biking to the longest zip Outdoor AdventureAdventuress wire in the UK www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk Welcome to... Dumfries & Galloway Exotic gardens blessed by the warm Gulf Stream 06 Five 7stanes mountain biking centres 34 Robert Burns once lived in Dumfries 04 01 02 03 04 05 Disclaimer VisitScotland has published this guide in good faith to reflect information submitted to it by the proprietor/managers of the premises listed who have paid for their entries to be included. Although VisitScotland has taken reasonable steps to confirm the information contained in the guide at the time of going to press, it cannot guarantee that the information published is and remains accurate. Accordingly, VisitScotland recommends that all information is checked with the proprietor/manager of the business to ensure that the facilities, cost and all other aspects of the premises are satisfactory. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation contained in the guide and excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the information contained in the guide. VisitScotland also cannot accept any liability for loss caused by the bankruptcy, or liquidation, or insolvency, or cessation of trade of any company, firm or individual contained in this guide. Quality Assurance awards are correct as of December 2012. For further information on accommodation and exploring Scotland, go to www.visitscotland.com www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk Contents The Galloway 08 Red Kite Trail 02 From coast to country 04 Great days out 06 Gardens and nurseries The Striding Arches, three arch sculptures 14 08 A wildlife haven 10 Discover a land rich in history 12 Where legends come to life Over 30 golf courses 14 Naturally inspired creativity for all abilities 36 16 VisitScotland Information Centres 17 Quality Assurance 18 How to read the listings Prepare for an adventure in Dumfries & Galloway, where the 19 Great days out – Places to Visit hills, coastline and forest park provide the ideal setting for you 33 Great days out – Events & Festivals to explore by foot, bike or boat. 34 Great outdoor adventures 36 Your Gateway to Golf Delve into the fascinating history with a visit to will take you through the quaint streets of the the museums and visitor centres which tell of region’s coastal villages or savour the tranquillity 38 Great days out – Leisure Activities inventors, poets and pioneers. Enjoy the culture of of a woodland walk through the vast forests. 44 Savour the fl avours this naturally inspiring region in the art galleries and bookshops tucked away in the heart of the The Galloway Forest Park is a fabulous green 46 Great days out – Food & Drink towns. Take a trip to Kirkcudbright, the Artists’ space big enough to spend a week exploring, filled 50 Great days out – Shopping Town, and see masterpieces based on the inspiring with activities, rare wildlife and the opportunity for setting of the beautiful, contrasting landscape. stargazing – as these 300 square miles have been 52 Travel tips designated an International Dark Sky Association 53 Great days out – Tours Explore some of the 200 miles of coastline and approved Dark Sky Park. you can wander along any of the region’s tranquil 53 Great days out – Local Services beaches and gaze out on to many lands across the Enjoy the fun and fascination of Dumfries & sparkling Solway Firth. Follow the Solway Coast Galloway, a region of inspiring landscapes, 54 What’s on Heritage Trail, a charming 190 mile route which enthralling culture and curious wildlife. 56 Great days out – Family Fun 70 Dumfries & Galloway area map 72 An A-Z quick reference to all the listings in this guide Cover Threave Castle, on the River Dee, Castle Douglas. 01 Exotic Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan. 02 Larch route, Ae 7stanes mountain biking centre. 03 Yachts moored at Kippford. 06 04 Burns Statue, Dumfries town centre. 05 Striding Arch at The Byre, near Moniaive. 06 Medicine Tara Statue, Kagyu Samye Ling, Eskdalemuir. Credits Photography: Big Burns Supper, Day of the Region, Destination Dumfries & Galloway/Colin Tennant, Disney•Pixar, Forestry Commission Image Library, Jen Langridge, Scotland’s Gardens/ Val Corbett, Juha Soininen, Spring Fling, Scottish Viewpoint/ Andy Bennetts/Allan Devlin/Mark Hicken/Keith Kirk/Chris Robson/ Allan Wright, Paul Tompkins/VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint. Design: APS Group Scotland | www.theapsgroup.com, Shaw Marketing and Design | www.shaw-online.com and THK Design | www.thkdesign.com This brochure is printed on recycled content paper. VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our environment, upon which our tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. 13DG To find out more about Dumfries & Galloway go to www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk 01 Dumfries & Galloway From coast to country Kirkcudbright – the Artists’ Town Wigtown – the Book Town Castle Douglas – the Food Town 01 The charming villages and friendly communities of Dumfries & Galloway delight all who visit them, with their stunning buildings and streets filled with independent stores, visitor centres and museums. Discover pretty towns and villages along a Gretna Green is a famous location for weddings – 200 mile stretch of coastline or head inland to discover the stories of the couples who eloped at find hills, forests and peaceful rivers. the fascinating Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop before heading up to Langholm, on a section Follow quiet roads through this picturesque region, of the Borders Reiver Trail, and stop in the ‘Muckle such as the A712 Queen’s Way in the Galloway Toon’s’ Clan Armstrong Trust Museum. Forest Park. Stop off in the towns and villages, which make great bases for exploring the countryside and The town of Lockerbie has an ice rink which enjoying hillwalking and mountain biking. hosts top-class curling events, an architecturally 02 interesting Town Hall and is also a great base to explore the nearby hills and coast. The Lockerbie Jazz Festival takes place in the town in September and attracts artists from across the world. The historic county town of Dumfries sits on the banks of the River Nith, and is famed for its connection with the National Bard, Robert Burns. There are a number of fascinating places and attractions to visit which tell of the history. North, through striking scenery in the Nith Valley, you’ll find the pretty villages of Moniaive and Penpont. Check out the artworks in Castle Square, Stranraer 03 02 For further information on accommodation and exploring Scotland, go to www.visitscotland.com From coast to country 05 Discover more... Q Take a wander around Threave Gardens, or 2 miles away, you can catch a boat to Threave Castle. Q Explore the unspoiled Glenkens area and tour up to New Galloway via the Galloway Kite Trail to see these graceful, impressive birds. Q Moffat has a beautiful, wide tree- lined high street and was the first Scottish town to be awarded Walkers are Welcome status in 2008. Did you Q Dumfries & Galloway has three know? touring routes: the Burns Heritage Trail, the Galloway Tourist Route and 04 From the Mull of Galloway, the Solway Coast Heritage Trail. Scotland’s most southerly point, views of four kingdoms can be seen. • Head to Thornhill with the stunning Down on the coast is Wigtown Bay where Drumlanrig Castle and then on to there is a Local Nature Reserve, home to the Sanquhar, home to the Tolbooth Museum, Galloway ospreys, which you can watch on a handsome Georgian town house with a CCTV at Wigtown County Buildings. square clock tower, and the oldest working post office in Britain, dating back to 1712. Newton Stewart, the gateway to the Galloway Hills, is a small market town named after its • Take the Solway Coast Heritage Trail founder William Stewart, son of the Earl of for sublime vistas which run past picture- Galloway. Right next to the Galloway Forest perfect villages including Kippford and the Park, the town is a great base for hillwalking, attractive seaside village of Rockcliffe. mountain biking and spotting the wealth of wildlife. You can also head into the forest park • The pleasant 18th century market town at night for stargazing, as it is a designated of Castle Douglas is a thriving centre for Dark Sky Park. the prosperous local farming area. Discover Stranraer in the south west, beside • Kirkcudbright is known as the Artists’ Loch Ryan. Attractions include Castle of St John Town and is still the home of many artists and the town museum, and just 3 miles outside, 06 and writers. You can discover the history Castle Kennedy Gardens. of the area at Tolbooth Arts Centre, MacLellan’s Castle, Broughton House and South west of Stranraer is Portpatrick, a beautiful 01 Port Logan Harbour. the Stewartry Museum. village which sits around a harbour with a history 02 The Man, by Andrew Brown, the harbour at Port William. stretching back 500 years. This area is great for 03 Main Street, New Galloway. walking and is the starting point of the Southern 04 Drumlanrig Castle, by Thornhill. 05 Colvin Memorial Fountain (Moffat Ram), Moffat. Upland Way, a long distance route through the 06 Stargazing in the Dark Sky Park, Galloway Forest. region and into the Scottish Borders. To find out more about Dumfries & Galloway go to www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk 03 Dumfries & Galloway Great days out Did you know? Dumfries has a Camera Obscura above the museum where you can see a moving panoramic view of the town. Drummuir Farm Ice Cream Gold panning at Wanlockhead Victorian gardens at Drumlanrig Castle 01 There are many ways to spend a day in Dumfries & Galloway with a great choice • Enjoy a family day out at the Cocoa of visitor centres and museums displaying everything from crystals and ancient Bean Factory at Twynholm where you can watch delicious chocolates being stones to famous poems.