There are few places that offer such a wealth of tourism options as Scotland. It’s no overstatement to say that Scotland has it all, from rolling hills and unspoilt forests to bustling modern cities that never sleep.
What sets Scotland apart from other tourism havens is that these diverse attractions are often just a stone’s throw from each other. People who have never ventured north of the border may be spoilt for choice and have little or no idea where is a good place to start their exploration of the timeless land of Scotland.
Dumfries & Galloway: The Gateway to Scotland
If you choose to travel by car – perhaps the best way to see Scotland – crossing the border will bring you into the picturesque and diverse Dumfries & Galloway. You really could spend a week or more exploring this green and pleasant land, and you’d be wise to do so. Many tourists like to start with a visit to the world-famous Gretna Green blacksmith’s shop which has played host to countless weddings sine the mid-18th century.
After that why not enjoy refreshments and a few bargains in the Grentna outlet village while you decide on your net move. You have the choice of heading north via the beautiful market town of Moffat and onto the hubbub of Glasgow or, for a tranquil coastal experience, we’d recommend heading west along the Solway Firth in the direction of Stranraer.
To reach any of the lovely tourist destinations along the south coast you have the choice of the speedy A75 or the slower and much more picturesque B721. Whichever way you decide to travel there are countless places of interest along the south coast that are well worth a visit.
Dumfries is known locally as “The Queen of the South”, and it sits on a beautiful spot on the River Nith. It’s most famous for the connection to Robert “Rabbie” Burns, Scotland’s national bard and cultural treasure (more on him later), and it’s less than an hour’s drive from Gretna, which makes it a perfect spot for a wander and a bite to eat before you push on westward along the coast.
Kirkcudbright –The Artist’s Town
A little further along the Firth is the beautiful Kirkcudbright, and while there are certainly busier towns in the area we really recommend taking the time to visit this hidden gem. Boats of all shapes, sizes and colours fill the harbour in summer and the town itself features a beautiful mix of architecture. Very few towns deserve being compared to a chocolate box scene as much Kirkcudbright and it should come as little surprise that countless artists have been inspired by the area over the past few centuries.
The penultimate Sunday in July each year sees Kirkcudbright’s population swell as revelers leave the nearby Wickerman Festival on their way further up the coast for a week of exploration. The hotels and restaurants of Kirkcudbright enjoy some of the best broadband in Scotland for miles in any direction so it’s the perfect place for you to plan the rest of your holiday. For more information on the “artists’ town” visit the Kirkcudbright Community Website.
Just another 10 miles west is Gatehouse of Fleet, a small village that has become something of a sporting centre of the area, while a further 10 miles will bring you to Newton Stewart, another beautiful riparian market town that is well worth a visit.
Galloway Forest Park & Rhinns of Galloway
Two of the great unexpected joys of Dumfries & Galloway are then less than an hour’s drive away, Galloway Forest Park and the area around Port Logan. Both benefit from unusual natural effects that make them worth more than a passing visit. In fact, we recommend spending at least a couple of days in each to enjoy perhaps the most wondrous natural experiences of southern Scotland.
Galloway Forest Park has become the stomping ground of stargazers the length and breadth of the UK. This is down to one very simple reason – nowhere else in Great Britain has darker skies than Galloway Forest Park due to the reduced light-pollution afforded by it’s secluded location. This means that even with the naked eye you can see more stars than you can anywhere else in the UK. In fact, over 7,000 stars plus our nearest galactic neighbour, Andromeda, are clearly visible with no gadgets required.
Situated on the Rhinns of Galloway peninsula is Port Logan, home to the Logan Royal Botanical Garden. This garden, and much of the encompassing peninsula, benefit from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, the naturally occurring warm waters and winds moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. These winds and warmer currents make this isolated area of the Scottish coastline a few degrees warmer than the surrounding area, which enables a wealth of unusual plant life to flourish. Here, palm trees are dotted around the coast and the beautiful Logan Royal Botanical Garden is able to support many species plant life that usually only occur in the southern hemisphere.
When your time in Dumfries & Galloway is at an end you have the choice of heading inland towards Glasgow, or continuing up the coast to Ayrshire & Arran, an area we’ll explore next time.