Rhins of Galloway - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Dunskey Castle is a ruined, 12th century tower house or castle, located 0.5 miles south of the village of Portpatrick, Rhinns, Wigtownshire, on the south-west coast of Scotland. A sprawling sanctuary, home to an Edwardian castle, luxurious lodges and panoramic views of the land and sea, it’s the perfect environment for both large group getaways and small intimate gatherings.

75 acres of spectacularly designed loch-side landscape, create a romantic garden paradise with quite literally something for everyone to enjoy – regardless of age. The gardens are the main reason for a visit and the ruins of Castle Kennedy really just serve as an impressively large ornament around which the gardens are sculptured.

A secluded coastal estate in Scotland’s lowlands entrenched in living history and incomparable splendour. Amidst 2000 acres of spectacular Scottish arcadia sits Dunskey Estate, home to an Edwardian castle with 25 bedrooms and endless magic. The estate was the property of the Hunter-Blair family of Blairquhan in Ayrshire and was acquired when Jane (or Jean) Blair of Dunskey, wife of James Hunter, succeeded her brother to Dunskey estates in 1777. A house dating from 1706 was extended in the 1830s.

The Castle of St John sits in a prominent position in the centre of Stranraer. Built in the sixteenth century this is a particularly fine example of the type of tower house built and used by Scottish Lairds in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It has been used as a home, a court, a police station and as a military garrison during the "Killing Times" of Covenanter persecution in the 1680s. During the Victorian era, the castle was modified to serve as a prison, and it was used as an ARP bas

A rather excellent small but modern town museum in the heart of dumfires. The museum features one of Scotland's oldest ploughs, while you can also look at Victorian Wigtownshire in 3D photographs and follow in the footsteps of Stranraer's own polar explorers. There are displays on archaeology, local history, farming and dairying. An exciting temporary exhibition programme also runs throughout the year.

A beautiful park in Dumfries, which has a wide range of leisure facilities for all ages including a large boating lake with a range of boats, including canoes, skiffs and pedalos. It boasts a miniature railway which takes you on a full tour of the park, a play island featuring innovative play equipment, an 18-hole putting green and a mini car racing circuit.