Dumfries and Galloway - 90 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It comprises the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire, the latter two of which are collectively known as Galloway. The administrative centre is the town of Dumfries.

Types of Attractions in Dumfries and Galloway

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Dumfries and Galloway

Clatteringshaws Loch

Clatteringshaws Loch

Lake/ River/ Ponds

This large freshwater reservoir is part of the wider Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries and Galloway.It was created by damming the Galloway River Dee as part of the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme.The Forestry Commission maintain a visitors' centre by the loch to welcome visitors to Galloway Forest Park. Here you can pick up some nice walking trails taking you along the water to the memorial stone and Bruce's Stone.

Corserine

Corserine

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Corserine is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The highest point of the range and the second highest point in Galloway, the usual route of ascent is from the car park at Forrest Lodge to the east of the hill via Loch Harrow and North Gairy Top. Forest Lodge is a short drive from the village of St. John's Town of Dalry.

Crawick Multiverse

Crawick Multiverse

Outdoors- Other

Crawick Multiverse is a major land restoration and art project in Dumfries & Galloway, utilising landscape art to transform a former open cast coal mine into a 55-acre artland, visitor attraction and public amenity. The project is located on the site of a former open cast coal mine and covers approximately 55 acres, making it the largest of Jencks's works in Britain.

Criffel

Criffel

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

A beautuiful hill in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries. It is a prominent feature in many of the views from the northern Lake District on a clear day. It is surrounded by a host of satellites, including Long Fell, Maidenpap and Bainloch Hill. The slopes of Criffel feature the upland vegetation of heather, bog cotton and blaeberry and are inhabited by skylarks. Loch Kindar sits at the foot of the hill. A new path to the summit is currently finishing construction.

Devil's Beef Tub

Devil's Beef Tub

Outdoors- Other

The Devil's Beeftub sits about 5 miles north of Moffat on the A701 road to Edinburgh known by locals as the "Beeftub Road". It is a hollow that nestles between four hills whilst the Annan River flows through its valley floor. It is a very tranquil and serene site but this feeling of calmness does not equate with its turbulent past.

Dock Park

Dock Park is a great children's play area set within picturesque grounds. A range of other activities are also available whatever your age, including tennis, bowling, putting and trampolining. The park is landscaped, and contains an interesting sunken garden that used to be an old quarry, and was the source of the sandstone for the Mid Steeple. It is also the site of a former castle for Robert the Bruce, and there is a sandstone plaque marking the spot.

Drumlanrig Castle

Drumlanrig Castle

Iconic Buildings

Drumlanrig Castle is situated on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The category A listed castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry It is less well known and less visited than it deserves to be. The castle itself offers one of the best and most interesting visitor experiences you are likely to find anywhere, and the extensive and very varied formal and informal gardens are well worth a visit in their own right, or a return visit

Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum

The Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum is a volunteer-operated aviation museum located in and around the World War II-era watch tower at the former RAF Dumfries, located two miles north east of the centre of Dumfries, Scotland, which was in service from June 1940 until 1957, when it closed. The Museum's main exhibits are not roped off, which allows visitors the freedom of gettting close to the aircrafts which includes - the F-100 Super Sabre, Lockheed T33, De Haviland Vampire T11, The Britis

Dumfries Museum

Dumfries Museum tells the story of the land and people of the region. Look out for fossil footprints left by prehistoric animals, the wildlife of the Solway, tools and weapons of our earliest people, stone carvings by Scotland’s first Christians and the everyday things of the Victorian farm, workshop and home. The museum also has the world's oldest working Camera Obscura. Admission is free, however a small fee applies for the Camera Obscura.

Dundrennan Abbey

Dundrennan Abbey

Churches

Iconic Buildings

A complete Cistercian monastery in Scotland and features some of the best Gothic architecture in the country. The abbey was founded in 1142 by Fergus. Dundrennan is noted for the purity and restraint of its architecture, reflecting the austere Cistercian ideal. It is also built from very hard-weathering grey sandstone, so the original architectural forms and mouldings are well preserved.

Dunskey Castle

Dunskey Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

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.

Dunskey Estate

Dunskey Estate

Outdoors- Other

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.

Forest of Ae

Ae Forest is the perfect place to visit, whether you want to relax with a picnic beside the river, watch woodland wildlife, stroll through the trees or burn off some serious energy on horseback or on the superb mountain bike trails. A variety of mountain bike trails have been built as part of Forestry and Land Scotland's 7stanes project that ranges from beginner trails to highly advanced trails. Forest of Ae has also been a staple location for stages in the Scottish Downhill association.

Galloway Activity Centre

The Galloway Activity Centre is situated on the glorious banks of Loch Ken and offers a vast range of outdoor activities and accommodation ideal for entertaining active and fun loving families for a few hours to a few days! You can choose from wet or dry activities, serene to adrenalin inducing, playful to serious, skill building to simply jumping into it.

Garden of Cosmic Speculation

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a 30 acre sculpture garden located at Portrack House, near Dumfries in South West Scotland. It was created by Charles Jencks, a renowned landscape architect and theorist, and Maggie Keswick, his late wife. They chose their home, Portrack House, to be the location for their dream. The sculpture garden covers 30 acres and has an unusual design, which was inspired by contemporary cosmology, just like much of Charles Jencks’ works.

Gem Rock Museum

The Gem Rock Museum is home to many fine and rare examples of crystals found in Britain, as well as a brilliant set of exquisitely cut replicas of the world’s largest diamonds. The museum is more than just a static display - it is a fully interactive experience which the whole family will enjoy: see the AV 'Fire in the Stones' audio-visual display, explore the amazing Crystal Cave, relax in the Professor's Study or test your knowledge with a geology quiz.

Gilnockie Tower

Gilnockie Tower

Iconic Buildings

Gilnockie Tower is a stunning example of a 16th century Scottish pele tower. Built some 500 years ago, it was home to Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, a notorious Border Reiver. In 1530 this powerful chieftain was hanged by a Scottish king, his story romanticised by Walter Scott. The tower was rebuilt, but was damaged again by English raids in the 1540s, only to be rebuilt again with a new parapet walk, and a beacon stance on the gable.

Glenluce Abbey

Glenluce Abbey

Churches

Old Ruins

Glenluce Abbey was founded around 1190 - 1192 by Cistercian Monks and it follows the standard architectural layout of a Cistercian Abbey. Glenluce is one of several Cistercian abbeys scattered around Scotland, but it has the unique feature of an advanced piped water supply. The ruins were consolidated and partly restored in 1898 by the Glasgow architect, Peter MacGregor Chalmers.[7] They are a scheduled ancient monument.

Glentrool Visitor Centre

Glentrool is a collection of mountain biking routes through the heart of Galloway in southwest Scotland. The mountain bike routes are part of the 7Stanes project by Forestry and Land Scotland throughout the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. The most famous route at Glentrool is the 'Big Country' trail, based entirely on minor public roads and forest roads. The trail follows 58 km of road in a loop, starting and finishing at the Glentrool visitor centre. There are areas of off-road bik

Glenwhan Gardens

Glenwhan Gardens

Botanical Gardens

Glenwhan Gardens has been described as one of the most beautiful newly made gardens in Scotland. with unique & Stunning Sea Views across to the Isle of Man, Luce Bay, and the Mull of Galloway. The Gardens are a labour of love, hewn from rough moorland 35 years ago. It has a woodland and rock garden, overlooking Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway. In the centre of the garde, there is a statue of Florentine Medici Boar, a symbol of fertility.

Map of attractions in Dumfries and Galloway

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For more information about Dumfries and Galloway, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumfries_and_Galloway