Visiting Dumfries and Galloway: Sea and hills in south-west Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway is the southwesternmost region of Scotland. With a coastline on the Solway Firth of rugged coves and sandy beaches and a hinterland of rolling farmland, wild mountain landscapes and picturesque towns that have found favour with generations of artists, the area has lots to offer:

• The artists’ town of Kirkcudbright with its galleries, coffee shops, hotels and craft outlets
• The food town of Castle Douglas with its fifty local businesses involved in either producing or selling food and drink
• Pretty Gatehouse of Fleet in the middle of The Fleet Valley, one of Dumfries and Galloway's three National Scenic Areas
• Wigtown, Scotland’s Book Town, is home of the Annual Wigtown Book Festival
• Outdoor activities such as cycling, walking, horse riding, golfing, fishing and wildlife-watching
• The Galloway Forest has been designated the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, where you can experience real darkness and the wonder of a starlit sky
• Great food and drink, from fine dining to traditional pubs
• Historic buildings and stately homes like Sweetheart Abbey, Whithorn Priory, Drumlanrig Castle (home of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry) and Shambellie House (the National Museum of Costume)
• Beautiful gardens such as Threave, Logan Botanic Garden, Glenwhan and Broughton House
• The sculptures of Glenkiln
• Stranraer and the Rhinns of Galloway, with the picturesque village of Portpatrick