Visitor Attractions
From hundreds of fantastic places to visit in Dumfries & Galloway, we've made a few suggestions on this page. Please feel free to email us at john@kirstycottage.co.uk with your ideas.
Drumlanrig Castle & The Scottish Cycle Museum at Drumlanrig
The magnificent 'Pink Palace' of Drumlanrig, the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, is one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture in Scotland. Constructed from distinctive pink sandstone, the castle is built on the site of an ancient Douglas stronghold overlooking the breathtaking Nith Valley. In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a blacksmith from Drumlanrig, invented the bicycle, riding 60 miles to Glasgow on,his new creation. Today, you can discover the history of this fascinating machine at The Scottish Cycle Museum, situated within the Stableyard. This houses a collection of bicycles ranging from a replica of Macmillan's original, an 1868 velocipede, a number of Victorian tricycles and penny farthings, through some early safety bicycles, to a 1912 Dursley Pederson alongside the mountain bike as we know it today. www.drumlanrig.com
Dark Skies
The first Dark Sky Park in the UK, is sited within Galloway Forest Park. With more than 7,000 stars to look at, visitors are spoilt for choice. The Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, as are near objects. There are ten designated viewing sites within the park. www.forestry.gov.uk
Wanlockhead Museum
Hidden Treasures, Museum of Lead Mining, is based in the picturesque village of Wanlockhead, which at 1,531 feet above sea level is the highest village in Scotland. Wanlockhead is set amid the Lowther Hills, directly on the Southern Upland Way and just minutes from the magnificent Mennock Pass. Discover an 18th century lead mine deep in the hillside, experience the thrill of going underground, see how the miners really lived and explore the second oldest subscription library in Europe. www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk
Hermitage Castle
Hermitage, in deepest Liddesdale, is an awesome 13th century castle ruin with a history of torture, treason and romantic trysts. For most of its 400-year existence, Hermitage Castle was the key to controlling the Scottish Middle March and was fought over time and again In October 1566, the 4th Earl of Bothwell, secret lover of Mary Queen of Scots, was badly injured in a skirmish with reivers. On hearing the news, Mary decided to visit him in his sick-bed, and rode out from Jedburgh, a 25-mile ride across difficult terrain. Their tryst, on 16 October, lasted two hours. On the arduous journey back to Jedburgh, Mary's horse stumbled, throwing her into a bog, from which she contracted a fever. She was confined to bed in Jedburgh for a week, and it was said she was fortunate to recover from her ordeal.www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Samye Ling Tibetan Centre
Located in a peaceful valley on the banks of the river Esk, Kagyu Samye Ling was the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to be established in the West. It is a centre for wisdom and learning and is open to people of all faiths and none. The centre is open all year round for visits and meditation courses, classes and retreats. www.samyeling.org
Traquair House
Dating back to 1107, Traquair House was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. It later became the home of the Earls of Traquair and is still lived in by their descendants, the Maxwell Stuart family. Today Traquair is well known as the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Visitors can enjoy the extensive grounds, maze, craft workshops and the famous Traquair House Brewery in the 18th century wing of the house. www.traquair.co.uk
Caerlaverock Castle
This is one of the finest castles in Scotland. Caerlaverock's most remarkable features are its unique triangular shape, the twin-towered gatehouse and the Nithsdale Lodging, embellished with ornate Renaissance stone carvings, dating from the 1630s. Admission includes a siege warfare exhibition, a children's adventure park and a nature trail leading around the moat and through the woods to the site of the old castle.www.historic-scotland.gov.uk