The South/Borders region
Galloway boasts many places of interest to visit: monuments; National Trust properties and places of significant historical interest. Five minutes north by car lies the sandy beaches of Craignarget and five miles south is the fishing village of Port William.
Local amenities include: golfing; fishing; bowling; tennis and pony trekking amongst other leisure pursuits. Locally you find a variety of very friendly hotels and restaurants and the food is excellent!
Dumfries and Galloway / Port William area
Known locally as “God’s Country” this stunning unspoilt corner of Scotland is a welcoming haven to holidaymakers from all walks of life with an abundance of Natural Heritage & Wildlife. Take a stroll along the many quiet beaches and rugged hills. Perhaps visit the Galloway Forest Park, 300 square miles of forest, moorland and lochs; home to deer, birds of prey and acquatic fowl. Steeped in history of smugglers, Robert Burns and more, drink in the area’s spectacular scenery and the ancient ruined castles and monuments set within. Or simply indulge yourself and enjoy the region’s welcoming restaurants offering delicious gastronomy; country pubs with huge open fires and the utter relaxation that being away from it all brings.
For the more active, Dumfries and Galloway has a fabulous range of places of interest, activities and sports to enjoy. The area is a mecca for golfers, cyclists, walkers, and sea and game anglers. There are also some unusualy “finds” here: a colourful Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the east of the region and Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town in the west, a feast for the eye in Kirkcudbright Artists' Town and a real treat for the tastebuds in Castle Douglas Food Town.
For more information on Activities or Sports & Leisure visit: http://tinyurl.com/yv9avy
GARDENS
Dumfries & Galloway has over 20 specialist gardens and nurseries of varying sizes certain to give inspiration to any garden lover.
Palm trees and exotic flora flourish, not just at Chippemore Port, but also along Dumfries & Galloway's western coasts thanks to the balmy breezes of the Gulf Stream. Blessed with a climate such as this, the gardens of Dumfries & Galloway are some of Scotland's very best. Tropical or formal gardens, walled gardens or those with sea views; gardens giving glorious settings for castles, stately homes or historic houses - all will inspire your own horticultural endeavours.
You can even take home your own piece of Dumfries & Galloway from one of the many and varied nurseries. which stock rare and unusual plants.
For more information visit:
http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/gardens/
GOLF
With a choice of 30 courses – you can play serious golf or just a few rounds of holiday golf to your heart's content. There are also driving ranges and golf professionals to help you hone your skills. Off the course, you'll find a warm welcome in the clubhouse or the local pubs and restaurants.
Golf course finder link:
http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/golf/find-golf-course/
BEACHES
With over 200 miles of coastline Dumfries & Galloway offers a huge selection of beaches, bays, coves and inlets for you to enjoy. From swathes of golden sand to pebble and rocky crags, popular sunbathing beaches to small, hidden coves. Chippermore has its own private beach and just five minutes north by car lies the popular expansive sandy beaches of Craignarget.
WALKING
Walking holidays in Dumfries and Galloway offer you a fantastic chance to explore miles of rugged coastline, sandy beaches, mysterious forests, rolling hills and tranquil lochs. Scotland's longest and most challenging walking route, the Southern Upland Way starts in Dumfries and Galloway. Stretching coast to coast along the south of Scotland from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath. The Southern Upland Way is a 212 mile marathon which travels through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland.
ROBERT BURNS
Find out more about Dumfries & Galloway's most famous son... Chippermore Port is ideally located being just over an hour’s drive south from Burn’s famous haunts in Ayrshire and just over an hour’s drive west from Dumfries, where Scotland's National Bard spent much of his adult life. Some of his most famous works such as Auld Lang Syne and Ae Fond Kiss were written in Dumfries & Galloway.As Robert Burns is remembered fondly throughout Dumfries & Galloway, there are many places to visit which celebrate their historical connections with him. Travel the long coastline where he sought out smugglers in hidden coves. Visit his home, his farm or his favourite inn. Or simply look upon his likeness, a centrepiece in Dumfries, the town proud to remember him as its adopted son.
EVENTS/ WHAT'S ON
Find out what’s on in the region while you are here:
http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/sitewide/events/
HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Dumfries & Galloway is a region steeped in history.From stone circles and chambered cairns over four thousand years old, the arrival of Christianity in Scotland, to medieval castles and battles for Scottish independence. Make time to discover the people who left their marks across Dumfries & Galloway. Names like St Ninian in picturesque Whithorn, the Black Douglas and Archibald the Grim, synonymous with Threave Castle, Lady Devorgilla and John Balliol connected with Sweetheart Abbey, Mary Queen of Scots with Dundrennan Abbey and the famed Robert the Bruce with Lochmaben Castle and his elusive cave.
FISHING
With so many rivers, lochs and reservoirs and a huge coastline, Dumfries & Galloway offers great fishing in relaxing surroundings.There are five major game fishing rivers in Dumfries & Galloway, the Border Esk, Annan, Nith, Cree and the Bladnoch, with a plethora of smaller rivers such as the Urr, Dee and the Water of Luce. These larger rivers compare more than favourable with better known waters further north and have long been famed for their prodigious runs of sea trout and greyback Solway salmon.
For useful fishing links go to: www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/links
HORSE RIDING
Schools and trekking centres catering for those new to horses and ponies to the experienced rider, offering lessons, treks and horse-driving instruction.
WATERSPORTS
From swimming pools to river trips, sailing, raft building and windsurfing, Dumfries & Galloway is famous for it's vast expanses of water. Swimming pools are a great way to keep the kids amused no matter the weather, Loch Ken on the edge of the Forest Park offers provides safe waters for a range of watersports, while towns along the Solway Firth provide moorings for visiting boats and yachts and boat hire.
MULTI-ACTIVITIES
For an action packed day out try spending a full day at an activity centre where you can try a range activities to get your adrenalin pumping. Go-carting, buggy racing, quad biking, paint balling, clay pigeon shooting, off road driving, raft building or digger driving. For a more sedate day out what about ice-skating, 10 pin bowling or spending a relaxing day in a spa. Or tire your children out with adventure play centres and leisure centres.
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