Holiday Cottages in - Dumfries And Galloway - Scotland

Situated on the south western corner of Scotland is Dumfries and Galloway, a county of dramatic scenery and landscapes. There are in excess of 200 miles of coastline, sandy beaches and peaceful lochs, moorland, forests and rugged mountains that constitute this area. There are many mountainous regions with many peaks over 2,000ft. Widespread throughout the area are many castles, historic towns and villages to explore. It is an extremely popular holiday destination and has attractions for all ages. Whether you are seeking a short break, a romantic getaway or a longer stay it is a great holiday destination.

Getting to Argyll and Bute is hassle free, it is a straight forward drive from most northern cities in England and central Scotland. If you are coming from further afield there are excellent motorway links and these in turn lead to good main routes and delightful country lanes as you get further into the country. The West Coast mainline rail provides direct access to Dumfries and to most local towns nearby. There are national coach services that operate to a number of the bigger towns that then link to local services. The airports of Glasgow, Prestwick and Edinburgh are all located within two hours drive and operate national and international flights. Car and passenger ferries operate twenty crossings to Dumfries and Galloway from Northern Ireland daily.

It is an area of remarkable beauty and whatever time of year that you visit and you can absorb the stunning scenery and countryside. Much of the area is untouched and has a history that extends back thousands of years, with the area being bathed in tradition and culture. The glorious scenes will gratify you and your senses will be assaulted with the sights, sounds and evocative smells you will experience. It is a fantastic region to enjoy peace and tranquility and take time out to contemplate.

This area appeals across the board but is particularly appealing to outdoor enthusiasts with a passion for adventure and excitement. There are an abundance of opportunities on offer from fishing, sailing, abseiling, hiking, cycling, mountain biking, quad biking, 4x4 driving, paint balling and clay pigeon shooting, or take some time to relax at one of the fantastic golf courses. If mountain climbing is a passion then you will be challenged by the climbs on offer with the highest being Merrick at 2,764ft in the Galloway Hills and White Coomb in the Moffatt Hills at 2,696ft. This is not a definitive list and there is much more on offer.

To make it easy to get around the region, however, if you prefer there are a choice of tourist routes to take. These include the Galloway Tourist, Robert Burns Trail, Solway Coast Heritage Trail or perhaps you might even take the Scenic Trail to Edinburgh. Each will take you on a voyage of discovery with lots to see and do along the way.

Whilst you are here you should definitely include in your itinerary time to visit the areas associated with the famous poet Robert Burns, drive along the coastline where he pursued smugglers in concealed caves. Visit his farm, his home or his preferred inn. Robert Burns spent the majority of his time in this corner of Scotland and died here aged just 37, the region is considered to have inspired most of his memorable work. He is the adopted son of Dumfries and Galloway and there is a statue in the town to commemorate him.

The area is probably best known to romantics for Gretna Green where an average 5,000 brides get married here each year. It is synonymous with runaway brides and there are lots of stories to be told. A visit to the area will allow you to see what attracts couples here and see if you will rediscover the romantic in you.

A special attraction to this area is Dumfries and Galloway's is the unspoilt landscape, that is so diverse ranging from lochs to sandy coastlines, hills to mountains and rolling countryside to dense forests. Galloway Park is one of the largest forest parks in Britain covering over 300 square miles of astounding forest, moorlands and lochs all leading towards the craggy gravity of the granite mountains. It comes as no surprise that this area is home to a whole host of animals including, red deer, wild goat, red squirrels, birds of prey including, buzzards, a golden eagle and rare red kites.
The expansive coastline of the Solway Firth welcomes over 40,000 wildfowl and 83,000 waders every year. There are Nature Reserves where you can get close to the flocks of barnacle geese that arrive here each winter from Norway and Sweden to grace the areas wetlands. There are plenty of conservation centres, wildlife reserves and animal sanctuaries for you to visit and lots of wildlife and plants to discover, in their natural habitat.

The whole region of Dumfries and Galloway is steeped in history, here you can visit stone circles and chambered cairns over four millennia old. There are ruins of medieval castles, abbeys and churches where many a battle was fought. Here you will be able to get a feel of what life was like in these bygone eras. During the summer months re-enactments take place of battles where the people will don authentic dress, weapons and craftsmanship is on show.

This area of Scotland has an unusual climate due to its position between the palm fringed west coast and the secluded walled gardens further east, as a result the gardens here are able to grow a diversity of unusual and exotic plants. Throughout the region there are a range of gardens to visit each with their own attractions and appeals, such as Logan Botanic Garden that hosts a range of southern hemisphere plants, Threave Gardens has well tended grounds and blooms with seasonal colours, Crichton Estate contains 34 landscaped hectares with stunning views over the Nith estuary. There are lots of smaller gardens too such as Woodfall with a secret garden ambience and Glenwhan with spectacular sea views and small lochans.

Most of the major towns have a Museum where you will find out about the history of the area. Here the story will be told of the times past in pictures, artefacts and stories allowing you to get an insight into what life was like in this area. The Museums will allow you to travel in time from the past right up to current day. In Sanquhar you will find Britain's oldest working post office, it was originally opened in 1763. Other Museums are more specific in the topics they cover such as, the development of medical care at Crichton Museum. The Aviation Museum offers you the opportunity to see the collection of aircraft and artefacts on show. You can visit the first ever savings bank at Rothwell and take a trip under the ground at Wanlockhead lead mine. For racing enthusiasts then a definite stop is the David Coulthard Museum which, has a vast collection of racing memorabilia and even somewhere to stop and eat the “Pit Stop Diner”. For children there are interactive museums where they can get involved and be kept entertained like the Creetown Gem Rock Museum, in addition to the wonderful gems on display, you will discover a meteorite, a fossilised egg and even dinosaur dung! Shambellie House Museum of Costume, the Museum of Lead Mining and Cream O'Galloway which, is suited to all ages.

Scotland is probably best known for its whiskies and along the way there are distilleries that you can visit. During your trip you will see how the areas most popular produce is made and get to sample some of the finest whiskies available. Distilleries open to the public are Bladnoch Distillery, Sulwath Brewery and Marrbury Smokehouse.

The people of Galloway and Dumfries are approachable and friendly and are more than happy to stop and chat. They take great pride in their local food and produce, you will get a real taste of Scotland when you dine out here. On the menus will be everything from the finest Angus beef, the freshest seafood, local whiskies and gorgeous pastries. Take time out to discover the restaurants, pubs, family bistros and cafes that are to be found throughout the region. The onus throughout the region is on traditional and Scottish dishes however, there is also international cuisine available throughout the area. You will be guaranteed to have a memorable meal. The best way to get a true feel of the area is to visit a pub, village hall or community centre here you will get to meet the locals, hear stories, sing, dance and partake in festivals and ceilidhs.

Throughout the year there are always events happening, from fetes, transport and music galas, local craft markets, ghost walks, continental and farmer markets, festivals such as the Dumfries Film Festival, Newton Stewart WalkFest, Kirkcudbright Summer Festivals, Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, British & Gold Panning Championship, Moffat Classic Car Rally and RSAC Scottish Rally and The Tour of Britain. Before you travel do check to see what what is on in the area you are visiting.

You have been given all that you need to plan a great holiday so all that is left to say is to enjoy your visit to Dumfries and Galloway. You will not be disappointed with all that is on offer in this superb destination.