Southern Scotland's Hidden Gem
Dumfries and Galloway – Scotland’ southern-most region, and despite its proximity to England and the Scottish central belt, probably it’s least well known.
A unique combination of spectacular coastlines, with sandy beaches and cliff path walking, and a hinterland of hidden lochs and majestic hills make Dumfries and Galloway one of Britain’s most memorable holiday destinations. Indeed it is often known as ‘The Highlands of the Lowlands’.
One of the area’s many secrets is the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, which brings in warm air currents and often results in a milder climate than neighbouring regions of Scotland and England.
The 300 square miles of Galloway Forest Park make it Britain’s largest, and its combination of heather clad-hills, rugged rock faces, tranquil lochs, unspoilt moorland and ancient woodland provide plenty to explore.
The southern half of the region, bordered by the ever changing Solway Firth, offers a variety of distinct towns and villages, each with its own character. These include Castle Douglas with its designation as the area’s ‘Food Town’, Wigtown and its fame as a ‘Book Town’, delightful coastal settlements such as Kippford and Kirkudbright, and Dumfries itself with its numerous connections to Robert Burns.
There are countless opportunities to use the great outdoors of Dumfries and Galloway for adventure and excitement. Home of the world-famous ‘7 Stanes’ mountain biking routes, and of several water and land based family adventure centres, there’s no danger of bored teenagers round here!
But if all you are looking for is peace and tranquility, in a remarkably unpopulated part of the world, then there is no better place to visit than Dumfries and Galloway – recently voted Countryfile Magazine’s Holiday Destination of the Year.
