Dumfries Area

Caerlaverock Castle

Moniavie

Sweetheart Abbey

Area Main Page

The main settlement in the area and administrative centre of Dumfries and Galloway is Dumfries. Built on a curve in the River Nith some miles north of where the river enters the Solway Firth, Dumfries is often referred to by the name of its football club: Queen of the South.

Dumfries is a fascinating place in which to spend a day. It makes the most of its close links with the poet Robert Burns who spent his final seven years here. Pilgrims on the trail of the bard can visit the Robert Burns Centre, Robert Burns House, and Robert Burns Mausoleum, as well as a number of other locations associated with him including his favourite pub, the Globe Inn. The town is also home to Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, and to the Old Bridge House Museum, which stands at the west end of Devorgilla Bridge, built in 1432 and one of the oldest standing bridges in Scotland. Near the old military road south west of Dumfries is Lochrutton Church.

Just north of the Dumfries bypass is Lincluden, home to the remains of Lincluden Collegiate Church which are found on the outskirts of the built up area. A little to the east is the excellent Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum.

Following the A76 north from Dumfries takes you up Nithsdale. The first major settlement you encounter is Thornhill, whose grid plan and wide main streets focus on the mercat cross in the central roundabout and whose origins may date back to the Romans. In the Lowther Hills to the north east of Thornhill is one of Scotland's most attractively located Castles. Unsignposted and little visited, Morton Castle most certainly qualifies as Undiscovered and is a lovely spot in which to pass some time. Also in Nithsdale is the forestry village of Ae, which has the shortest name of wnywhere in the UK. Within the village you find a superb totem pole celebrating the surrounding forests.

Further into the hills is the tiny hamlet of Durisdeer. Once a staging post on a Roman road through the Lowther Hills it is now the end of a very minor road, and home to the magnificent Queensberry Aisle. Further up Nithsdale is Sanquhar. This is a stopping off point on the Southern Upland Way as well as being home to Sanquhar Castle, one of Scotland's more neglected castles.

South of Dumfries and to the east of the River Nith lies the remarkable Caerlaverock Castle, one of many fascinating ancient monuments dotting the area.

On the opposite side of the estuary of the Nith is the village of New Abbey, built largely to service Sweetheart Abbey. This lovely name loses some of its attraction when you discover its origin. The lady who endowed the abbey carried her (late) husband's embalmed heart around in a cask for many years until her own death, whereupon she was buried here with his heart. Also in New Abbey is the New Abbey Cornmill, a fascinating working mill in the care of Historic Scotland. On the northern edge of the village in Shambellie House is the National Museum of Costume.

Further south again, at Arbigland, close to the village of Kirkbean, is the John Paul Jones Museum, celebrating the life and achievements of the founder of the US Navy, who was born here. South of Kirkbean is Southerness, a combination of old village and much modern holiday resort.

Head south west from Dumfries along the Dalbeattie road and you pass the pretty - and very Cornish sounding - village of Kirkgunzeon. Not far away is Drumcoltran Tower, a castle built by the Maxwells in th 1550s.