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  1. Home
  2. Places to go
  3. Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries & Galloway is a beautiful part of Scotland, with an undulating coastline of rocky shoreline and sandy beaches, and acres of forest and green spaces inland. Your break here can include outdoor activities, history and cultural attractions, delicious food and much more.

Great things to do in Dumfries & Galloway

Enjoy the great outdoors with plenty of outdoor activities, wildlife to spot and family-friendly attractions.

Cycling

There are trails of all kinds in both the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway including mountain biking, gravel and road biking.

Wildlife ideas

See these majestic and fierce animals throughout the countryside in the South as they've worked hard to make sure the habitats have been preserved.

Outdoor activities

Just beyond the borders lie ancient woodlands, glittering lochs, roaring rivers, and rising hills, perfect for a whole range of outdoor activities.

Family ideas

Explore spooky castle jails and ancient forests, spend your days by the loch trying new watersports or test your mettle at thrilling adventure parks.

Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere

Explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere and discover untouched coastlines, deep forests and historic rural communities.

Top days out ideas

Explore new locations, attractions and days out across Dumfries & Galloway.

Caerlaverock Castle

Discover one of Scotland's greatest medieval fortresses, the UK's only triangular castle.

Logan Botanic Garden

Warmed by the Gulf Stream, this is Scotland's most exotic garden.

Dark sky experiences

The region is home to the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park, the Galloway Forest Park.

Low Carbon Days Out

Explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere by public transport with these fantastic visitor guides.

Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop

Steeped in history and magical charm, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop is where couples have come to marry since 1754.

Drumlanrig Castle & Gardens

Travel back in time at Drumlanrig Castle & Gardens.

Grey Mare's Tail National Nature Reserve

See one of the UK’s highest waterfalls, alongside breathtaking views, trails, and more.

Kitchen Coos and Ewes

Enjoy unique Highland cow tours and experiences.

Annandale Distillery Tri-Site Tour

Tour Annandale Distillery, The Globe Inn, and Henry Duncan Savings Banks Museum with the new Tri-Site ticket.

Galloway Distillery

Founded by Sam Heughan and Alex Norouzi in 2025 and inspired by the unbreakable connection to their native land of Dumfries & Galloway.

Inspiring routes, trails & itineraries

A stop off at Palnackie on the South West Coastal 300 route

© Visit South West Scotland / Damian Shields

Follow a route

Choose between walking, cycling and driving routes, or follow our suggested itineraries around the area.

  • Southern Upland Way
  • Kirkpatrick C2C
  • Robert Burns' Homeland

See what's on in Dumfries & Galloway

Discover new and delicious foods, visit Scotland's Book Town or listen to trad music. Find upcoming events in Dumfries & Galloway.

Stranraer Oyster Festival

© Pete Robinson

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, 21 May - 14 June 2026 - Join a fantastic celebration of creativity and culture as Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival brings outstanding performances, live music, theatre and visual arts to communities across the region.

Eden Festival, 11 - 14 June 2026 - Step into a world of music, creativity and entertainment as Eden Festival brings together amazing artists, family-friendly activities and unforgettable festival vibes.

South Scotland Outdoor Festival, 26 - 28 June 2026 - Set within the magnificent grounds of Drumlanrig Castle, the event invites adventurers, families, and nature lovers to immerse themselves in a weekend of outdoor excitement. 

Kirkcudbright Country Fair, 18 - 19 July 2026 - Join this year’s fair for free rides and children’s amusements, alongside headline entertainment, children’s activities, face painting, craft and food tents, market stalls and plenty more for all ages to enjoy!

Galloway Country Fair, 8 - 9 August 2026 - Expect a packed weekend of country sports, fun family activities, exciting main-ring performances, plus brilliant local crafts and delicious food.

Stranraer festival, 11 - 13 September 2026 - Expect fantastic food and drink, plenty of family fun, and a vibrant oyster bar featuring fresh native oysters straight from Loch Ryan.

Moffat Walking Weekend, 25 - 27 Semtember 2026 - Spend three days exploring the hidden beauty of Southwest Scotland on foot. From long-distance trails and easy ambles, to family-friendly adventures and treks around town.

Wigtown Book Festival, 25 September - 4 October 2026 - Experience the magic of storytelling at Wigtown Book Festival, where writers, readers and thinkers come together for talks, discussions, workshops and inspiring literary events.

Big Burns Supper, January 2027 - Celebrate Scotland’s national poet at a vibrant Burns Supper, featuring traditional food, music, poetry, and heartfelt tributes to Robert Burns in a warm community atmosphere.

Dumfries International Street Food Festival, June 2027 - Get ready to enjoy mouth-watering street food from around the world, alongside live music, entertainment and a buzzing atmosphere.

How to travel to and around Dumfries & Galloway

Getting to Dumfries & Galloway

Train

Dumfries & Galloway is well connected by rail from both Scotland and England.

Trains run regularly from Glasgow to Ayr, with some services continuing along the coast to Girvan and Stranraer. In the east of the region, services run from Carlisle and Glasgow via Gretna Green, Annan, Dumfries, Sanquhar and Kirkconnel.

Travelling from England, Carlisle is the main rail interchange, with direct services from London and the north of England operated by Avanti West Coast and LNER. From Carlisle, regional trains connect into Dumfries & Galloway.

Travel by train to Dumfries & Galloway

Bus and coach

From Edinburgh

Stagecoach service 101A from Edinburgh Bus Station will take you to Dumfries via Biggar and Moffat.

From Glasgow

Start your journey to Dumfries & Galloway in the South of Scotland by catching Stagecoach service X74 to Dumfries via Moffat from Buchanan Bus Station, then switch to local services.

From Carlisle

Take Borders Buses service number X95 to Edinburgh via Langholm, Galashiels and Stow.

Driving

If you’re travelling from north Scotland, take the M80 towards Glasgow, then onto the M74. Follow the motorway south along the River Clyde, through South Lanarkshire and into Dumfries & Galloway in the South of Scotland as the M74 becomes the A74. To reach Dumfries & Galloway, you can also continue west along the M77, then head south through Ayrshire, travelling along the coast and country roads.

From Carlisle, simply follow along the M6 to reach the border town of Gretna. You can then explore Dumfries & Galloway further, following the A75 or A74.

Plan your trip with Traveline

Ferry

There are two ferry connections between the South of Scotland and Northern Ireland: Stena Line offers regular services between Belfast and Cairnryan in Dumfries & Galloway, while P&O Ferries operates a connection between Larne and Cairnryan. Further ferry connections to destinations across Scotland arrive into Greenock near Glasgow, which is also the main port for cruise ships.

Flying

Fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow airports from across the UK and Europe, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin and Amsterdam.

Dumfries & Galloway can be easily reached from Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh International Airport to the north. You can connect to local public transport options or hire a car at each of the airports for a smooth onwards journey.

Getting around

Cycling

Follow National Cycle Route 7 from Carlisle along the stunning Galloway coastline. The route passes through picturesque towns, and at Newton Stewart you can either continue to follow Route 7 north, or switch to Route 73 to Stranraer. If you prefer to take the inland route, follow National Cycle Route 74 from Carlisle to Glasgow via Lockerbie and Beattock in the Moffat Hills.

Find out more on National Cycle Routes in the south of Scotland

 

Bus and coach

Most of the region's villages and towns are accessible by bus, with timetables published online by local council providers.

See bus timetables & routes for Dumfries & Galloway

Walking

The Southern Upland Way is a major long distance route linking the Dumfries & Galloway coast in the west to the Berwickshire coast in the eastern Scottish Borders.

Driving

There are several main roads running right through Dumfries & Galloway, so it’s easy to get around by car. Additionally, a variety of scenic routes quickly take you off the beaten track right into the heart of this destination.

Find out more about driving routes

Vehicle hire

If you are looking to hire a car or campervan during your trip, you will find car hire companies located conveniently close to the major routes into the areas – in and around Glasgow, in Edinburgh and just off the Edinburgh City Bypass, and around the border at Carlisle. You will also find opportunities to hire a car when you’re here: Dumfries has an Enterprise Car Rental, and those looking for something different can even hire a classic car or campervan.

Loch Ken Eco Bothies

© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Places to stay in Dumfries & Galloway

Find places to stay in Dumfries & Galloway, including cosy cabins, quirky glamping huts, luxurious country house hotels, welcoming B&Bs, modern caravan holiday homes, and even treehouses!

  • Find accommodation in South Scotland

Mull of Galloway

© VisitScotland / Cutmedia

Places to eat in Dumfries & Galloway

Find out more about the food & drink on offer in the south of Scotland.

  • Food & drink in Dumfries & Galloway

The Famous Old Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green

Find information on accessible trips

In Dumfries and Galloway, you’ll find lots of disabled friendly holidays with accommodation, attractions, cafés and restaurants tailored to offer support and special assistance. We’ve teamed up with AccessAble to create an accessible guide to help plan your holiday to Scotland, so it’s easy to check if it suits your needs.

  • AccessAble Guide - South of Scotland

Dumfries & Galloway by area

From stunning beaches, world-class golf courses and some of the darkest night skies in the world, to amazing distilleries, history and heritage attractions and famous Scots, get to know the region.

Annandale

From the stunning Solway Coast and the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop, to Annandale Distillery, golden eagles and heavenly dark skies.

Dumfries

Enjoy the food, local art and exciting golf courses in the hometown of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard.

Heart of Galloway

Fall in love with the Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park, or Castle Douglas, the region’s designated Food Town.

Nithsdale

Explore the town of Thornhill with its vibrant cafés and shops, or admire the pink-hued stronghold of Drumlanrig Castle – where will you venture to?

The Machars

From prehistoric standing stones to Scotland’s official Book Town, explore lovely villages, harbours, beaches and more.

The Rhins of Galloway

Visit the most southerly point in Scotland, attend Stranraer Oyster Festival, or explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.

The Solway Firth

Discover the myriad of beaches, test your biking skills at Mabie and Dalbeattie Forests, or enjoy local celebrations and festivals.

Galloway Forest Park

© @chrispaullawlor

Chris Lawlor's unique South Scotland experience

"South of Scotland has so much to offer although many will drive past it to get to the Highlands. Whether you are visiting Scotland or live in Scotland and looking for a weekend trip, I would recommend exploring this area and checking out the many activities such as Galloway Red Deer Range, a walk to the top of Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall and a drive through Raider’s Road to the Otter Pool."

Chris Lawlor, @chrispaullawlor

  • Galloway Red Deer Range
  • Raiders' Road Forest Drive
Watch Chris's video of visiting South Scotland

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