15 places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

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There are so many gorgeous places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway, from cute towns and villages to good old National Trust places to stunning beaches. I’ve put some into a list here to share my favourites with my readers: I know a lot of you love this area as much as I do. I may be biased, because all my childhood holidays were there so I know it really well, but Scotland’s most southerly area really is an underrated part of bonny Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway is often overlooked and I don’t know many people who have visited. Yeah, it might not have the dramatic landscape of the Highlands or the bustle of the big Scottish cities, but it has some of the prettiest towns and coastlines I’ve ever seen.

Obvs I’m only including places I know well and can definitely recommend personally in this list, but there are loads more if you want to do some research – try Visit Scotland or Visit South West Scotland. In fact, writing about all my favourite Dumfries and Galloway places that I know so well has only made me realise how much other stuff there is in the area that I’ve never even been to. Plenty for next time I suppose.

Anyway, pour yourself a wee dram and read on for some fantastic places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway…

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Please note that this post is from 2017 and needs deleting and rewriting as it’s from before I knew how to blog/write. I’m in the process of rewriting and republishing all my older posts for 2022. I’d really like to re-do this one to become 30 places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway…. Watch this space!

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Lovely places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

1. Kirkcudbright: for a longer visit to the artists’ town

Kirkcudbright is my personal favourite place in Dumfries and Galloway. It’s got everything you could ask for in a town: a harbour, a ridiculous amount of art and art galleries, loads of amazing places to eat and drink, and most importantly, so many cute cottages and hidden alleyways bursting with flowers. Known as the artists’ town of Scotland, it’s the perfect place to stay in the area and also a brilliant base for day trips everywhere else. You can’t really do it all in a day, so if you don’t stay over in Kirkcudbright, make sure you plan plenty of time there or multiple days out there. You’ll need it, if only to fit in all the eating potentials.

Read more: Here’s my absolutely HUGE Kirkcudbright travel guide for more on this absolute gem. I’d like to say I’m a bit of a Kirkcudbright connoisseur so there are lots of restaurant/pub and shop tips in there…

Where to stay: For hotels, The Selkirk Arms or the Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel. For self-catering, it’s tricky to find something the right size just for two, but for a larger group there’s The Yellow Door or 3 Mews Lane.

2. Kippford and Rockcliffe: for the best coastal walk in Scotland

The two lovely villages of Kippford and Rockcliffe are joined by what can only be described as the best coastal walk in Scotland. Since I first blogged about this, I’ve not had a single person disagree with that statement. So it must be true, right?! And even if you don’t like walking, you’ll like this walk because it has a whole stretch of road where you can spot little beasts made of driftwood and stones with eyes. And if that isn’t your idea of a good day out, we can’t be friends.

Read more: Intrigued? Read my post on a coastal walk from Rockcliffe to Kippford for more. I’m planning on updating it soon as I recently did the walk when all the autumnal foliage was out and my photos are glorious.

Where to stay: Rockcliffe and Kippford are very small, so might not be the best places to base yourself for a visit in the area. However, Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas and Gatehouse of Fleet are all within easy reach and have more eating/staying options.

3. Castle Douglas: for a day of eating and drinking in the foodie town of Dumfries and Galloway

The whole point of a holiday is to overeat, right? Right. Well, the food capital of Dumfries and Galloway is this little number, Castle Douglas. Not just local food either, but also local beer. You can have a freshly brewed pint at the local brewery after stuffing your face at one of the many eateries. Oh and spending all your holiday spends on beautiful homewares in all the local independent boutiques. Because shopping is the second most important thing after food.

Read more: Thirsty and/or hungry? Read my post on Castle Douglas for a full guide to the town.

Where to stay: For a hotel, have a look at The Market Inn Hotel. For a B&B, check out Douglas House. And if you’re travelling in a group/family and want a holiday home, I like the look of The Coop.

4. Gatehouse of Fleet: for a relaxing day in a tranquil mill town

If you’re the kind of person who likes a nice sit down at a beautiful old mill with some cake and a cup of tea (aka anyone over 60, or me), a visit to the former mill town of Gatehouse of Fleet is going to be right up your street. It has an award-winning visitor centre (yes, that is a thing) that has a cafe looking out onto this view. And it serves amazing cakes.

Read more: If you like the sound of mills and cakes, read my post on Gatehouse of Fleet for more.

Where to stay: If you want a hotel, there’s the Ship Inn. If you want self-catering for a group, there’s 79 Laurel Bank, or a bit further out (only 10 mins by car), the Sea View Snugs at Laggan is great for couples.

5. Carrick Bay: for discovering a secret, deserted beach

There are so many good beaches around Dumfries and Galloway. My personal favourites are Rockcliffe and Kippford because they’re my childhood memories and I’m all about living in the past.

However, from an unbiased perspective, you’re not going to be able to beat Carrick Bay. Not only is it an absolute beaut, it’s also usually completely deserted so you can have the whole place to yourself.

What’s better than a beautiful beach? A beautiful beach with no other people on it. Other people are horrendous.

Read more: Fancy escaping people on this dream beach? Read my post on Carrick Bay: a hidden beach for more.

Where to stay: Gatehouse of Fleet is your best bet for a hotel/B&B near Carrick Shore.

6. Portpatrick: for clifftop walks

Portpatrick is a charming coastal village on the Rhins of Galloway peninsula in South West Scotland. It’s full of lovely pastel-coloured buildings and has a picture-perfect bay, set against a backdrop of rugged scenery and stunning views. It has its own lighthouse and it’s only a 40-minute drive from the big daddy of Scottish lighthouses, the Mull of Galloway. It’s also t’s right on the famous Southern Upland Way, meaning it’s great for clifftop walks before heading for a cosy pub meal in the harbour and a mooch around the town. Bliss. 

Read more: If this sounds up your street, read my full guide to Portpatrick.

Where to stay: For a hotel, the Mount Stewart Hotel or the Harbour House Hotel. If you’re after self-catering accommodation, the Fairways Apartment.

7. Logan Botanic Gardens – a treat for anyone into plants and gardening

I tend to visit botanic gardens in every city I go to in Europe, and this is up there with the best. If you visit in summer, look out for all the newts in the ponds. Very cute. They also have the BEST scones in the café (and I am a seasoned pro at eating scones). Check their official site for opening times; it’s £8 to get in.

8. Sweetheart Abbey, New Abbey: for some macabre romantic history

Have you heard the one about the 13th-century woman who carried her dead husband’s embalmed heart around with her in a small box and then took gothic romance to a whole new level by building an actual abbey in his memory?

If you go to Sweetheart Abbey, you’ll be able to say you’ve not only heard about that extreme behaviour, but you’ve witnessed the result of it. You can do this while eating a 10/10 scone and looking at the very beautiful red ruin set in a stunning landscape.

Read more: Fancy seeing the beautiful ruin? Read my post on Sweetheart Abbey for more.

9. Threave Gardens: for straddling a Belted Galloway cow, obviously

Did you read that title? You can straddle a local Belted Galloway cow model. There’s me doing it as proof. I mean, I’ll just leave it at that because what more could you possibly want to know? You’re probably already booking your trip as we speak. There are also lovely gardens for when you’ve finished with the cows.

Read more: I cover Threave more fully in my post on Castle Douglas.

Where to stay: Castle Douglas is a great base to get to Threave Gardens from. If you want a hotel, have a look at The Market Inn Hotel. For a B&B, check out Douglas House. And if you’re travelling in a group/family and want a holiday home, I like the look of The Coop.

10. Mossyard beach: for more beautiful beach scenery

Another beach? Oh go on then. You can never have too many beaches, especially when they’re as good as the beaches in Dumfries and Galloway are. Mossyard is an absolute stunner and quite literally off the beaten track.

Read more: My post on Gatehouse of Fleet covers more about Mossyard.

Where to stay: Gatehouse of Fleet is handy for Mossyard. If you want a hotel, there’s the Ship Inn. If you want self-catering for a group, there’s 79 Laurel Bank, or a bit further out (only 10 mins by car), the Sea View Snugs at Laggan is great for couples.

11. Wigtown: one for the book lovers

As book lovers will know, Wigtown is Scotland’s official National Book Town. Most visitors to Wigtown are (naturally!) book lovers, many of whom flock to its annual book festival. But Wigtown is also known for being the gateway to The Machars, a peninsula full of pretty villages and excellent coastal scenery, and is worth a visit even when the festival isn’t on. 

Read more: I have a full guide to wonderful wee Wigtown.

Where to stay: For a hotel/guesthouse, Hillcrest House. For a B&B, have a look at Craigmount. And if you’re after self-catering, the aptly named Readers Retreat.

12. The Mull of Galloway and its famous lighthouse – the ultimate Scottish lighthouse!

The views are undeniably spectacular and you can spot lots of seabirds while you’re at it (there’s an RSPB Centre there). Make sure you leave room for a cake from Gallie Craig, Scotland`s most southerly café, right on the cliff’s edge. Apparently, the lighthouse now has the only working foghorn on mainland Scotland. Toot toot.

13. The Isle of Whithorn

The Isle of Whithorn is a little village with a pretty harbour where you can see some fantastic sunsets. The harbour in the village is surrounded by colourful Georgian houses. Just around the corner on the headland, you’ll find the small white chapel of St Ninian. This dates back to the 1300s and was built for all the pilgrims who used to land in the village on their way to St Ninian’s shrine at Whithorn. They were definitely also drawn in by the lovely local pub...

Read more: Intrigued? I cover the Isle of Whithorn and its gorgeous pub more fully in my guide to wonderful wee Wigtown.

Where to stay: Wigtown would be a good base nearby.

14. Castle Kennedy Gardens 

This is an old castle with a walled garden and lots of beautiful forests, lochs and land you can walk around. You can spend a good half a day here and there’s also a good tearoom. It’s £6.50 to get in; check the official website for opening times. I visited in August and it was lovely but apparently spring is the time to go because they have a whopping display of rhododendrons. 

15. Garlieston: one for military history buffs

Garlieston is a tiny, planned village with a small but picturesque harbour, a pretty garden along its waterfront, and a cosy pub to hunker down in with a pint. The village is very small and will only take you 10 minutes to wander through, but it’s a nice place to stop off if you’re in the area. It’s also known for some interesting military history…

Read more: Intrigued? I cover Garlieston more fully in my guide to wonderful wee Wigtown.

Where to stay: Wigtown would be a good base nearby.

Places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland: useful information

How to get there

Sadly, I break my no-driving rule when it comes to a trip to Dumfries and Galloway. It can be done by train to Dumfries, but to get the most out of it, you’ll be best off with a car. Especially if you want to whiz around all these places with ease.

When to go

As I’ve said in my other posts in my little Dumfries and Galloway series, nowhere gets too heaving with tourists. You can have entire beaches to yourself sometimes. But if you want a bit more hustle and bustle, there are the towns of Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas where you can have food and drink with an acceptable number of other people around.

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