Holiday accommodation in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Dumfries & Galloway, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire
Dumfries and Galloway is a surprisingly unknown part of Scotland and is still remarkably unspoilt. It borders the northern shore of the Solway Firth, famous for migrating birds and empty, rocky coves and beaches. This is a fantastic area for cycling and walking holidays - both along the coast and in the Galloway hills. It is a bird-watchers paradise as the mild climate attracts numerous rare species, and the tidal marshes are wintering grounds for barnacle geese and many other waterfowl.

Dumfries and Galloway is the gateway to Scotland, and Dumfries itself was home to Robert Burns. The main tourist towns are Castle Douglas, Port Patrick, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown. Kirkcudbright was an artists colony in the late 19th century and it is a picturesque place with brightly painted houses - this is one of the most enchanting towns in Scotland. Wigtown is Scotlandıs book town - a place for a holiday if you enjoy rumaging in secondhand book shops. Stranraer, in the far east corner of the region is the port for ferries to Ireland, and the famous village of Gretna Green lies at the border with England.

There are plenty of historical sights to explore and prehistoric stones abound: - Whithorn, where St Ninian landed, with its fascinating archeological site; Dundrennan Abbey, where Mary Queen of Scots stayed before setting sail to England; the medaieval ruins of Caerlaverock Castle; Sweetheart Abbey, which is one of Scotland's most poignant monastic ruins.

With a mild climate the gardens of Dumfries and Galloway is a wonderful place to visit on holiday. Castle Kennedy Gardens and Logan Botanic Gardens are a must for garden lovers - sub-tropical plants and tree-ferns flourish and you feel as though you are in an exotic land. Threave Gardens, near Castle Douglas, are owned by the National Trust for Scotland, is a beautiful Victorian garden, with a wonderful restored kitchen garden.

Outdoor family holiday activities; walking, cycling and riding are very popular in Dumfries and Galloway. The many holiday homes and restored farm cottages available for rent make the perfect self-catering base for your family's vacation activities in Scotland.

Drumlanrig Castle, north of Dumfires, is a gorgeous pink sandstone palace, set in the Lowther Hills. Home of the Duke of Buccleuch, this impressive house with stunning furniture and paintings, is a major tourist attraction in the area.

Galloway Forest Park covers 250 sq miles of magnificent terrain - you can walk the many trails surrounded by exceptionally lovely scenery. Lonely moorland, peat bog, hills, lochs and rivers make this an unforgettable part of Galloway to spend your vacation.

Ayrshire was the birthplace of Robert Burns and today holiday-makers can visit his cottage and the Burns National Heritage park.