The rolling hills, enchanting forests and moorland can truly spark your sense of imagination as you travel this route from Dumfries to Stranraer. The road encompasses all of the unspoilt beauty of the South West of Scotland. This coastline also has its own fair share of Scottish history, from ancient castles to Robert Burns resting place, all of which awaits you on this popular tourist route.
Dumfries, often known as the Queen of the South, is the largest town in the South West of Scotland. Originally a market town, there is plenty to see and do here from shopping and relaxing to delving into the town's long and interesting history. Dumfries did not actually become a permanent part of Scotland until 1234 under the reign of Alexander II. Before this the land belonged to England and thus many problems for Dumfries came from England between the 1300's and 1600's. Outside forces were not the only troubles Dumfries encountered, in 1659, 9 women were burned alive for witchcraft and in 1868, Scotland's last public hanging took place here.
On the less gruesome side of things, Dumfries was home to Robert Burns in the final years of his life before he finally died here in 1796. You can visit his home here and even his favourite drinking spot, Globe Inn. The Robert Burns Centre also makes for a fascinating visit. Dumfries was home to another literary master, J.M. Barrie, the author of the classic Peter Pan, who moved here in his early years, gaining most of his secondary education at Dumfries Academy.
Today Dumfries is a busy town which plays host to a vibrant art scene. The Dumfries and Galloway annual Arts festival takes place in spring and the Storm of Arts and Entertainment, the Gaelforce festival, takes place in late summer.
Why not take a slight detour when leaving Dumfries and visit the town of New Abbey. Here you will find New Abbey Corn Mill and Sweetheart Abbey. The water powered Corn Mill is still in full working order and is used to demonstrate how oatmeal was traditionally made. Sweetheart Abbey, also a fascinating spectacle, was originally a declaration of true love. The Cistercian abbey was commissioned in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla in memory of her late husband John Baillol. It is said that Lady Devorgilla carried her love's embalmed heart everywhere with her in an ivory casket. Both the lady and her husband's precious heart are buried at the abbey.
Lying just off the A75 road from Dumfries to Stranraer is Castle Douglas. Until the end of the 1700's this town was known as Carlingwark as it is situated at the north end of Carlingwark Loch. However in 1792, Sir William Douglas laid out a new village on the site of the old settlement, and changed the name to Castle Douglas. Just outside the town, you will find more must see historic sites; Threave Gardens and House and Threave Castle.
Threave Gardens and House were built in 1872. The gardens are now run by the National Trust, as their school for practical gardening. Part of the house can still be visited on a guided tour and the gardens are a beautiful way to spend a relaxing morning. Threave Castle lies on the River Dee a couple of miles west of Castle Douglas. The castle can only be reached by foot, with a short walk to a ferry. The isolation really adds to the castle's sense of mystery.
Next stop on the route is Newton Stewart. Here you'll find many attractive buildings, such as the gothic style Parish Church dating back to 1840, this small town is well worth a visit. To the north of the town lies Galloway Forest Park, here you can spend hours getting back to nature, watching the local wildlife and visiting Bruce's Stone. The stone which Robert the Bruce was said to have rested against, now marks the beginning and end of many forest paths of which there are trails to suit all levels.
Another 30 minutes westward and you reach Stranraer. The harbour was built here in the 1700's and soon became a natural port for ferries to Ireland. Stranraer is an animated town with a lot to do. You should definitely try to go on the Stranraer Town Trail, which will take you to all the little hidden delights you might not see otherwise, such as the Garden of Friendship. This corner of town, was turned from wasteland into a pretty area, by the community in the 1920's. MacWilliam's Pump, a large water pump which was given to the town by the local blacksmith John MacWilliam in 1872, is yet another nugget of history which the streets of Stranraer offer. There are several luscious gardens for an afternoon stroll and a visit to Agnew Park for the children should not go unmissed. With pedal boats, a miniature railway and adventure playground the kids will love it, and maybe the grown ups too! Once you have finished exploring, you can follow the A77 up to Glasgow.
