Dumfries and Galloway - the gateway to Scotland. With some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland is to be found in Dumfries and Galloway why not take time to discover Dumfries and Galloway with Discover Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway offers much of the beauty and variety that can be found in Scotland's countryside, towns and villages with a huge range of events and attractions, what more could you ask for.

With Dumfries and Galloway literally just over the border from England, less than 1.5 hours drive from Central Scotland and only a short ferry ride from Ireland it is perfectly accessible. The region is so deeply steeped in history, and rich in opportunities for outdoor pastimes, it makes it the ideal place to visit.

The rivers, lochs and coastal bays found in Dumfries and Galloway provide the perfect conditions for a complete range of water sports. Facilities for angling include game fishing for salmon and trout in our stunning fast flowing rivers. Coarse fishing and sea angling is also readily available.

There are over 30 beautiful golf courses, along with swimming pools, ice rinks, bowling, riding, cycling and walking. Discover the many castles, museums, gardens, art galleries and historic sites that make up the rich history of Dumfries and Galloway. Or alternatively, simply relax and unwind away from the bustle of city life.

Entering from the English border, you pass through the fertile farmland along the shores of the Solway Firth and to the north you can see the rounded Border hills with the valleys clothed in the forests of Eskdalemuir. Then to the north west are the Lowther hills, heather clad and steep with the swift flowing bums and rivers like the Annan and the Nith, both renowned for salmon and sea trout fishing.

The burgh of LANGHOLM is a truly Border town situated on the Border Esk (famous for sea trout fishing) and also for good shopping, especially for tweeds and woollens.

GRETNA GREEN and GRETNA, right on the border are the home of the Old Blacksmith's Shop centre, the country's favourite wedding venue of the past and the present, and the new Gretna Gateway outlet for world famous brands.

MOFFAT is an excellent place to enjoy your holiday shopping - plenty of interesting shops and eating places - and just up the road to Edinburgh the ominous Devil's Beef Tub.

THORNHILL, the centre of mid Nithsdale, is also an attractive shopping town and is near Dnimlanrig Castle, which is open to the public with some marvelous paintings and historic treasures and also an Adventure Woodland Playground, Picnic Area, working Craft Centre, etc.

DUMFRIES is the main centre of Dumfries and Galloway and has much to offer, including the Aviation Museum, the Observatory Museum, Robert Burn's House and Centre (and his pub - the Globe Inn), a swimming pool, three golf courses and the oldest theatre in continuous use in the country. A short drive will take you to Caerlaverock Castle, a real stronghold which resisted King Edward I but still has much beautiful stonework, or to Ellisland Farm where Robert Bums farmed and wrote his world famous poetry, or to New Abbey with a working Corn Mill and Shambellie House Museum of Costume.

The Dumfries and Galloway region is composed of several important sub areas and former counties.

From west to east:

• Wigtownshire
  • Rhins of Galloway
  • Machars
    
    
• Kirkcudbrightshire
  • Stewartry
    
    
• Dumfriesshire
  • Nithsdale
  • Annandale
  • Eskdale

The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (so called because in the Middle Ages it was administered by a Steward, whereas the Shires had sheriffs) is a real "Scotland in Miniature".

Its land is varied and beautiful with the highest hills of the Southern Uplands (over 2500 feet) with alpine flora and fauna, hillsides of heather and forests - rapidly becoming things of beauty with variety of species, open spaces and conserved special groups of trees - farmland interspersed with traditional broadleaved woods, lochs, fast flowing rivers and areas of hard or steep uncultivated ground made beautiful by wild flowers. The Solway coast with high cliffs - the home of many seabirds - rocky shores ideal for sea fishing and sandy beaches - the sea warmed by the Gulf Stream.

The Stewartry provides in many different ways for our visitors' enjoyment.

For WALKERS there are local walks around the towns and villages, woodland and forest walks, hills to climb and the Southern Upland Way.

For ANGLERS day or weekly tickets can be bought to fish for salmon and trout in many lochs and rivers, excellent coarse fishing (particularly in Loch Ken) and opportunities for sea fishing from the shore or boats.

For GOLFERS all towns have at least a 9 hole course, many 18 holes, well cared for and with lovely views, and at Southemess is the renowned championship links course.

The TOWNS are small but offer a wide variety of facilities.

CASTLE DOUGLAS is "The Food Town", having a great selection of shops (especially for food), restaurants and pubs. It has a small swimming pool, tennis courts, a busy theatre and some small galleries. Nearby are the famous Threave Gardens, managed as a school of gardening and for visitors by the National Trust for Scotland, Threave Castle the mediaeval home of Archibald the Grim and his Black Douglas successors, Loch Ken with its excellent sailing centre and water skiing facilities.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT (Kircoobrie) is the Artists' Town because of its famous artists' colony, its galleries like Broughton House, The Tolbooth, Stewartry Museum and Harbour Gallery, and because of the exciting exhibitions held there (in 2002 the world famous Fleming collection). The old centre of the burgh has many handsome houses and attractive little closes off the High Street and the harbour is busy with fishing boats. Good "eating out" places too. An excellent swimming pool, tennis courts, 18 hole golf course, squash courts, and marina.

NEW GALLOWAY, Scotland's smallest Rural Burgh, is an excellent base for hill and forest walks, which are right on the doorstep. Also nearby are a good variety of lochs to fish for trout or coarse fish.

GATEHOUSE OF FLEET, at the head of the Fleet estuary and in the centre of the designated Fleet Valley "National Scenic Area". At the mouth of the bay are some of the best sandy beaches. In the burgh itself is the Mill of the Fleet exhibition centre, a good variety of craft shops in its beautiful High Street, tennis court, steep but lovely golf course and, nearby, Castramont Wood and Drummore Farm Nature Reserves, and the 15c. tower house Cardoness Castle.