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.