The best places to stay in Dumfries and Galloway

Rural, Destinations

Posted by Ed Roberts on 5th January 2023

The best places to stay in Dumfries and Galloway

Come for a holiday in Dumfries and Galloway, a gorgeous region of South West Scotland with enough natural beauty and historic holiday attractions to fill ten vacations. Popular with cyclists and hikers, Dumfries and Galloway is home to the SWC300 (South West Coastal 300), the 7Stanes, and several long-distance walking trails such as the Southern Upland Way. You can also visit Scotland’s highest village, Wanlockhead, and the country’s most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway. 

Dumfries and Galloway is also known for its cute breed of cow or ‘coo’ called the beltie, as well as ancient moated castles, and gorgeous deserted beaches that line the Solway Coast from the Rhins of Galloway to The Machars. It’s a great place to enjoy a memorable holiday in Scotland. Why not read our wider guide to the best places to stay on the west coast of Scotland to see what lies just beyond Dumfries and Galloway?

Discover Scotland and some of the best places to enjoy a self-catering holiday cottage break in Dumfries and Galloway, or click on the button below to find your perfect Dumfries and Galloway holiday property.

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Dumfries - best place to stay for history buffs

Dumfries - best place to stay for history buffs

Dumfries is the main town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Southern Scotland. Situated on the idyllic River Nith and 20 miles west of the sprawling Galloway Forest Park, the town is perhaps best known for its associations with the writer Robert Burns. There are statues and a museum to commemorate Burns’ life and works all over town.

Dumfries' nickname is ‘The Queen of the South’ because of its fairness; the name has been adopted by the town’s football club, too. Of an evening, you can enjoy a film at the cinema or catch a show at Scotland’s oldest working theatre which was established in 1792. A peculiar fact that shouldn’t put you off taking a holiday in Dumfries is that it has been the site of four recent earthquakes, two of which occurred on the Boxing Days of 1976 and 2006! 

Highlights

  • Dumfries Museum – learn all about Dumfries' past and its famous residents such as Robert Burns and Calvin Harris 
  • Dalwinston Loch Trails – this pretty loch is the site of William Symington’s (another Dumfries resident) early steam engine trials 
  • The bridges of Dumfries – Dumfries is a town of bridges – visit the Devorgilla (one of Scotland’s oldest) and the distinctive New Bridge, which crosses The Caul (the local weir)

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Castle Douglas: best place for spectacular scenery

Castle Douglas - best place for spectacular scenery  

Found on the banks of Carlingwark Loch,  Castle Douglas has a good reputation as a foodie destination. Surrounded by stunning scenery comprised of fast rivers, tall hills and deep valleys, Castle Douglas is a good base for hikers. In town, there is an impressive array of places to visit, especially if you love nature. 

Threave Castle is a popular destination for history buffs; its intriguing location on an island in the middle of the River Dee is a positive draw too, as the ferry ride is very pleasant indeed. 

Highlights

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Dalbeattie – best for mountain biking trails

Dalbeattie – best for mountain biking trails  

Known locally as Granite Town, Dalbeattie sits in a woodland valley by Urr Water.  A quiet town, perfect for a holiday escape that gives you access to handy amenities, Dalbeattie is as pretty as a picture. Back in the 1800s, the town was surrounded by active granite quarries; all but a few are long abandoned. These days, Dalbeattie’s visitors stop in for golf, waterside walks, mountain biking trails and fishing prospects. 

If you love biking, one of Scotland’s famous 7Stanes biking trails runs through the South West of Scotland (five of which are in Dumfries and Galloway). Dalbeattie’s most famous son was William McMaster-Murdoch, the captain of the Titanic, and you can read all about him at the Dalbeattie Museum. You can also learn how Dalbeattie became Scotland’s centre for granite mining. 

Highlights: 

  • Granite Kitchen – one of the finest cafes in the area, check out the diversity of coffees on offer
  • RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve – this scenic bird reserve is awe-inspiring all year round, its scenic wetland location on the Solway Coast is magical
  • Orchardton Tower – Historical Environment Scotland’s unique, 15th-century Orchardton Tower is a must for history buffs

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Stranraer – best for exploring the Rhinns of Galloway

Stranraer – best for exploring the Rhinns of Galloway

A small town standing on the isthmus that joins the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland, Stranraer is something of a gateway. From the west of the town, the hammer-shaped peninsula of the Rhins runs north to south and it’s a wonderful place to base yourself to get a true sense of this quiet corner of Scotland. 

The town centres around the 16th-century Castle of St John that stands on the main street. You can also enjoy the town’s small but interesting selection of eateries, pubs and shops as well as some very nice parks. Sat at the head of Loch Ryan, you can catch a ferry to Belfast in Northern Ireland for the day!

Highlights

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Portpatrick – best for views across the Irish Sea

Portpatrick – best for views across the Irish Sea 

A wild 8 miles west of Stranraer is the gorgeous outpost of Portpatrick. Hugging the west coast of the Rhinns of Galloway, it feels like you are holidaying at the edge of the world. Take daily walks along the local beaches and clifftops, keeping a watchful eye out for dolphins. 

Walk the winding Southern Upland Way, a long-distance trail that meanders 212 miles from Portpatrick all the way to the east coast. History buffs will love the castle ruins close to the town. Book a holiday in Portpatrick to get to know the real Scotland without the journey to the Highlands. 

Highlights

  • Dunskey Castle – head to these iconic 1600s castle ruins around sunset for unforgettable views 
  • Cairn Pat – walk to the highest castle earthworks in the Rhinns to see Cairn Pat Hillfort
  • Campbells Restaurant – fancy a warm and hearty Scottish meal? Head to the seafront and find Campbells 

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Wigtown and the Machars – best for discovering the Machar Peninsula

Wigtown and the Machars – best for discovering the Machar Peninsula

Located on the north-eastern side of the Machars, Wigtown is a great place to base yourself if you are looking for a central location in Dumfries and Galloway. Wigtown is famous for its bookshops; it’s essentially the Charing Cross Road or Hay-on-Wye of Scotland. 

Wigtown is also a naturalist’s heaven as Wigtown Bay is perhaps the UK’s largest nature reserve, giving it seemingly endless swathes of salt marshes and wetlands at the coast.

Highlights

  • The Cocoabean Chocolate Factory – those with a sweet tooth (everybody?) won’t be able to resist a visit 
  • The Steam Packet Inn – birdwatchers can head to the most southerly end of the Machars to the Isle of Whithorn and enjoy some lunch here
  • Torhouse Stone Circle -  this prehistoric stone circle is a superb walking destination from the middle of Wigtown, offering a 6-mile circuit

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Newton Stewart – best place to visit Galloway Forest Park

Newton Stewart – best place to visit Galloway Forest Park 

Newton Stewart is the southern gateway to Galloway Forest Park, an immense wild space full of hiking routes and mountain biking trails, which is also a Dark Sky Reserve. The forest is just 4 miles from the town which acts as something of a handy shopping hub for the larger area. 

Newton Stewart is well-known for beaches and castles within a 10 to 15-mile drive. Film buffs will get a kick out of looking for some of the places used for the shoot of the 1970s film classic The Wicker Man

Highlights

  • Galloway Forest Park - 300 square miles of remarkable lochs and woodland landscapes
  • The Museum – get to know the town’s past at this great museum
  • The Cinema – with so many multiplexes around, remind yourself how cool old cinemas are at this restored Art Deco delight

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Gretna Green – best for romantics

Gretna Green – best for romantics

Gretna Green will be forever famous for its tales of eloping English and Welsh couples who had hopped the border into Scotland to get married. The 1754 act prevented anybody under the age of 21 from getting wed in England and Wales, but this ruling didn’t apply in Scotland. Gretna Green’s location just inside the Scottish border meant that it was the first place to try. 

Beyond its world-famous status, Gretna Green was known for its explosives factory and early glimpses of the scenic Scottish wilds that begin to peep forth on the road north. Romantics everywhere know its name – make sure you stop by.

Highlights

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Moffat – best for dark skies

Moffat – best for dark skies

Located in the Annandale Valley, Moffat is near the main road that links the Scottish border to Glasgow, but there are numerous reasons to enjoy a holiday here. This spa town is well-known for its cave attractions and landmarks like the Devil’s Beef Tub and Merlin’s Trail and Cave. 

Walkers will be pleased to know that the Southern Upland Way runs through Moffat; it also has official Dark Sky Town status with dimmer streetlights to enable clearer skies for enjoying the heavens. 

Highlights

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Stay at a self-catering holiday home in Dumfries and Galloway

Book a holiday at a self-catering Dumfries and Galloway cottage this season and take your loved ones away on a trip to the South Scotland countryside – they will absolutely adore it! Click on the button below to view our collection of holiday cottages in Dumfries and Galloway today.

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Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.