Dumfries

Dumfries

Explore Dumfries our county town, along the banks of the winding Nith; steeped in the history of Scotland, Robert Burns and a delight for historians, shoppers and golfers. Read on for details of places to stay and things to do in Dumfries.

The historic town of Dumfries, the Queen of the South, is the largest town in South West Scotland and is firmly on the tourist map.Dumfries is the county town of Dumfries & Galloway, a Royal Burgh since 1186 and it is believed to have flourished as a market town and port since Roman times. Amongst its many visitors in past times were Bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce!

At the heart of Dumfries is the River Nith, with fisherman often to be seen up to their chest in its waters.  Dumfries has Scotland’s largest independent store in Barbours, a great shopping experience. This can be accompanied by a visit to CAMRA’s Stewartry pub of the year at the Cavens Arms, next door, which is famed for both food and drink.

Dumfries has many associations with Robert Burns who lived here in the 1790s. The Robert Burns Centre is situated in an 18th century watermill on the west bank of the river. It tells the story of Burns’ last years in the town, shows films, and has a bar and restaurant – the Hullabaloo. Above the mill there is an 18th century windmill tower which houses Dumfries Museum and the Camera Obscura Observatory. The Museum has exhibits about prehistoric times, the wildlife of the Solway saltmarshes, stone carvings of Scotland’s early Christians, and the Victorian farm. You can go and eat and drink at the Globe Inn in the town as Rabbie Burns did!

Dumfries  was the  birthplace of J M Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, and Moat Brae,  the Georgian house at which he played with friends is currently being restored after a campaign by another local worthy, Joanna Lumley, who has a holiday home nearby. You can follow progress with the restoration of Moat Brae in Dumfries on PeterPanMoatBrae.org  Although not fully open as at August 2014, guided tours are regularly available.

For sport, as well as the Queen of the South Football club, Dumfries has an ice rink, which is a  centre for enjoyment and also the host of international curling competitions featuring Dumfries & Galloway’s Olympic medal winners. Dumfries is host to three golf clubs, with more than twenty other courses within easy reach.

The Camera Obscura, originally an astronomical instrument installed in 1836, has a table top screen with panoramic views of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside. Across the 15th century Devorgilla Bridge there is Old Bridge House, Dumfries’ oldest house, dating from 1660 and built into the sandstone of the bridge itself. In Dumfries you can sense more of the history of Scotland by visiting the ruins of Lincluden Abbey, and within a few miles see Sweetheart Abbey and Caerlaverock Castle.