"Scotland in miniature" Dumfries and Galloway by GillianMcLaughlin

Dumfries and Galloway Travel Guide: 399 reviews and 703 photos

Carsethorne beach with Criffel in the background

It’s not for nothing that Dumfries and Galloway is known as Scotland in Miniature. It has wild landscapes, hills, glens and lochs, but none so high, deep and wide as can be found elsewhere in Scotland.

Its claims to fame include Jean Paul Jones, father of the US navy who was born near Dumfries, John Loudon MacAdam, father of all tarmac roads in the world, whose body lies in Moffatt’s cemetery, and , while we’re on contributions to travel, it may interest you to know that the inventor of the pedal cycle also hailed from these parts, as did the builder of the world’s first steamboat. In more recent years its links with transport have been of a more sombre nature: in 1915 what is still Britain’s worst rail disaster occurred when three trains collided at Quintinshill causing the death of 225 passengers and the injury of some 246 more; that was a mere overture to a plane crash that stunned the world just before Christmas in 1988, when a PanAm plane landed on the town of Lockerbie.

Burn's Mausoleum, Dumfries

On a lighter and altogether more cerebral note, Dumfries and Galloway has its fair share of literary and entertainment attachments. Dumfries was the final home and resting place of Scotland’s Bard, Rabbie Burns, it also schooled JM Barrie who gave Peter Pan to the world, and has strong connections with Walter Scott (who set Redgauntlet in the area), James Hogg and Hugh Mac Dairmid amongst others. The Galloway Hills gave John Buchan the setting for his book “The Thirty-Nine Steps”. The much loved figure of John Laurie, frequently to be seen haunting misty moors in Hammer Horrors and latterly the undertaker in Dad’s Army was Dumfries born and bred.

My parents' back garden

This region also lays claim to Britain’s highest village (Wanlockhead), Scotland’s oldest post-office and second oldest library and the point of arrival of Christianity in Scotland. Red squirrels can still be seen in the Galloway forests and links with Robert the Bruce abound.

Most people flash past Dumfries and Galloway on their way north and south, utterly unaware of the unspoiled charm and staggering natural beauty that can be found here.

I’ll need to build this page slowly and photos are lacking…. Forgive me, but I am making a start with Moffatt…

Pros and Cons

Pros:Unspoiled beaches, history at every turn, vast wild expanses and good hillwalking
Cons:No bright lights
In a nutshell:Fantastic corner to get away from it all

Last visit to Dumfries and Galloway: Feb 2005
Intro Updated Feb 20, 2005
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Comments (9)

TheWanderingCamel Apr 10, 2007 at 9:10 AM Report Abuse

Spent an hour with some belted Galloways over Easter - lovely beasties. leyle
CliffClaven Jan 16, 2006 at 5:59 AM Report Abuse

Three steps from Powillimont
craic Jan 16, 2006 at 5:46 AM Report Abuse

Lovely. And bijou.
Darby2 Nov 3, 2005 at 3:35 AM Report Abuse

I must remind myself ...it's pronounced Dum-FREEZE, not DUM-freeze. Thanks for pointing this out. Hoping you are keeping well in bonnie Scotland. :-))
Pawtuxet Oct 1, 2005 at 4:24 AM Report Abuse

Ah, when they flash past they are missing so much!
stevezero Sep 17, 2005 at 8:33 AM Report Abuse

Just back from a trip to D&G, took so many photos . Fantastic! PS We could use more Belper pages
Gili_S Aug 4, 2005 at 1:13 AM Report Abuse

No Glasgow page? So how can I find where to drink my scotch and ale?
alza Jun 14, 2005 at 10:14 AM Report Abuse

oh me oh my! never saw such a splash of colours as that back garden! on another note, I think I lost your address. snif... cheers lassie!
NEILHALLIDYA Mar 17, 2005 at 10:45 AM Report Abuse

Hi Gillian, Nice place to emerge from. Enjoyed the pages. Often gets overlooked for Highlands etc but great area in its own right. Enjoy your w/end meet up. Rgds, Neil