Walking and Sightseeing Break No.1

We have listed 8 of what we think are the best Places of Interest in the region and outlined some good walks in the same areas. This should provide a good day out with an exercise walk and something interesting also. There will be other places of interest along your route which you can also visit depending on your interests. We also recommend places for food and drink, i.e. tea rooms and pubs lunch places on your journey. The price quoted is for a 4 and 7 day break - with currently a choice of 8 places to select from.

Accommodation - We will suggest places to stay according to the order in which you wish to visit them. They are listed broadly from the east of the region to the west.
Places of Interest - Other places of interest throughout the region, including recommended Tea Rooms, Pubs and Restaurants. Places of Interest List.

Price - 4 days - from £220 p.p. (B&B); £295 p.p. (small hotel).
            7 days - from £315 p.p. (B&B); £445 p.p. (small hotel). 

Four or Seven Day Tours – Please select 4 or 7 of the 8 Walks and Places of Interest listed below.

Walk 1: Glenkiln Sculptures walk and Drumlanrig Castle – 5 miles – loch and moorland.
This walk is again unique in that it takes you round a route around 6 hillside sculptures of Henry Moore, Jacob Epstein and Auguste Rodin in the beautiful glen beside Glenkiln reservoir. Local landowner Sir William Keswick was a friend of Henry Moore. Moving on from this location, a pleasant countryside drive takes you into the Nith valley and Drumlanrig Castle which is a major attraction and open tom the public.

Walk 2: Langholm Walk and the Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre – 3 miles – Riverside and Woodland.
The popular Duchess Bridge circular walk in the Langholm, towards The Scottish Borders in the east of Dumfries and Galloway region is covenient for a walk before taking a drive to the unique Samye Ling Centre on top of a hill at Eskdalemuir. The walk is of moderate difficulty along beside the River Esk and back via a woodland walk. As well as Langholm, you will also be welcomed in the peaceful tea room at Samye Ling.

Walk 3: The Waterloo Monument and Sweetheart Abbey – 3 miles – Road, Countryside and Steep Hill.
New Abbey is a picturesque wee town or village with more than its fair share of attractions, namely the Corn Mill (working demonstrations) run by Historic Scotland, Shambellie House, a celebrated costume museum with tea room and the majestic Sweetheart Abbey. The Waterloo monument is on the outskirts of the town. The monument is fairly steep but a reasonably short distance. There are panoramic views over the River Nith estuary from the top. New Abbey has two hotels and an award winning tea room for refreshment. Other walks are nearby if you prefer a longer distance.

Walk 4: Threave Castle and Castle Douglas food town – 2 to 6 miles – countryside, riverside and woodland.
This can be a pleasant short walk to allow you a half or even a full rest day today. Alternatively, You start and return to our base in Castle Douglas with various route options including longer ones if desired. Begin by taking a newly constructed walk from Castle Douglas following the old ‘Paddy’ railway line to link with Threave Estate’s network of footpaths. One detour takes you to Threave Castle, standing on an island on the River Dee – ring the bell for the boatman to take you over! Longer loops take you to Lamb Island with options to visit Bridge of Dee and Rhonehouse villages. The way back is by the renowned National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Garden with finally a option to join another walk past Carlingwark loch and along Lovers Lane back into the town. There are two choices for tea room and restaurant refreshment along the way. We can advise on the merits of the different options at the welcome meeting.

Walk 5: Cally Woods walk and Cream o Galloway ice cream farm - 3 to 5 miles – Woodland.
The Cally Woods are on the edge and walking distance from Gatehouse of Fleet, the ‘Wee Toon’, in a Scenic Area. This Forestry Commission walk again has several extra distance options. The relatively easy paths lead you through the deciduous woods to the sumptuous Cally Palace Hotel - an accommodation option or a stop for tea during the walk. Walk beside the hotel’s 18 hole golf course and back into Gatehouse. There are other walks nearby.
Gatehouse itself has several visitor attractions but the nearby award winning Cream O’ Galloway ice cream farm and visitor centre, actually within a longer walking distance, is a popular place to visit and sample the delights. Alternatively the peaceful beauty spot at Carrick Shore is the place to unwind.

Walk 6: River Dee Walk, Broughton House and Kirkcudbright artists town - 4.5 miles – Riverside Walk.
You begin this walk from the harbour in Kirkcudbright. It is an easy terrain with a short more rugged part at Tongland. The meandering walk follows the line of the River Dee, partly on top of the flood banking. The Galloway Hydros visitor centre at Tongland is worth a visit when open. On returning to Kirkcudbright, themed as an artists town, Broughton House is one place worth a visit.This is a fine 18th century town house which was the home, gallery and studio from 1901 to 1933 of the artist E A Hornel, one of the ‘Glasgow Boys’. Open to the public, it contains many of his paintings, a collection of local history books and a major Robert Burns collection. Broughton House has an enchanting garden, heavily influenced by Hornel’s visits to Japan, which extends towards the River Dee. Kirkcudbright has a museum and many other delights to look around.

Walk 7: The Mull of Galloway, Lighthouse and Logan Botanic Garden – 3 miles – Coastal.
The walk at this southernmost tip of Scotland is a circular route with panoramic views around the cliff tops at the end of the peninsula. The lighthouse, a RSPB post and visitor centre with telescope and a new tea room/restaurant at Gallie Craig make this area a popular visit for many. On the way back north, we suggest you take a detour past Port Logan, where most of 2000Acres of Sky was filmed – pub lunches in the actual pub used, past Port Logan Fish Pond, to Logan Botanic Gardens with exotic ‘southern hemisphere’ plants due to the secluded area being also warmed by the gulf stream.

Walk 8: River Bladnoch Distillery and Wigtown Book town – Walks 2 or 3.5 miles – Riverside, Countryside, Town and Coast.
Bladnoch whisky distillery and visitor centre is the southernmost in Scotland. It sits in a beautiful setting beside the River Bladnoch from where you can take a 2 miles there and back walk along the riverside – with a good pub/restaurant nearby on your return.
Although this walk is a total of 2 miles, walking from Wigtown to the start will make another 2 miles. A separate 3.5 walk from Wigtown takes you through the edge of the town into the countryside and back along the shore. Of course, you can spend most of your day browsing around the numerous book shops in Scotland’s book town.