With the staycation boom in Scotland ongoing, new research has revealed Holiday let bookings in Scotland are up 47% year-on-year.
The survey by Sykes Holiday Cottages, which looked at all bookings from across the UK, found that Dumfries and Galloway has overtaken the Highlands as the most in-demand holiday region in Scotland this year. This stunning region of Scotland has seen people ditching their plans to hit the Highlands and Islands to instead visit the southwestern coast of Scotland.
With that in mind, we thought we'd take a look at some of the exciting and fun things you can do when visiting Dumfries and Galloway.
Crawick Multiverse, near Sanquhar
This amazing land art installation is fun to explore and offers plenty of space to get out and about for a fun and rewarding walk.
Enjoy cosmology, science and art or just walk your dog in this intriguing landscape.
Find out more here .
Drumlanrig Castle
The nearby Drumlanrig Castle is another great day out, experience living history on the 120,000-acre Queensberry Estate.
You can enjoy exploring by foot or hit the trails by bike, with mountain biking routes for every level of experience. Bike and trailer hire is available.
Find out more here .
Threave Garden & Estate
This wonderful nature reserve is one of Scotland’s most biodiverse with a remarkable collection of wildlife, flora and fauna.
A garden for all seasons and a haven for wildlife, with an osprey platform and Scotland’s only Bat Reserve!
Enjoy stunning views over the Galloway Hills and the Ken/Dee valley, and keep an eye out for soaring ospreys, red kites and peregrine falcons.
Find out more here .
Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright, t he artists' town, is a town bursting at the seams with Art, culture, history and a great seaside location.
But it's the Planetarium that stands out for us, with a wealth of thrilling experiences for curious kids – big and small.
Find out more here .
The Lighthouses of the Rhins of Galloway
The most southerly point in Scotland, the lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson, the engineer grandfather of Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson and dates back to 1830,
There is an excellent exhibition space depicting life as a lighthouse keeper. And a cafe to enjoy lunch while gazing out over the water to Ireland.
Find out more here .
Crafty Distillery
Nestled on the edge of Newton Stewart, with amazing views over the Galloway hills, this modern multi-award-winning gin and whisky distillery offers some exciting tours.
Find out more here .
Robert Burns House, Dumfries
It wouldn't be a trip to Dumfries and Galloway without a trip to one of the various locations dedicated to Scotland's most famous bards.
Visit Robert Burns House in quiet Dumfries street where he spent the last few years of his life.
He died here in 1796 at the age of just thirty-seven. The house shows us how the poet and his family lived in the late eighteenth century and is now a place of pilgrimage for Burns enthusiasts from around the world.
Find out more here .
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