Visitor numbers at Kirkcudbright attraction skyrocket after coronavirus restrictions lifted

Visitor numbers at a Stewartry attraction have skyrocketed now that coronavirus restrictions have lifted.

Broughton House and Garden in Kirkcudbright welcomed 11,140 visitors last year – up nearly 200 per cent from the 2021 figure of 3,950, when social distancing rules were still in place.

The figures from the Association for Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) also show there were 50,706 visitors at fellow National Trust for Scotland property Threave Garden and Estate in 2022 – down more than a third from the 2021 figure of 81,981.

A NTS spokeswoman said the figure submitted also includes visitors to the surrounding estate, where there was a faulty counter, with visitor numbers to the garden itself up 15 per cent.

The charity’s chief executive, Phil Long OBE, said: “It is fantastic to see just how popular our places proved with people last year, as we all started to recover from the impacts of the global pandemic and the uncertainty that followed.

“It is our charity’s privilege to share Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage with everyone and these figures suggest that the Trust, its places and the experiences we offer are really valued by people. Visitors came back to us, our members stuck with us and we have been supported generously by donors too, despite the challenging times for everyone. We are very grateful for all of this support.”