T  =  tried and tested - these shops and services come with our personal recommendation

 

Food and Drink:

The Bladnoch Inn   T      public house also fishing permits        Bladnoch, nr Wigtown

Farmhouse Kitchen T     teashop                                 East Barcloy, Colvend

The Garden Room T      teashop                                 Rockcliffe

Garlieston Tearoom T    teashop                                 Garlieston, nr Wigtown

The King's Hotel  T         public house                         Dalbeattie

The Mariner Hotel   T      public house                         Kippford

Pat's Pantry  T                cafe / tearoom                        Within Heathall Garden Centre, Dumfries

The Riverbank  T           cafe / tearoom                       Newton Stewart (near riverside car park)

The Smithy  T                 teashop and gift shop           High Street, New Galloway

Solway Tide  T               tearoom                                Kirkudbright

 

Historic Sites:

Burns House & Mausoleum  T                                       Dumfries

Caerlaverock Castle  T                                                  Near Dumfries

Carsluith Castle                                                             Carsluith, nr Newton Stewart

Dundrennan Abbey  T                                                    Dundreannan, nr Kirkcudbright

Sweetheart Abbey  T                                                      New Abbey, nr Dumfries

Threave Castle                                                               Near Castle Douglas

Whithorn Priory                                                             Whithorn, nr Newton Stewart

 

Gardens:

Castle Kennedy              Gardens, woodland, ruined castle         Just East of Stranraer on A75

Glenwhan Gardens         Award-winning gardens & tearoom       Dunragit, nr Stranraer on A75

Logan Botanic Gardens   Part of the Royal Botanic Gardens        Port Logan, nr Stranraer

Threave Gardens   T     NTS formal gardens and woodland       Just West of Castle Douglas off A75

 

 

Other places of interest, local events:

Bladnoch Distillery   Scotland's most southerly whisky distillery

Bladnoch Folk & Blues Festival   August

Creetown Country Music Festival    September

DGAA Rural Touring  Music, theatre and arts events in the region

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival

Newton Stewart Cinema   Independent cinema and theatre

Newton Stewart Walking Festival   Week-long walking event every May

Spring Fling    open studios art & craft event

Wigtown Book Festival   annual literary and cultural extravaganza in October

Wigtown Show   the oldest agricultural show in Scotland

Local Towns and Villages

Castle Douglas Food Town

Dalbeattie

Kirkudbright Artists Town

Newton Stewart Gateway to the Galloway Hills

Whithorn

Wigtown Book Town

 

Churches:

Dalbeattie:      Christ Church (Scottish Episcopal),  High Street  - Services  8.30am and 10.30am Sundays

                           St Peter's (Catholic),  Craignair Street  -  Sunday Mass 10am

                           Parish Church (Church of Scotland), Craignair Street  -   Service 11am Sunday

                           Baptist Church,  Mill Street  -  Sunday Services 11am and 6.30pm

                           Galloway Christian Fellowship (non-denominational), Town Hall   -  service 10.30am Sunday

 

Wigtown area:      Baptist Church   Services 11am Sunday

                              Catholic Church, South Main Street, Wigtown  Vigil Mass 6pm Saturdays

                              Church of Scotland,  Harbour Road, Wigtown    Services 11am Sundays

                               All Saints Scottish Episcopal church, Challoch, nr Newton Stewart   Services 9am & 10.30am Sundays

 

Other Resources:

Visit South-West Scotland        Website of ADGAP - directory of accommodation providers in D&G

Historic Scotland         Historic buildings and other landmarks

National Trust for Scotland       Maintains many historic and significant landscapes, houses and gardens

Gay Travel       Index of gay-friendly accommodation

Dumfries and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue       Caring for former racing and coursing greyhounds - could you adopt a hound??

UK Gay Guides  A central resource of information for the entire gay community across the UK. Useful areas guides, busy forum with private messaging, Pride listings and lots more.

Do you operate a service or event of interest to visitors to the area?  If you email us  with details we would be pleased to add a link to your site.