Are you a little bit of a history buff? Do you like exploring castles, alleyways, archaeological and architectural delights? If you love bygone eras, and consider yourself to be an appreciator of history this little blog post, Historic Scotland – Great Days Out for History Buffs, could be ideal for you.
We take you through some options for great days out, and places to visit as you tour South West Scotland.
Castles, museums, rolling hills, distilleries, quaint villages and wonderfully welcoming inhabitants.
Enriched with history, Scotland was founded sometime around the 6th Century.
Each corner of the land tells it’s own distinct story, and none more than the South West of Scotland, known as, Dumfries and Galloway.
A fine section of places to visit are listed below.
We’ve even included a rough estimate of mileage, and driving time, from the centre of Dumfries to each of the locations (Based on Google Maps).
Drumlanrig Castle – 35 minutes / 20 miles
The Drumlanrig Castle is one of the most important Renaissance-era buildings, situated in the 120,000 acres Queensberry Estate.
Complete with Victorian-era gardens and country park, it has magnificent rooms.
Adventures await you in the bike trails, adventure playground, fishing locations and shopping in the historic Drumlanrig Castle.
https://www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk/
Caerlaverock Castle – 20 minutes / 8 miles
A visit to the medieval stronghold, Caerlaverock Castle, is a great day out for history buffs.
It’s a moated triangular castle that dates back to the 13th century which served as a stronghold of the Maxwell family.
The plan of the castle underwent several reconstructions, but its unique triangular plan remains the same.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/caerlaverock-castle/
Cardoness Castle – 45 minutes / 35 miles
This is another well preserved 15th century castle owned originally by the MacCullochs of Myreton and is more a tower house design than a traditional castle.
The six-story tall building includes vaulted lower levels and boasts one of the best surviving “pit prisons”, in a Scottish tower house castle.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/cardoness-castle/
Lochinch Castle & Castle Kennedy Gardens – 1 hour 35 minutes / 70 miles
Something a little further afield? Head towards Stranraer to experience the magical Scottish backdrop of Lochinch Castle & Castle Kennedy Gardens.
Described as one of the showpieces of Dumfries & Galloway, its heritage, scenic beauty, scientific history and architectural value all make it a perfect go-to destination.
https://www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk/the-best-castles/scenic-castles/castle-kennedy/
MacLellan’s Castle – 45 minutes / 30 miles
Built in the 16th century, MacLellan’s Castle (again another tower house style castle) was the residence of the MacLellan family.
Find the ‘laird’s lug”, which was used by the owner to spy and eavesdrop on his guests.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/maclellan-s-castle/
Annandale Distillery – 30 minutes / 17 miles
This distillery was established around 1836 and is one of Scotland’s oldest operating distilleries.
Once owned by the famous Johnnie Walker, the distillery closed in 1918.
David Thomson & Teresa Church purchased the derelict distillery in 2007, and after years of painstaking work and investment, it sprang back into life on 3 November 2014.
Go visit, take a tour, sip their peated and unpeated whiskies and stay for lunch should you wish!
https://www.annandaledistillery.com/
The Devil’s Porridge Museum – 30 minutes / 19 miles
Explore this 5 star attraction showcasing a 12-mile-long Cordite factory that was used in the first world war to produce cordite.
Workers came here from throughout the Britsh Empire to support the war effort during World War 1.
If you are a bit of a history buff when it comes to the world wars, this is the perfect place to be.
http://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/
Gretna Green Outlet Village – 30 minutes / 19 miles
After all your driving, hiking, cycling, exploring and touring, perhaps you are in need of a little “retail therapy”?
Take advantage of the Gretna Green Outlet Village.
Plenty of great names to explore including Nike, Marks & Spencer, Ralf Lauren and more.
Solway Tours: Guided historical tours of Dumfries & Galloway
If you’d rather be guided, than plan and drive on your own, you should take advantage of the services of a tour guide specialist like Solway Tours.
They offer single day, multi-day and bespoke tours to suit your needs.
If you’re looking for a guided tour of the nooks and crannies of Dumfries and Galloway, then the guided tours are your best bet. Get acquainted with the past of Dumfries and Galloway by getting your information about it from the best source, your tour guide.
All in all, day tours to historic Scotland, are a perfect way for history buffs to explore their inner historian and imagine how the stories of the past must have unfolded.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading and exploring some of the historic options available to you.
Coastal Kippford is an ideal location to explore all of these attractions from. Check out the lodges and caravans available to rent on Park throughout the year.
We hope you enjoyed this post – Historic Scotland – Great Days Out for History Buffs.
