South of Scotland Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

Enjoy a new, interactive visitor experience in the castle, including a Victorian arcade and extensive gardens and woodland

one of Scotland's earliest visitor attractions. Curiosity has attracted travellers to Gretna Green since the middle of the 19th Century

retaining much of its 18th Century character with many personal relics belonging to Burns including manuscripts and entertaining letters

an architectural jewel with an extraordinary collection of Chippendale furniture and numerous objets d'art, stunning gardens and children's adventure playground

the largest inhabited castle in Scotland with a fine collection of artefacts and recently restored tapestries. The Victorian gardens boast outstanding herbaceous borders. The modern tapestry garden and fruit cage add a contemporary slant to the garden

home of Sir Walter Scott, famous Victorian novelist, with a large library of rare volumes, weapons and armour with lovely grounds down to the Tweed

watch the production line at work from a wide variety of scented items. There is also a soap making and candle making shop where visitors can experiment with their own creations

18th century town house, bought in 1901 by E A Hornel, the renowned artist. He added an art gallery and a studio overlooking the fascinating garden with Japanese influences

the epitome of the medieval stronghold with a wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements. Learn all about its turbulent history as a castle caught up in border conflicts

open, coastal landscape and wide skies are full of the sights and sounds of nature – and very little else. Bring your own picnics

a remarkably compete medieval ruin with remains of fine plaster and paintwork. Burial place of Sir Walter Scott and Field-Marshal Earl Haig

awesome, eerie ruin, known as “the guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain” with a family quiz and stunning walks down to the river

the remaining broken shell is pure Gothic with famous stonework - look out for the pig gargoyle playing the bagpipes. Robert The Bruce's heart buried here

breathtaking scenery and beautiful wildlife for all its visitors. There are a variety of different wildlife habitats and nature trails

dating back to 1107, and visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens Traquair with a magnificent maze and many children's facilities

magnificent cliff-top castle, designed by Robert Adam, surrounded by woods, beaches, secret follies and play parks

the abbey ruins are spread over a magnificent sloping site. The visitor centre and shop has an excellent exhibition and viewing area on its upper floor

housed in a vast former shipyard building, this museum explores Scotland's importance to maritime history, with several floating exhibits

thatched cottage, former home of shoemaker John Davidson, said to be the inspiration for Robert Burns' character "Souter Johnnie"

home of one of the most influential Victorian thinkers with many artefacts from his early years and his large collection of books

best known for its spectacular springtime daffodils, also has colourful, summer herbaceous beds and a striking autumnal, heather garden

a fully restored Victorian fish larder in a unique setting. A historic tidal pool created by a blow hole which formed some time during the last ice age

the ground floor retains its vaulted ceilings, giving a good idea of the service areas of the castle, helped by the recreation of the kitchens

downstairs: displays focusing on the history and heritage of Gatehouse upstairs: 20,000 plus books on a wide range of subjects

an amazing exhibition tells the story of the greatest munitions factory on earth

a fascinating walk through time from the prehistoric period right up to the first world war with interactives and children’s activities

overlooking the northern end of Fleet Bay in a strong defensive position and offering a quiz suitable for children

an impressive 16th century L-plan tower house, with 18th century ranges of outhouses that are still in use. In the main block is a fine first floor hall

extensively landscaped gardens with terraces, mounds and avenues and renowned for their rhododendrons, championship trees and rare species

in a prominent position in the centre of Stranraer. The fascinating story of the Castle and its many inhabitants can be found in the exhibitions on site

with a strong sense of spirituality that first brought the monks here in 1142, this is a tranquil ruin set in tree lined pastures

with many beautiful walks and cycle paths, taking in a wide range of scenery, including a sheltered beach and the heights of Cruggleton Cliffs

this is where the riders and raiders of the five hundred years held sway, but today the visitor is offered a warm welcome in the Borderlands

some eight hundred years ago this quiet pastoral location became home to Glenluce Abbey. Children's quiz available

located in a peaceful valley on the banks of the river Esk in Scotland, the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre to have been established in the West

the 18th-century mill is still put to work to show how oatmeal is made during summer months with a fun facts quiz available on site

remarkably intact and named Dulce Cor in memory of Lady Dervorguilla, who founded the abbey in tribute to her beloved husband, John Balliol

strong footwear is recommended for the exciting climb to this island fortress. Picnic area available for visitors

despite being damaged during the Wars of Independence, this abbey ruin is surprisingly complete, offering great insights to monastic life

14th century hilltop castle and surrounding woodland, former home of the Cochrane family, favourites of King Charles I