Museums

National Museum of Costume

Wander through the house and explore a century of fashion from the Victorian era through to the 20th century.

Visit www.nms.ac.uk for more information.

Dumfries and Galloway
Aviation Museum

The museum is home to a large collection of aircraft, aero engines, an impressive display of artefacts and personal histories relating to aviation. There is also a small collection of memorabilia honouring airbourne forces, a new display representing aviation in Scotland and a mock-up of a WWII living room.

For more information and opening times visit: www.dumfriesaviationmuseum.com
(Please note the museum is closed over the winter months, opening dates are listed on the website)

Dumfries Museum and the Camera Obscura

Dumfries Museum tells the story of the land and people of Dumfries and Galloway. Look out for fossil footprints left by prehistoric animals, the wildlife of the Solway, tools and weapons of our earliest people, stone carvings by Scotland's first Christians and the everyday things of the Victorian farm, workshop and home.

The Camera Obscura, installed in 1836, is on the top floor of the old windmill tower and gives a panoramic view of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.

Museum trails and fun activities, visitor information and shop with unusual and nostalgic toys and gifts.

For more information and opening times visit: www.dumgal.gov.uk

Creetown Gem Rock Museum

The Gem Rock Museum is an independant museum, owned and run by the Stephenson family and regarded as one of the finest private collections of gemstones, crystals, minerals, rocks and fossils in Great britain. 

For more information please visit: www.gemrock.net

Historical

Old Buittle Tower

© Rebecca Rumble

Every year over the Easter bank holiday weekend and the end of August bank holiday weekend, Old Buittle Tower holds a reenactment of what life was like for the Border Reivers who lived in the region from the 13th Century until the early 17th Century. The reenactment includes tours of the tower house, demonstrations of horesmanship and styles of fighting.

For dates and information please visit: theborderers.info

The Next Reenactment will be the 26th & 27th of May

Threave Castle

© Rebecca Rumble

On an island in the River Dee stands Threave Castle, a massive 14th century tower built by Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway. It was the last stronghold of the Black Douglases to hold out in the rebellion against King James II. The castle is reached via a small boat, although it is not open to the public between November and March, you can still walk on the other side of the water on the footpath on the Threave Estate.

For dates and information please visit: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Caerlaverock Castle

© Rebecca Rumble

This unique triangular castle situated near the border between Scotland and England has seen many sieges and wars in its time. The castle was built with defence in mind and includes a moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements.

Visitors to the Castle can see a warfare exhibition, visit the children's adventure park and walk along the nature trail in the grounds. There is also a shop and cafe on site which are open throughout the year.

For more information please visit: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Sweetheart Abbey

© Rebecca Rumble

The Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor (Latin for 'Sweet Heart') was founded in 1273 by the grieving widow, Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway who had her husband's (Lord John Balliol) heart embalmed and placed in an ivory casket, which she carried everywhere.

The abbey church is still standing and is remarkably complete 700 years on.
For more information please visit: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Gardens

Threave Estate Gardens

The Gardens are located just on the edge of Castle Douglas and are a wonderful place to go for a wander. The Threave estate was acquired from the Gordon family in 1957, the 1,600-acre estate supports farming, forestry, horticulture, wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation.

The various habitats that make up the estate are home to a wide diversity of birds, mammals and plants including 9 of the 11 bat species found in Scotland. The extensive themed ornamental gardens are developed by the staff and students of the Threave School of heritage gardening since the early 1960's and there is a range of Exatic plants and 'Champion' trees from all over the world on show enhanced by the panoramic views across the Galloway countryside.

For more information please visit: www.nts.org.uk

Broughton House & Gardens

This 18th century house situated in the town of Kirkcudbright was the home and studio of the artist E. A. Hornel (one of the 'Glasgow Boys') from 1901 until his death in 1933. He spent some time living in Japan, which influenced many of his paintings, some of which are still on display today.

The garden is equally fascinating as it show the influences of Horenl's time in Japan and is always full of colour.

For more information please visit: www.nts.org.uk

Towns

Food Town

Castle Douglas is Dumfries and Galloway's Food Town. You can find a range of butchers, bakeries, delies and cafes on the town's highstreet. There are also a few arts and crafts shops and a swimming pool.

Artist Town

Kirkcudbright is Dumfries and Galloway's Artist's Town. Kirkcudbright was home to several well known artists and has a range of galleries, museums and cafes. There is also a swimming pool in the town.

Book Town

Wigtown is Dumfries and Galloway's Book Town and has a range of Bookshops and cafes. It also hosts the Wigtown Book Festival every year in October.

Cinema

The nearest large Cinema is the Odeon in Dumfries, there are also a few independent cinema's which show some mainstream films as well as arts based ones.

Robert Burns Centre - Film Theatre

Located in the centre of Dumfries and around 45 minutes drive away from the Holiday Park this independant film theatre screens a diverse range of films including foreign language films, low budget independent films, documentaries, animation and short films. 
There is also a restaurant on site ( Hallabaloo Restaurant ) where you can eat before your film, the restaurant will sometimes also do pre-cinema deals.

To find out what's showing visit: www.rbcft.co.uk

Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas

Lochside Theatre is based in Castle Doulgas around half an hours drive from the Holiday Park. It is managed and staffed entirely by part-time volunteers and hosts a variety of theatre shows as well as screening films in the new Cinema.

To find out what's on at Lochside Theatre visit: www.lochsidetheatre.co.uk

Odeon Cinema, Dumfries

This is the nearest mainstream cinema to our holiday park and is located about 45 minutes drive from the Holiday Park in Dumfries. It only has one screen, so it is worth checking what's showing before going.

To find out what's showing visit: www.odeon.co.uk

The CatStrand

The Centre for the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust has a small cinema which shows a range of films.

To find out what's showing visit: www.catstrand.com

Galleries

Dumfries and Galloway has a vibrant Arts & crafts community with several arts festivals throughout the year as well as open studio events. As well as these there are also a few galleries open throughout the year.

Clience Studio - Angela Lawrence

Take a look at the expressive water colour and oil paintings created by Angela Lawrence

For more information visit: www.cliencestudio.co.uk

Designs Gallery

Running for the last 15 years this little gallery is a leading independant gallery for contemporary applied arts and intriguing jewellery collections. There is also a garden room cafe downstairs.

For more information visit: www.designsgallery.co.uk

McGill Duncan Gallery

Visitors to this small gallery can see paintings, pottery and glass arrange in appealing and interesting ways and there should be something new each time your return.

For more information visit: www.mcgillduncangallery.com