Friday 14 May 2010

A Brief Guide to Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway By Simon Haughtone Platinum Quality Author

Gretna is a small town in the region of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. The even smaller town of Gretna Green is right on the doorstep of Gretna, meaning that the two towns are often counted as just one. Gretna is close to the Scotland-England border and is a popular destination for many visitors.

The town has been a settlement for over 300 years and was the post for collecting taxes when passing from Scotland to England. The town was expanded during the First World War and was home to one of the largest munitions factory ever built.

Many couples in love elope to get married in Gretna Green every year. This is because it is legal to marry at the age of 16 without parental consent in Scotland; English law states that you have to be 18 or over to marry without parental consent.

There are several attractions of interest in the town of Gretna. Visitors flock to the Old Blacksmith's Shop Center. Not only can you pick up some great souvenirs, the center details the history of Gretna Green and the romance of runaways getting married. The town also has a dolls museum which has over 1,000 dolls in its collection, dating as far back as 1830. In the immediate area, visitors can enjoy pursuits such as fishing, walking, cycling, horse riding, golf, tennis, clay-pigeon shooting and quad biking.

Shopping opportunities exist in Gretna and are quite extensive considering the size of the town. The Gretna Gateway Outlet Village is a shopping center offering a range of goods from tartan scarves to Celtic jewellery, traditional confectionary to whiskey. There are also smaller, traditional family businesses offering a range of items for sale.

There are several restaurants in Gretna for eating out during the day and evening. Most of the establishments offer a menu with traditional Scottish fare as well as some international dishes. Restaurateurs in Gretna pride themselves on using local produce and fresh ingredients, guaranteeing a sumptuous and tasty meal.

For a wide selection of Gretna hotels just click here.

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