Holiday Cottages in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland By Charles Marriage

Not sure about taking a holiday in Dumfries and Galloway? Its an ideal part of Scotland for taking a self catering holiday, though in the past travellers often didn't stop.

This area is on the route from England to Northern Ireland via Stranraer's ferry and many people have rushed through without stopping or taking in the pretty market towns and beautiful countryside. Yet others visited Gretna Green in the east and stayed long enough only to get married, as it was the place where young lovers eloped to be married there legally but without their parents consent.

Galloway consists of soft rolling countryside penetrated by sea inlets, for example at Gatehouse of Fleet, Its climate has favoured settlement from prehistoric times: Viking carved stones, stone age temples, Iron age hill forts, through the medieval (nine extant castles) and to the present day, gardens pampered by the moderating effect of the sea (there are 13 significant gardens open to the public). The farming is good and the Galloway breed of cattle is renowned.

Behind - north - of the coastal area the countryside is bleaker. Passing on the road to Newton Stewart you pass the reservoir of Clatteringshaws. On bleak days you can understand the name, but the surrounding area is a notable forest park with walks and cycleways. Higher still there is good climbing on the Clints of Dromore.

The area is renowned, too, for Robbie Burns the eighteenth century Ploughman Poet who was born in Ayrshire and died young (age 37) in Dumfries. In this town is a mausoleum and a museum devoted to him.

There is much to see in the area such as the gardens, castles, walks along abandoned railways and the well spaced small market towns (Newton Stewart, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright). There are also four bird reserves, at the Mull of Galloway (the most Southerly part of Scotland), Wood of Cree near Newton Stewart, and two more near Dumfries.

Accommodation - self catering cottages, bed and breakfasts, campsites and so on are widely available even though the area is not a tourist hotspot.

Much better to stay than simply rush through to the ferry at Cairnryan.

Writes on travel and holidays. Visit scotland's holiday cottage web site for outstandingly beautiful holiday locations in Scotland.

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