Torhouse Stone Circle is also known as the standing stones of Torhouse and are located 4 miles west…read moreof Wigtown, Newton Stewart on the B733. This site fates back to the bronze age and consists of 19 stone boulders. Circles such as this are normally found in the north east of Scotland so is an unusual find in Wigtownshire. I enjoyed our stop here and took some fantastic photo's however it is the sort of place that is good to stop at if you are passing rather than making a special trip for. With Wigtown, Scotland's Book Town being only a few miles away I would recommend combining the two visits.

Magnificent! Couldn't have asked for a better wedding! My new hubby works in the hospitality…read moreindustry so he's a tough sell. He had nothing but rave reviews. If you're staying in the castle, Ian is perfection! Our entire group of 8 absolutely adored him. The kids said he was 'cool' and he was our go-to man if we had any requests or inquiries.

The perfect family day out. With it being a national trust property the admission prices are a bit…read morespendy, we used Tesco Clubcard voucher exchange to bring the cost down. But even if we had paid £25 (just for the grounds) it would have been money well spent. Having brought the puppy we decided not to bother with paying the extra to go into the castle and to be honest even without the dog we wouldn't have had time to do everything. This place is huge. The grounds are perfection, the coast on one side and woodlands on the other with spectacular ornamental gardens, swan lakes and quirky wee buildings like the ice house, pagoda, etc. As per usual our first stop was for something to eat and we were really impressed with the offering from the courtyard cafe. Firstly that there were outside tables so that we could eat without running the gauntlet of leaving the dog in the car free to munch on the upholstery. There was plenty of family entertainment on offer, watching g throw his food around and suppress squeals of terror in the face of wasp attacks. The food was good, basic but hearty sandwiches, baked potatoes and tasty tray bakes. Smudge adored the newly opened adventure playground and it was the perfect way to finish off a brilliant day out. It also meant that both girls were sufficiently knackered to sleep all the way back home meaning that g and I got a chance to actually exhale and savour a great day out.

Absolutely spectacular! Over 700 years old, by far the oldest building I've ever personally had the…read morepleasure to touch, or photograph, Sweetheart Abby speaks to the history lover in all of us. The drive to the Abby is picturesque, along the rolling hills and tucked away in a quaint village - the roads not changed much since the village was founded, narrow and harrowing if there's any traffic. The walls of the former monastery rise up from the verdant hills towards the sky, ruins now, but once, they would have been grand. For 4.50 you get to spend as much time as you like, roaming through the well preserved old gal, there are signs that tell you about her bones, and her history. Listen to the pigeons who roost in her eves and flutter back and forth. Occasionally some sound like Monks speaking their prayers - or perhaps that is just an echo from the past coming back to your ears. Either way, The Sweetheart Abby tells the tale of a woman, lost, who had her husband's heart embalmbed, so that when SHE died, she could be buried holding onto it. Love is eternal they say. Behind the old Church is a vast and dated graveyard. Pay attention walking amidst the stones. The ground is moist and the soil can be loose. It is said that the stones may falter. Tread lightly lest you be the next resident among the stones.

These ruins are on the way from Manchester to Scotland - not too far out of your way. They were…read morethe cover photo for my Fodors Scotland book. That was, of course, and eye-grabbing photo. You will be able to get a great set of photos too - even if you are not a pro photographer and if it's raining, as it was for us. Worth the stop.

Big castle and large rooms. Maxwell's history in the heart of the city! Laird's spy hole too…read more Cellar is huge! Little Kelpies are near by too. Cute town too.

This is an unusually tranquil ancient monument with a very special atmosphere. It is possible to…read moresqueeze between the upright stones and enter the chambers. Highly recommended, this site is often empty of other visitors, allowing time for reflection and to see the cairns at your leisure. On a hill with lovely views not far off the A75, the stones are surrounded by grass. There is a parking area nearby but no other facilities.

A wonderful piece of national heritage that deserves a visit from you. It was saved from complete…read moredisintegration by the intervention of Prince Charles, and deservedly so. In this house there are some unique and priceless pieces of Chippendale furniture and some equally rare Axminster carpets. I also loved the big orrery in the entrance hall; I've never seen one that size before. The restoration has involved a lot of local craftspeople and the house & estate still employs over 200 locals to keep things running, The house tour (you have to book) is fascinating, as they explain not only the history of the place, but tell you about the conservation methods that were used. I particularly like the way they avoid roping off parts of the room to stop you walking on the carpet, but instead have custom-made carpet runners printed with the actual design of the carpet they cover so that the image of the room is not compromised. The estate is vast too, with a hedge maze, arboretum, walled garden and plenty of walks to keep you and the kids occupied for a few hours. The cafe is pretty decent, and the shop has some upmarket tourist items that are a definite cut above the norm - as are the prices, mind. Dumfries House is run by a trust, it's not managed by any national heritage body, so everything you see on the estate is due to their own efforts and the artisanal skills that they are training young folks in. Love it.

I'm so stupid. Why haven't I visited Dumfries House before when it's on the doorstep just 20 mins…read morefrom Ayr and less than an hour from Glasgow. It's free for visitors to park the car and roam this stunning huge estate 365 days a year til dusk. I wrongly thought the house was pretty much all there was to see and now I'm kicking myself for making that mistake. I won't give everything away here. Check out their online presence to find out a little more and if walking is your thing bring some stout shoes. There's a maze, a cafe, an afternoon tea venue at weekends (a must book), a fine dining restaurant and so much more. Oh yes I musn't forget the two playparks, the Robert Adam bridge, the gobsmacking walled rose garden and all manner of cleverly crafted follies. I almost forgot the house full of chippendale and lovingly restored. Go spend the day. That Duke of Rothesay Prince Charles fella is a local hero around these parts for saving Dumfries House at the eleventh hour and opening a seldom seen gem for the public. Highly recommended!

After dashing back to Dumfries from Caerlaverock Castle, I was afraid that I had missed my chance…read moreto see this museum. However, the two ladies tending shop not only let me in less than ten minutes before closing, but they very kindly gave me a parking disc for my car. The house is small, but it's worth seeing just to BE in Burns' house. There are several artifacts, including books owned by Burns, both his and others'. Most interesting to me was his desk and chair, at which he wrote much of his famous work, including "Tam O'Shanter." Just imagine him sitting there. Very cool. Burns lived in this house for the last three years of his life, and died here in 1796. His widow continued to reside here until 1834. His son purchased the home in 1851 and placed it under the care of trustees, to be preserved for perpetuity as a memorial to his father. If you visit the house (actually, whether you do or not), take a stroll up the road to St Michael's Churchyard, where you will find the Burns Mausoleum. You can't miss it, as the white marble structure stands out like a beacon among the shabby brown and rust-colored gravestones all around.

Nothing short of perfect. A testament to the rich history that is Scotland. It is so magnificent…read moreboth inside and out that words simply cannot describe the splendour of this castle. The castle overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and on a clear and sunny day like today you can see the Isle of Arran! Aye - a truly magestic place which we will ne'er forget!

Truly one remarkable location…read more I got tired of hearing myself say "wow" over every thing. But it was all I could say. We stayed in a wonderful room overlooking the water. My favorite part is the beach (path is slightly hidden) just to the north. Keep a sharp eye out for washed up jelly fish. But the rocks and shells create a virtual painting of nature. We had high tea, and it was such a living fantasy. Great memories.