I went along to the new factory and was very impressed by the staff and facilities…read more A warm welcome from the start. The place was light and airy and very clean. It would be fantastic for children, as the indoor and outdoor play areas looked simply amazing. But for them to be able to make their very own chocolate sweets would have to be the tops. So let the little ones play as you sit back in the cafe and enjoy a real milk chocolate drink! Then spend your money in the factory shop on local produce as well as CHOCOLATE. I went back twice in the week as it was so good. (and I don't have kids)

visited the choc factory in twynholm easter week-end with daughter and her family and must say that…read moreeven though it was abit wet outside we had such a lovely day my grand-son made choc egg, choc lolly and marshmallow train he just loved it we had a lovely lunch and our youngest grand-son loved the activity play area. We all thought it was very very clean and well organised also very reasonably priced. we will definately return as the kids want to play outside with the dinosaur.

On outskirts of Dumfries , has large clubhouse which serves snacks as well as main course dinners…read moreetc which were ok pricewise. Course it'self is a little hilly in places but not too bad and greens were fine considering weather recently.

DG One is the new leisure complex in Dumfries. They invested millions in this project and it shows…read more Whilst not quite up to the standard of a private leisure complex, it is far better than any other council facility i've visited. There are 3 pools - including a competition sized pool, a pool where the floor lowers for different classes and a kiddie fun pool. There are also flumes and I think some fancy wave machines. I haven't used the pool so can't give you much more than that, but it looks good and has a great viewing area. The complex also has a gym, dance studio, conference rooms, games halls, cafe, bar and steam room/sauna/jacuzzi area. The gym is fantastic and extremely well equipped. There are all the usual cardio machines and plenty of each to limit having to wait. There are also a huge amount of weight machines which look top spec to me. There is a free weights area too. The gym is clean, well laid out and impressive. There are flat screen tvs dotted about but each cardio machine also has it's on screen where you can watch tv, listen to radio or pull up different stats. Plus, there is a system in place where you can log in to the machines and they will record your workout. There is also little touchscreens on the wall where you can log in and book classes or send messages to a trainer. I think this is awesome for a council gym - especially when you consider the all singing all dancing membership is only £35 a month! DG One also runs a number of classes, of which I have been to Step and Aerobics. The studios are in great condition and are well equipped with an excellent air conditioning system to keep you cool. The instructors are a mixed bunch - i've had good and bad. But, I think this is typical of the council (sorry to say). I have not used the games halls but they look great. These rooms also have retractable seating and are used for concerts and events. Again, I have not visited these but have heard good reports. I have used the meeting rooms at DG One and they are really professional. They have smart boards, good quality seating and can offer catering of tea, coffee biscuits etc. This makes for a good facility but again, the staff can let it down. The guys that set up the rooms and those that book them are great. However, I was disappointed with the catering which was late and disrupted the meeting. The sauna/steam room/Jacuzzi area is also impressive for a council building. Bizarrely this is situated on a different floor to the pool so you can't go from one to the other. This suits me as I don't swim but must be really annoying for those that want to use both. I have been told this is to stop kids getting in and I can see the point. However, it must be so frustrating to go for a swim and have to get dressed to go upstairs only to get undressed again for a sauna etc! I haven't visited the cafe or bar. I have heard good reports on the cafe but have never seen anyone in the bar. Overall, DG One is a fantastic looking complex with great facilities and all reasonably priced. So why a low rating, well. DG One was severely delayed in opening and when it did there were mega problems. So many parts of the complex have been broken, closed, had accidents reported that it has become a bit embarrassing. Only recently, a sign fell on a child's head! Now, I understand any new building will have teething problems but these have been badly dealt with, terribly communicated and often avoidable. As a member, I have never been told of the problems and received no apology. Only when I arrive do I see out of order signs. In addition, the levels of cleanliness at times can be atrocious. I have stopped using the sauna/steam room area after visiting 4 nights in a row and seeing the same mucky marks on the floor. It clearly wasn't even getting a basic clean down! The staff are also a mixed bunch. While those in the gym have always been great to me. Some of the receptionists have no customer service skills and by what i've seen, the cleaners can't be very good. This is typical of a council facility and it is really frustrating. DG One could be fantastic if the staff and the organisation just took a bit of pride in the building and showed it some respect. Unfortunately, I don't think this will happen and I hate to be cynical but I bet it will be in tatters in no time through sheer neglect.

Dumfries has needed something like this for a long time. The swimming pool is sooo much better than…read morewhat we used to have, but could've been better. The competion pool (main pool) could really have done with being much larger, at least 50%. On Saturday mornings the place is crammed. On weekday mornings there is, at the moment, a large area set aside for schools, which is great for them but not for those of us wishing to swim in a straight line without bumping into other swimmers. There have been many teething problems, part of the changing areas have been cordoned off for whatever reason but on the whole its great, especially after what we'd been used to

this is just round the corner from my house, so pretty handy…read more its basically the sports unit that dumfries high school uses, but the facilities are pretty good, combined with those available at the newer DGOne and the king george the fifth means that dumfries has some fantastic sporting facilities. the best bit about the keswick is the running track, which is up to proper athletics standards.

Great Scottish Castle and Country Park. Ideal place for chilling out or getting a bit of exercise…read morewith nice walks, or on mountain bikes throughout the estate. Lots of things to do and great places to have a coffee and snacks. If you like the outdoors and a bit of Scottish Historythen you will like this place. Update. The estate has a much more organised feel about it, and there a couple of nice evening concerts in September. Emily Smith is playing here so that should be a really good night. Hope these reviews stimulate people to visit this wonderful place. Update 29/7/2011. The estate is hosting the Galloway Game Show at the end of August for the first time. Should bring in some interesting events,lots of trade stalls and quirky country stuff for young and old alike.

Wow this is such a beautiful area surrounded by hills and sheep and goats roaming around freely…read more The Grey Mare's Tale can be seen from the bottom along a path by the car park or if you fancy a hike and are relatively fit you can view it from the top and get really close and from there you will see more waterfalls and streams that seem to go on and on. It's absolutely stunning and so worth a visit.

Scotland is a land of beautiful of harsh countryside. Especially if you visit when the temps are…read more1*C. When you're taken on a hike, its even better! This trail isn't for the weak. Even the lower falls trail takes a bit of skill as its steep and slippery with no safe rail, but no amount of precautions can give you that sense of accomplishment when you see the falls pounding down ahead of you. It is so awe inspiring and breathtaking. Mind your step on the way up and back as the sheep were there first and their presents litter the walk way...

This could be a brilliant place to take the children, but each time i have been there with my…read morechildren, there are older children speed skating and banging in to the non skaters, and its really dangerous. Loads of teenagers, just standing around, so your children need to skate round them, and the staff are just there to chat to their mates. I think it needs a new management team in there to make it more of a pleasure

Brilliant place for kids to go but not very happy they change times and not the web site my…read moregrandchildren travelled by train from carlisle for a day out ,just to be told iceskating had been changed 2-3 when they were there 12-2 like it said on website only had 1 hour on ice long way to go for an hours fun

Thornhill Golf Club is an 18 hole course that is very popular with locals and visitors alike…read more Situated on the outskirts of the village, approximately 3 miles from the centre of town, the Golf Club is where European Tour Professional Andrew Coltart developed his skills as a young lad. The course is challenging and includes four par threes and three par fives, split into two halves of nine. The front nine is the newer part of the course and is susceptible to water logging but only after continuous rain, while the back nine is the first incarnation of the course. The local staff are very friendly and produce good quality food to meet your needs when you return to the nineteenth, while the bar stocks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to warm you up or offer you some solace after a disappointing round. Well worth a visit.