A funny little all purpose store, with what seems almost everything you could want in it. Provides…read morecash from Bank Cards, as well as being a Post Office

best little cafe in the west The breakfast roll is a must…read more Keep up the good work Debbie&co

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.

Great views of the water! Climb to the top, great views of the ocean. High ceilings and nice large…read morerooms. Get the guidebook too! Dogs welcome. Bad to view if very rainy.

This is a tower house which is set next to the sea. We came here when we were staying at the…read morewonderful caravan site near by, this place is historic scotland so free to its members and members of english heritage. There is a visitor centre which tells of the feud here between the mcullochs and the gordons that went on for so long that the family fortunes were drained. They memebr of staff here is very knowledble and will tell you all about it. The tower house is a nice place to expore with a prison main hall and battlements. The castle itself is a nice place but what makes it really interesting is the terrible history of the owners

After crossing the River Nith from Mill Road and the Old Bridge House via the Devorgilla Bridge to…read morereach the east side of the river, I explored closer to city centre and southwards on foot as part of a walking tour of Dumfries on Thursday 18 July 2019. Looking to cross back over the River Nith south of Devorgilla Bridge, I had the closer River Nith Suspension Bridge (also called the Dumfries Suspension Bridge) and further St Michael's Bridge to choose from. As St Michael's Bridge was a brick/stone bridge similar to the Devorgilla Bridge, I chose the most different structure, which was the River Nith Suspension Bridge. Established in the 1800s and raised to a standing structure in 1875, it is a pedestrian bridge not built for motor vehicles and reminded me of the wood swinging suspensions bridges I encountered growing up while hiking and camping in the forests of Washington State. However, this bridge - unlike the wooden bridges - did not sway significantly. The structure was metallic, and firm in traversing on foot. A sign on the east end of the bridge communicated it was open for bicycles to cross the bridge as well. A curved metal placard on one of the pillars communicated the name of the bridge as River Nith Suspension Bridge. Inside the suspension cables and guard rail, the floor of the bridge was smooth and easy to walk across. Walkers on the bridge were mindful.

Caerlaverock is unusual both for its triangular design and its pink limestone. Both make it quite…read morea striking sight (see photographs). The castle is technically ruined, but the two front-facing walls and most of the rest of the superstructure remain intact. There is a classic moat surrounding the building, and a narrow wooden bridge gives access to the main gate. Like Dryburgh Abbey, this property is administered by Historic Scotland, so the grounds have been landscaped and the interior courtyard paved and gravelled, with railings added in spots. It's fun to climb around inside the towers and interior buildings, which are labelled to explain their original purpose and use. Like many castles, different portions date from various eras, so the design is a bit of a jumble. The main attraction is a 17th-century residence, with servery, kitchen, and private rooms. On the opposite side is a 15th-century structure which apparently contained a great hall and other residences. The two towers bestride the main gate were used as lord's residences in the 13th and 14th centuries. One interesting bit of history: in 1300, Edward I himself, with a 3000-man army, besieged the castle. The garrison of only sixty men held out for 36 hours. When Edward learned how few his enemy had been, he was so impressed that he allowed the Maxwell family to keep the castle after swearing an oath of loyalty to him. As wonderful as the castle is, the visitor's centre boasts a "museum" which is nothing but a sad joke. Breeze through it, just enough to get the story of the castle, the Maxwells, and the various military actions over the years, and then get right out onto the grounds. There is also a "nature trail" which leads about 200m to the site of the previous castle, used for only a few decades in the mid-13th century and abandoned due to the marshy ground (Caerlaverock is very near the Solway Firth). There are picnic tables, and on a day with good weather, this would be a great site to bring the family for an afternoon.

My all time favorite castle! 'Home Sweet Home' to Clan Maxwell! All kinds of history pours from…read morethis property, we spent hours here at the castle & in the woods. Take your time climbing in the castle, there is a lovely tea room on site to rest. Absolutely precious architecture. A must see for castle hunters. #myfamilytree

A beloved of mine lives in Lockerbie. When people ask why the name of the town is familiar, I…read moreremind them of the tragedy that too place that fateful December in 1988. The town has put together a beautiful memorial to the 200+ people, passengers, crew and townsfolk who lost their lives when hate and greed took over. It is nestled at the back of a very old and peaceful grave yard where beautiful headstones tower and mark the passage of the years. Lonely breezes blow thru the markers and whisper to the ears of the dead... They are not forgotten.

Just a mile outside Lockerbie lies a memorial called the Garden of Remembrance dedicated to the 270…read morevictims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist bombing of 21 Dec 1988. This memorial is, to me, Scotland's own version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. There are two powerful emotions that sweep over me every time I stop here to reflect. Walking from the auto park to the memorial site, I'm filled with sorrow when I see the names and faces of so many innocent victims that were blown out of the skies over this small, peaceful hamlet. All these mostly-young people, the students, soldiers, tourists and travelers all on their way home to celebrate Christmas with family, to die when so near to home. And the local townspeople killed on the ground from falling debris... Then the anger rises in me. The hatred for the individuals who would kill innocents in the name of their God, their cause, infuriates me and I shake. How I'd love to rub their faces in this soil... Yet people will forget over time. It's human nature. Day-to-day issues become more critical than recalling the memory of these innocents. But as long as this memorial exists, we will never forget. Nor should we ever. These lives, so easily snuffed out, will continue to remind us of the frailties within the human species, that no truth is any more valuable than any other truth and any crime against one is a crime against humanity.

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.