Dumfries is the gateway to Dumfries and Galloway, a corner of Scotland full of quiet surprises. Robert Burns spent his last years here, and his house and mausoleum are in the town. Close by are the moated ruin of Caerlaverock Castle, the beautiful red-stone Sweetheart Abbey, and the Solway coast with its wide skies and wildfowl reserves.
Every day is worked out stop by stop, with the drive between each place, where to stop for lunch, and what to book before you go. Further west, the artists' town of Kirkcudbright and the gardens along the coast make for longer, gentler days. Choose your day and enjoy this peaceful corner of Scotland.
Your best match · In DumfriesA spa day at the Cairndale, DumfriesBy car, about three and a half hours.See the day
In DumfriesGracefield Arts Centre and lunch in its Studio CaféOn foot, about two and a half hours
In DumfriesRobert Burns House and afternoon tea at the CairndaleOn foot, about three hours
In DumfriesBurns's Dumfries at dusk and a dram at the Globe InnOn foot, about two and a half hours
In DumfriesThe Nith at dusk and supper at the Cavens ArmsOn foot, about two and a half hours
In DumfriesDock Park play park and a hot chocolate in DumfriesOn foot, about three hours
In DumfriesDumfries Museum and lunch at the Stove CaféOn foot, about three and a half hours
In DumfriesSoft play and farm fun at DalsconeBy car, about five hours
In DumfriesThe gardens at the Crichton in DumfriesBy car, about two hours
About 3 miles awayAnimals and the Play Barn at Mabie Farm ParkBy car, about six hours
About 4 miles awayMabie Forest's redwoods and Dalshinnie LochBy car, about two and a half hours
About 6 miles awayBurns in Dumfries and EllislandA day by car, about 13 miles
About 7 miles awayCaerlaverock Castle and lunch at the BoathouseBy car, about three and a half hours
About 8 miles awayCriffel, above the SolwayBy car, about three and a half hours
About 8 miles awayWhooper swans and barnacle geese at WWT CaerlaverockBy car, about three hours
About 9 miles awayCaerlaverock and the Solway: the castle, the geese and the Ruthwell CrossA day by car, about 37 miles
About 13 miles awayThe winter geese at RSPB MerseheadBy car, about three hours
About 13 miles awayA walk to Plantain Loch in Dalbeattie ForestBy car, about an hour
About 14 miles awaySoutherness Lighthouse and lunch at the Steamboat InnBy car, about three hours
About 14 miles awaySandyhills Beach with the dog and lunch at the AnchorBy car, about three hours
About 14 miles awayAnnandale Distillery and the Devil's Porridge MuseumBy car, about five and a half hours
About 14 miles awayAnnandale Distillery tour and lunch at the MaltingsBy car, about two and a half hours
About 16 miles awayBreakfast at Streetlights and Carlingwark LochOn foot, about two hours
About 16 miles awayRockcliffe, Castle Point and the Jubilee Path to KippfordOn foot, about four and a half hours
About 17 miles awayThreave Garden near Castle DouglasBy car, about two and a half hours
About 17 miles awayCastles of Galloway: Threave by boat, Cardoness, Dundrennan and OrchardtonA day by car, about 45 miles
About 17 miles awayScreel Hill, above Auchencairn BayBy car, about three hours
About 18 miles awayThe red kites at BellymackBy car, about two hours
About 18 miles awayThe Devil's Porridge Museum and lunch in its caféBy car, about three hours
About 20 miles awayA kayak taster on Loch Ken and lunch in Castle DouglasBy car, about four and a half hours
About 20 miles awayA paddleboard lesson on Loch KenBy car, about three and a half hours
About 20 miles awayA boat tour on Loch Ken, with a high-speed blastBy car, about two and a half hours
About 20 miles awayThe climbing tower, zip wire and giant swing at Loch KenBy car, about three and a half hours
About 22 miles awayA quiet morning and meditation at Samye LingBy car, about three hours
About 23 miles awayChocolate at the Cocoabean and the Dark Space PlanetariumBy car, about six hours
About 24 miles awayThe Dark Space Planetarium in KirkcudbrightBy car, about two hours
About 24 miles awayThe Dee Walk at dusk and supper at the Selkirk ArmsOn foot, about two and a half hours
About 24 miles awayThe Kirkcudbright Town Trail walkBy car, under an hour with stops
About 24 miles awayKirkcudbright's galleries and the Stewartry MuseumOn foot, about six hours
About 24 miles awayKirkcudbright, the artists' townA day on foot
About 26 miles awayA walk over Trusty's Hill to Rutherford's Monument at AnwothBy car, about two hours
About 27 miles awayA walk up the Grey Mare's Tail to Loch SkeenBy car, about two hours
About 27 miles awayThe Clints of Dromore walk and the Big Water of Fleet ViaductBy car, about an hour
About 28 miles awayRed deer and wild goats on the Queen's WayBy car, about two hours
About 28 miles awayBrighouse Bay and the Kirkcudbright GalleriesBy car, about six hours
About 29 miles awayCarrick shore and a seafood lunch at Swally n' ScranBy car, about two and a half hours
About 30 miles awayA walk up to Murray's Monument at TalnotryBy car, about an hour and a half
About 32 miles awayCairn Holy and lunch at the Ship InnBy car, about two and a half hours
About 32 miles awayThe Loch of the Lowes walk at St Mary's LochBy car, about three hours
About 33 miles awayThe Castle Loop walk at Loch DoonBy car, about two hours
About 33 miles awayA walk to Bruntis Loch at KirroughtreeBy car, about an hour and a half, or three hours by the longer trail
About 33 miles awayKirroughtree's play park and red squirrel hide, with the dogBy car, about three hours
About 34 miles awaySpending a Day in Scotland’s Debatable LandsA day by car, about 34 miles
About 36 miles awayGalloway Distillery and Bladnoch in a dayBy car, about five hours
About 36 miles awayThe Crook of Baldoon and lunch in WigtownBy car, about three and a half hours
About 36 miles awayRound Loch Trool to Bruce's StoneBy car, about four hours
About 37 miles awayA Bladnoch distillery tour near WigtownBy car, about two and a half hours
About 37 miles awayA walk through the Wood of CreeBy car, about an hour, or two hours with the longer trailNot every day out needs to be a big one. A castle and a café, a walk and lunch, a museum when it rains: one place, somewhere good to eat close by, and the time between worked out.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours with lunch.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and train and on foot, about five hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By boat and on foot, about four hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about five hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By tram and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bike, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three hours with Nardini's.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By train and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.
By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about six hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours, with lunch.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.
Days out within an hour of where you are staying, nearest first.
Our writers’ own days out, from the places they know best.

A day by car, about 26 miles.

A day by car, about 110 miles.
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A few hours by car.
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A day by car, about 58 miles.
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A day on foot, about 3 miles.
The people we have met along the way, the makers, owners and writers, on the places they love most, in their own words.

“…stroll up to The Birks of Aberfeldy from The Memorial Arch, soaking up the woods and waterfalls that once inspired Rabbie Burns.”
Zanna Wilson, artist and gallerist who runs The Watermill Gallery in Aberfeldy, Perthshire

“My absolute favourite café with the best coffee in town.”
Lorna Freytag, artist and illustrator based in Oban, with a studio overlooking Oban Bay

“The best veggie and vegan breakfast around. Epic cakes and great coffee.”
Shelley Richmond, freelance photographer and creative based in Dervaig, Isle of Mull, who publishes The Isle of Mull Journal

“The breakfasts here are incredible.”
Karen Harvey, owner of Hoos and InHoos, two homeware shops on Great Western Road in Glasgow's West End

“We particularly love doing sections of the Fife Coastal Path, especially through the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie.”
Joy and Nick, own Airdit, a woodland treehouse stay above St Andrews, Fife

“A visit to the Falls of Foyers is a must.”
Anna Low, co-owns and runs Foyers Lodge, a small boutique hotel overlooking Loch Ness

“I’m a big fan of the Isle of Raasay Distillery.”
Katy Fennema, whisky Ambassador at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, and runs Braemar Highland Experience with her husband Julian

“…amazing panoramas all the way up to the Old Man of Storr.”
Calum Gillies and Leonie, artist Calum Gillies and his wife Leonie run The Exchange, a gallery and coffee spot in the old telephone exchange at Clachan, Isle of Raasay

“The Nethy House Café is a regular spot for lunch or coffee.”
Sarah and Phil, run The Lazy Duck, an off-grid eco-holiday site with cabins, a bunkhouse and a campsite in Nethybridge, Cairngorms National Park

“I would definitely recommend Arthur’s seat in Holyrood Park.”
Kirsty Campbell, knitwear designer from Banchory, Deeside, behind RYVOAN, who knits in her Edinburgh studio

“…the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Fairy Pools etc are all incredible natural wonders to see.”
Jennifer Pearson, jewellery designer and founder of ÒR, two creative retail stores in Portree, Isle of Skye

“Exploring the incredible beaches of Oldshoremore, Polin, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay all within 30-40 minutes drive, all with their unique character.”
Catherine Sinclair, textile designer behind Cove*, who also runs Kylesku Lodges on the north-west coast

“Both are incredible ruined castles on the coastal cliffs and have such interesting history alongside spectacular views.”
Laura (Fernweh), designer and maker of waxed-canvas bags and accessories at Fernweh UK, with a studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen

“Leith hall, Drum Castle and Crathes Castle gardens are all personal favourites.”
Hollie Berries, sustainable florist running Hollie Berries Flower Studio and Cutting Garden in Aberdeenshire

“Blackford Hill is my very favourite spot in Edinburgh.”
Emily Hogarth, papercut artist and illustrator who lives in East Lothian and works for Edinburgh clients, including Hidden Scotland's folklore illustrations

“…head down to the Harbour for Lobster & chips at either ‘The Rocketeer’ or ‘The Lobster Shack’.”
Stephanie Lothian, co-owns The Barn at Williamstone Farm Steadings, a holiday cottage in North Berwick
Two days and more: the days joined up, with somewhere to sleep between.








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Every day out has a Customise button: give it your own name and date, say where you are staying, move or drop a stop, and keep it in your account to share with whoever is coming.