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A multi-arched red sandstone bridge crosses a calm river, town buildings and a church spire rising along the far bank.
Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries

Red sandstone bridges over the Nith, and the town where Burns died.

Welcome

Dumfries is built of the red sandstone it stands on, and the best of it is along the Nith.

Devorgilla's Bridge crosses on six arches and is one of the oldest standing bridges in Scotland; it carries the name of Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway, who is said to have bridged the river here in the 1260s, though the bridge you walk over is some two hundred years younger than that. Below it the caul, a long curving weir, puts white water across the whole river. The town has been the scene of two national moments: Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn before the altar of the Greyfriars church here in February 1306, which began the war, and Robert Burns spent his last years in the town and died here in 1796. He lies in the churchyard of St Michael's, moved in 1815 into the mausoleum built for him.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
Before you go
How long
Three hours to a day
Cost
Free
Getting there
Car parks through the centre; the riverside and the old bridge are a short walk from any of them.

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Did you know

A red brick arched bridge crosses a calm river framed by overhanging willow trees, a red life ring mounted on the wall in the foreground.
Did you know

The murder that started a war.

Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn before the altar of the Greyfriars church here on 10 February 1306, and was crowned king six weeks later.

An old stone arched bridge crosses a calm river, a church spire and town buildings visible on the far bank.
Did you know

Burns is buried here.

He died in the town in 1796 and was buried in St Michael's churchyard; in 1815 he was moved into the mausoleum built for him there.

A red brick arched bridge crosses a calm river framed by overhanging willow trees, a red life ring mounted on the wall in the foreground.
Did you know

A bridge older than its name suggests.

Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway, is said to have bridged the Nith here in the 1260s, but no trace of that has been found and the standing bridge is mid-fifteenth century.

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Where it is

On the River Nith, on the A75 between Carlisle and Stranraer.

Close byThe rest of Dumfries and Galloway, near at hand.
  1. Robert Burns StatueRobert Burns StatueAmelia Hill's white marble statue of Robert Burns, seated with his dog at his feet, unveiled in 1882 at the top of Dumfries High Street.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. A sign reading "Gracefield Arts Centre, gallery, cafe, craft shop, print makers workshop, studio rooms, admission free" stands beside a red sandstone building with solar panels on its roof.Gracefield Arts CentreDumfries' own gallery, and the region's collection of Scottish painting.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. The Globe Inn, DumfriesThe Globe Inn, DumfriesUnder a mile 1 min by road
  4. Robert Burns HouseRobert Burns HouseThe simple sandstone house in Dumfries where Robert Burns spent his last years and died in 1796, now a free museum.Under a mile 1 min by road
  5. Sandstone church spire with clock tower overlooks a statue in Dumfries town squareGreyfriars Church, DumfriesThe tall red sandstone spire of Greyfriars, a Gothic church at the end of Dumfries High Street, with the Burns statue at its door.Under a mile 2 min by road
  6. Corner shopfront lit at dusk with outdoor table and chairs on pavementKings Coffee and BooksA coffee shop and bookshop in the middle of Dumfries, with breakfasts, lunches, cakes and shelves of books to browse.Under a mile 2 min by road
Directions
Gift shop table with wrapping paper, Nutscene twine, seed tray dibbers and Highland cow paintingsRestaurantsFlourish0.6 miles
Weathered headstones and an obelisk line a gravel path between tall cypress treesAttractionsSt Michael's Church, Dumfries0.6 miles
A round white tower building stands beside a garden path lined with box hedges, an urn fountain and a classical stone archway nearby.AttractionsDumfries Museum and Camera Obscura0.9 miles
Sandstone riverside building with crow-stepped gables, cherry blossom framing the riverbank pathAttractionsRobert Burns Centre1.0 miles
Red sandstone cathedral with pointed arches, tower and gothic west doorAttractionsThe Crichton, Dumfries1.9 miles
Inside Kilnford Farm Shop: timber roof beams, a round wooden stand of ciders, gins and tonics, and aisles of shelves on a wooden floor.ShoppingKilnford Farm Shop2.4 miles
An aerial view shows farmland scarred with parallel trenches and heaped soil, a distant house and trees on the horizon.AttractionsThe Twelve Apostles Stone Circle3.3 miles
Burger stacked with onion rings, chips and a pint of beer at the barRestaurantsMabie House Hotel5.0 miles
AttractionsEllisland Farm6.5 miles

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We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

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Read on

What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Dumfries and Galloway.

From the magazineThe Unsung CornerFrom the magazineRomantic RitualsArticleDumfries and Galloway: The Land of Peter PanCollectionThe Prettiest Villages in Scotland
More in Dumfries and Galloway
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .