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Interesting news · 6 November 2025

Work to Begin on £12 Million ‘Star of Caledonia’ Sculpture

Dumfries and Galloway · from scotsman.com

Photograph · scotsman.com

Construction will begin in March 2026 on the ‘Star of Caledonia’, a 33-metre illuminated structure on the Anglo-Scottish border, set to become Scotland’s largest sculpture. Designed by artist and engineer Cecil Balmond, the sculpture honours Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell. The 39-acre site near Gretna Green will include a visitor hub, landscaped grounds and a viewing platform, and is expected to open in spring 2027.

Read it at the sourcescotsman.com

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Food & drink · Dumfries

The Globe Inn, Dumfries

Robert Burns's favourite inn, founded in 1610 on a close off Dumfries High Street, with his chair, his bedroom window verse, a whisky bar and a fine restaurant.

Cafés · Castle Douglas

Designs Gallery and Cafe

A gallery shop and cafe on King Street in Castle Douglas since 1998, with books, crafts and jewellery and a cafe with a garden.

Cafés · Castle Douglas

Streetlights Coffee House

A family-run coffee house on King Street in Castle Douglas, with breakfasts, generous lunches, cakes and a warm welcome for dogs.

Cafés · Stranraer

The Port Pantry, Portpatrick

A cafe on the harbour at Portpatrick, open every day, with breakfasts, lunches, coffee and cake.

Somewhere to stay.

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Stay · Dumfries and Galloway

Wren's Nest

A cosy lodge for two in a sunny garden on the Dunskey Estate, with a bath under a camellia tree.

Stay · Dumfries and Galloway

Rose Blair Lodge

A lodge for two hidden in wildflowers and woodland on the Dunskey Estate, with a bath outdoors.

Stay · Dumfries and Galloway

Heritage Coachman Lodge

A lodge for four in Dunskey's listed cobbled stable courtyard, with a wood-burning stove.

Stay · Dumfries and Galloway

Fern Forest House

The head gardener's house at Dunskey, for six, between two lochs and among the bluebells.

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Dumfries and Galloway · nature.scot

Reedbed reboot leads to rare raptor return

A four‑year habitat restoration project at NatureScot’s Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve has successfully encouraged the return of marsh harriers, a rare raptor in Scotland, to the site.