Dumfries Tourist information for Dumfries, Scotland. Tourism Information Dumfries

Dumfries is the centre of the present day Dumfries and Galloway region and it has Neolithic and Roman origins, lying close to the English border; the history of Dumfriesshire was often bloody and turbulent. Dumfries was made a Royal Burgh by King William the Lion in 1186. The "Queen of the South" as it is known, is initially viewed by the visitor as a mix of the striking traditional red sandstone and pastel coloured painted houses.

Bust of Robert Burns
at the Globe Inn

The River Nith flows through Dumfries on its way to the Solway Firth. In earlier centuries the town was a trading port for many parts of the world. Dumfries was home to Scotland’s National Bard; Robert Burns, J.M. Barrie of ‘Peter Pan’ fame, and was the site of the murder of ‘The Red’ Comyn by Robert The Bruce. Castles, Neolithic cairns & stone circles, and beautiful countryside abound in this area.

William Wallace, Robert The Bruce, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Robert Burns all left their mark in the History of Dumfries

For those seeking the area where Robert Burns spent his final years and wrote his most famous works, you will find his farm Ellisland, his dwelling house, his favourite pub, mausoleum, the Robert Burns Centre, the Burns Memorial Centre, Burns Walk along the River Nith, and a magnificent statue of Burns in the High Street

Statue of Burns in the
High St, Dumfries

In addition to Museums, Libraries, and the Family History Research Centre, there is a camera obscura with a moving panorama of the area. There is also a railway station, swimming pool, ice bowl, parks, golf courses, cinema, loads of shopping, and 54 pubs. Each year there is an arts festival, Border Gathering, and the Guid Nychburris Festival with the Crowning of the Queen of the South.

2008 Holidays & Events In and Around Dumfries

Thinking of a Scottish Wedding?

Caerlaverock Castle	Threave Castle

Lady Devorgilla Bridge, 13th century (the Auld Brig)	Buccleuch Bridge, built 1794 (the New Brig)

Guid Nychburris	The Border Gathering

Sweetheart Abbey	Bladnoch Distillery

Robert Burns House	Statue of Jean Armour

Globe Inn est. 1610	Hole I’ The Wa’ Inn est. 1620

Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura	John Paul Jones Cottage Museum

Robert the Bruce Statue in Lochmaben	Robert Burns Mausoleum

Dumfries House	Portack Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Wickerman Festival	Mull of Galloway Lighthouse

MacLellan Castle	Morton Castle

King and Queen by Henry Moore	Southerness Lighthouse

Torthowald Castle	Lochmaben Castle

Closeburn Castle	Drumlanrig Castle

Cardoness Castle	UK Sled Dog Final

The Globe Inn Gracefield Arts Centre Ellisland Farm Ae Forest Glenkiln Reservoir Sculpture Walk Lincluden College Tower Border Gathering Mull of Galloway	Dumfries & Galloway is the perfect place to enjoy walking Ride the 7stanes Scotland's Biking Haven! Dumfries and Galloway Online Mabie Forest Dunskey Castle Cairnholy Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society
Drambusters Malt Whisky Club - the tastings are held right across the road from Ferintosh Palmerston Park- Queen of the South Football Club