Dumfries & Galloway

[zico]

Spent a couple of days in this area last week (to escape the English heatwave) and really enjoyed it.
It's an area that often get missed out, being just past the Lake District (for English visitors) and not that short of the Highlands, so it's a bit of a byway.

The quietness is a big part of its charm. Dumfries has a picturesque river flowing through it, the roads are quiet and scenic, and the little towns are laid back and friendly. Similar atmosphere to the Border towns, but it's quieter around this region. We mainly did the coastal stretches, but there are hills inland just a few miles from the coast.

We ate out and had really good meals without breaking the bank. Also visited the "Lands End" of Scotland at the westernmost edge of the area, where there's a lighthouse you can climb, cliffs and views out to Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. We visited this on a fairly calm day, but it was still windy at the tip. Nearby are Logan Botanical Gardens which are pretty impressive.