Dumfries

Dumfries is the principal town of Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland. It's a pleasant market town, with a population of 46,500 in 2020.

Robert Burns (1759-1796) the poet spent his last years here: from 1788 to 1791 at Ellisland Farm 7 miles north, then in Dumfries town until his death, aged 37. Sites associated with him are the main reason to visit, and it's also a good base for exploring the Dumfriesshire countryside. For travellers to and from Ireland who need a stopover, Dumfries may be a better choice than the port of Stranraer.

Understand
The Dumfries area is lowland and sits on red sandstone, well-drained and fertile. The town grew up east of the lowest crossing point and tidal limit of the River Nith - Maxwelltown on the west bank was separate until merged with Dumfries in 1929. Although it's a burgh of great antiquity, few of the buildings are very old, as invading armies kept wrecking the place. The last such visitor was Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, who demanded money and shoes for his men. But the Duke of Cumberland was marching down on him so he and his Jacobite forces scarpered, none too nimbly as few of the shoes had been handed over.

Dumfries is on the transport route between England and Northern Ireland. It's grown rapidly and its industry and transport depend upon these UK links; in 2016 it voted heavily against Scottish independence.

By train
Scotrail trains run every 2 or 3 hours from Glasgow Central, taking 1 hour 50 min via Kilmarnock and Sanquhar, and continuing from Dumfries to Annan, Gretna Green and Carlisle.

From England, take the train towards Glasgow or Edinburgh and change at Carlisle. From Glasgow it's almost as quick to come via Carlisle as by the direct train.

is east side of town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, a cafe, toilets and waiting room. There is step-free access to Platform 1, which in practice all trains use. There are steps and no lift for the bridge to Platform 2. Plusbus is available at this station.

By bus
Stagecoach Cumbria Bus 79 runs from Carlisle, taking 1 hr 40 min via Longtown, Gretna, Annan and Ruthwell, M-Sa hourly and every two hours Sunday.

Stagecoach Bus X74 runs from Glasgow, taking 2 hr 15 min via Hamilton, Lesmahagow,  Abington and Moffat to Dumfries, hourly M-Sa and every two hours on Sunday.

Stagecoach Bus 101 runs from Edinburgh 3 or 4 times a day, taking 3 hours via Penicuik, West Linton, Biggar, Abington and Moffat.

Stagecoach Bus 500 runs from Stranraer via Glenluce, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas to Dumfries, with six M-Sa and three on Sunday. It doesn't serve the ferry ports at Cairnryan.

Stagecoach West Scotland Bus 81 runs from Lockerbie M-Sa every 30 min, every two hours Sunday, taking 20 min via Torthorwald.

National Express no longer serves Dumfries: the Ulsterbus from London to Belfast has been axed.

is the town bus station.

By road
A74(M) is the main Carlisle-Glasgow highway, to the east of Dumfries. From Carlisle take A75 past Annan to Dumfries; this continues west to Castle Douglas and Stranraer. From Glasgow or Edinburgh leave A74(M) at Beattock for A701.

A76 runs up the Nith Valley from Dumfries via Sanquhar and Cumnock to Kilmarnock, for routes to Glasgow and the Ayrshire coast.

Get around
Houston's Bus 372 runs south from Dumfries along A710 to New Abbey (for Sweetheart Abbey), Ingleston Ford Farm (start of the climb up Criffel), Kirkbean (turnoff for John Paul Jones birthplace) and Sandyhills, which has a deer park. It runs M-Sa every two hours, but only three times on Sunday.

Houston's Bus 6A runs south from Dumfries along B725 via Kingholm Quay to Glencaple and Caerlaverock Castle. It runs M-Sa every 3 hours — three hours is longer than you need for the castle, so you could tramp along the road for an hour either north to Kingholm Quay or east to Ruthwell, both of which have more frequent buses back to Dumfries.

Stagecoach Bus 246 runs north from Dumfries along A76 to Auldgirth (for Portrack Garden and Ellisland Farm), Thornhill (3 miles south of Drumlarig Castle), Sanquhar, Kirkconnell, New Cumnock and Cumnock. It's every two hours daily.

Taxis: Woodgrove are open M-F on +44 7721 309537.

Bicycles: G&G Cycle Centre and Frothy Bike Co (see Eat) both do sales and repairs but don't hire bikes.

National Cycle Route 7 comes from Carlisle through Annan to Dumfries and on to Castle Stewart and Stranraer. It's on B724 to Annan then by back lanes from Powfoot to Caerlaverock then B725 into Dumfries. West it follows the Old Military Road, now bypassed by A75.

Town

 * Other Burns sites within town are the statues to him and his wife Jean Armour (1765-1834), and his mausoleum in St Michael's graveyard. See below for Ellisland Farm.
 * Midsteeple rears up in the middle of High St. Built in 1705, it was variously a prison, council chamber and county records office.
 * Devorgilla Bridge is a picturesque 15th century sandstone footbridge over the River Nith. On the west bank, the Old Bridge House was built in 1660; the museum within it remains closed.
 * is all that remains of the 12th-century Lincluden abbey and castle. It was abandoned and fell into ruin circa 1700.
 * a further two miles up A709 is a charming restored 18th-century thatched cottage. "Crucks" are crutches - sturdy oak beams supporting the roof. Hours erratic, try your luck.
 * Torthorwald Castle is a 14th-century bastion next to Cruck Cottage, well ruined.
 * is all that remains of the 12th-century Lincluden abbey and castle. It was abandoned and fell into ruin circa 1700.
 * a further two miles up A709 is a charming restored 18th-century thatched cottage. "Crucks" are crutches - sturdy oak beams supporting the roof. Hours erratic, try your luck.
 * Torthorwald Castle is a 14th-century bastion next to Cruck Cottage, well ruined.
 * a further two miles up A709 is a charming restored 18th-century thatched cottage. "Crucks" are crutches - sturdy oak beams supporting the roof. Hours erratic, try your luck.
 * Torthorwald Castle is a 14th-century bastion next to Cruck Cottage, well ruined.
 * Torthorwald Castle is a 14th-century bastion next to Cruck Cottage, well ruined.

South of town

 * West of the river:


 * is a small oval circle 4 miles southwest of town, with eight stones of an original nine. It appears to be aligned with the sturdier "Twelve Apostles" north of town, see below.
 * Hills Tower a mile southwest of the circle is a well-preserved square tower house of 1527 with a wing added in 1721. It's a private residence and you can't visit.
 * See Castle Douglas for Drumcoltran Tower and other sights further down that road.
 * Southerness Lighthouse two miles south of the cottage was built in 1748. It was decommissioned in 1936 but still serves as a day-mark.
 * East of the river: there's no bridge below Dumfries so you have to backtrack
 * Southerness Lighthouse two miles south of the cottage was built in 1748. It was decommissioned in 1936 but still serves as a day-mark.
 * East of the river: there's no bridge below Dumfries so you have to backtrack
 * East of the river: there's no bridge below Dumfries so you have to backtrack


 * Nith Estuary wetlands south of Caerlaverock are a National Nature Reserve.
 * See Annan for Brow Well, an ancient spa where Burns came in his last days in forlorn hopes of a cure, and Ruthwell Cross a remarkable 8th century high cross with Latin, Anglo-Saxon and Runic inscriptions.
 * See Annan for Brow Well, an ancient spa where Burns came in his last days in forlorn hopes of a cure, and Ruthwell Cross a remarkable 8th century high cross with Latin, Anglo-Saxon and Runic inscriptions.

North of town

 * is a stone circle off A76 near Newbridge, about 100 m in diameter. The design is similar to the circles of Cumbria. Eleven boulders remain; the lost 12th apostle has inevitably been dubbed "Judas Iscariot", but as he only disappeared circa 1800, he'd had a good run for his money.
 * Portrack Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a mile south of Ellisland Farm off A76. It's a wacky garden and sculpture park inspired by science: quarks, fractals, and black-hole distortions of space-time, insofar as it's possible (or indeed prudent) to re-create these in rural Dumfriesshire. It's only open one day a year as part of the Scotland's Gardens charity scheme, usually the Sunday of the first May Bank Holiday. Adults £10, children free.
 * is a dilapidated keep and barmekin up a lane west of Auldgirth. It's 16th century.
 * is a dilapidated keep and barmekin up a lane west of Auldgirth. It's 16th century.
 * Closeburn Castle is now upscale accommodation, see Sleep.
 * Morton Castle is a jagged stump two miles east of Drumlanrig. Not much left of this remote 13th century Hall, the fun is in trying to find it, then having it to yourself. At Carronbridge leave A76 for A702 and take the second right. Always open, free.
 * Durisdeer Parish Church is an attractive Georgian building off A701 over the hills into Clydesdale.
 * is one of Scotland's finest, a 60-m cascade in the Moffat hills. The walk to it continues up past the falls and to beautiful Loch Skeen, ringed by craggy hillsides. It's on A708 about 30 miles and an hour's drive from Dumfries.
 * is one of Scotland's finest, a 60-m cascade in the Moffat hills. The walk to it continues up past the falls and to beautiful Loch Skeen, ringed by craggy hillsides. It's on A708 about 30 miles and an hour's drive from Dumfries.

Do

 * DG One Ice Bowl includes a skating rink and bowling facilities, swimming pool and sports / exhibition hall.
 * Art galleries include Ottersburn Gallery near the old swimming pool, and Gracefield Arts Centre on Edinburgh Road.
 * Theatre Royal at 66 Shakespeare St claims to be the oldest working theatre in Scotland. Box Office is +44 1387 254209.
 * Cinema: Big Burns Supper on Newall Terrace shows films and hosts community events. The Odeon has closed down.
 * Football: Queen of the South FC ("The Doonhamers") were relegated in 2022 and now play soccer in League One, Scotland's third tier. Their home ground is Palmerston Park, capacity 8690, off Terregles St west of the river.
 * Rugby: Dumfries Saints RFC play in National League Two, Scotland's third tier.
 * Dock Park, east bank of the river below St Michael's Bridge A756, is a park and play area with mini-golf, trampolines and cafe.
 * Golf: nearby courses are Dumfries & Galloway GC, Dumfries & County GC and The Crichton (9 holes), with Lochmaben and Lockerbie courses further east.
 * Dumfries Ice Bowl is on King St west of the bridge.
 * Ice hockey: Solway Sharks play at the Ice Bowl in the National League, the predominantly English second tier. The playing season is Sept-March.
 * Mountain biking at Seven Stanes course at Mabie Forest (south on A710), with another course at Ae Forest.
 * Climb Criffel, 10 miles south of Dumfries off A710. It's 1870 ft (570 m), so it's not a Munro, it's a Marilyn, but because it rears up in isolation from a low plain, it's prominent and commands all-round views. The usual route is from Ardwall by Loch Kindar: there's parking up the lane. It's a short steep ascent through forest, becoming boggy on the summit heathland, reckon 3 hours there and back.
 * Youthbeatz is a children's and young people's free music festival on Park Farm Showfield in late June.
 * Dumfries Agricultural Show is held on the first Saturday in August at the Show Field, Park Farm DG2 7LU.
 * Dumfries Agricultural Show is held on the first Saturday in August at the Show Field, Park Farm DG2 7LU.

Buy

 * Loreburne Shopping Centre is the main retail mall. Lidl and Morrison's supermarkets are a block or two east, with Tesco further out towards Tarff Town.
 * Barbour's department store, the town's oldest shop, is still going strong in its impressive sandstone building on Buccleuch Street, M-Sa 9AM-5PM.
 * Farmers Market is on the first Sunday of the month. It's at Tarff Town northeast, junction of A75 and A709.

Eat

 * Imperial does good Chinese at 126 Queensberry St, open F-M noon-8PM.
 * Daksh is standard Indian fare on Queen St, open W-Su noon-2PM.
 * Yamas is a small Greek deli and cafe at 35 Bank St, open M-Th noon-2PM, 4:30-9PM; F-Su noon-9PM.

Drink

 * Others in town centre include White Hart Hotel on Brewery St (has rooms), Slipstream and Dickie's on English St, New Bazaar on White Sands, Hole i' the Wa' on High St, The Stag on Bank St, Granary and Flesher's Arms on Loreburn St, and over a dozen more.
 * Out of town:
 * Nightclubs: The Venue at Church Place has live events F Sa 8PM-3AM.
 * Brewery: Lowland Brewery is in Lockerbie.
 * Distilleries: in Dalton towards Lockerbie, Ninefold make rum and Oro make gin. See Annan for its whisky distilleries. Ben Cumhaill north on A76 is not yet in production, so the earliest its whisky could be ready is 2025.
 * Nightclubs: The Venue at Church Place has live events F Sa 8PM-3AM.
 * Brewery: Lowland Brewery is in Lockerbie.
 * Distilleries: in Dalton towards Lockerbie, Ninefold make rum and Oro make gin. See Annan for its whisky distilleries. Ben Cumhaill north on A76 is not yet in production, so the earliest its whisky could be ready is 2025.

Sleep

 * Cairndale Hotel is a 3-star on English St.
 * Ferintosh Guset House is an immaculate B&B next to the railway station.
 * Huntingdon Hotel is a 3-star at 18 St Mary's St near the railway station.
 * Travelodge is at the junction by Premier Inn.
 * Holiday Inn aka The Crichton is on the University Campus, two miles south along B725.
 * is a tower house, probably 14th century, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the country. It's available for self-catering, sleeping six in two double rooms and one suite; it's off A76 ten miles north of Dumfries. Don't gripe at the lack of a lift: until 1748 there were no stairs, and people had to shin up a ladder.
 * Trigony House is a pleasant country house hotel on the main road near Closeburn.
 * Sanquhar is 28 miles north up the A76, but if you're going that way you might splurge at Blackaddie Country House Hotel, B&B double £200 in 2022.
 * is a tower house, probably 14th century, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the country. It's available for self-catering, sleeping six in two double rooms and one suite; it's off A76 ten miles north of Dumfries. Don't gripe at the lack of a lift: until 1748 there were no stairs, and people had to shin up a ladder.
 * Trigony House is a pleasant country house hotel on the main road near Closeburn.
 * Sanquhar is 28 miles north up the A76, but if you're going that way you might splurge at Blackaddie Country House Hotel, B&B double £200 in 2022.
 * Sanquhar is 28 miles north up the A76, but if you're going that way you might splurge at Blackaddie Country House Hotel, B&B double £200 in 2022.

Stay safe
Obvious stuff: beware traffic, safeguard valuables and avoid the occasional idiot drunk.

Also, avoid getting drunk yourself and falling victim to Burke and Hare. No bodysnatchers they: they preyed on Edinburgh's down-and-outs, got them drunk, snuffed them out and sold the corpses for dissection. Hare turned prosecution witness against Burke, who was hanged in 1829, while Hare was given immunity and smuggled out of town to Dumfries. He may have been making for his origins in Ulster, but he was recognised and a furious mob besieged him at the Kings Arms Hotel (now Boots on High Street). He was taken into protective custody and early next morning set down on the road to Annan, and advised to leg it to England. There are no further reliable sightings and his fate is unknown.

Connect
Dumfries and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * The Museum of Lead Mining is in Wanlockhead, Scotland's highest village, in the Lowther Hills.
 * Take the old road to Annan via Ruthwell for its 6th century High Cross and chalybeate Brow Well.
 * For more Robert Burns memorabilia, head to his birthplace at Alloway just south of Ayr.
 * The mountains seen to the south across the Solway are the English Lake District. They're scenic but will feel very touristy after Dumfries & Galloway.