Dumfries Accommodation

Burns Statue Dumfries, Greyfriars Church to the rear

Devorgilla Bridge, Dumfries, Scotland's Oldest Bridge

The Globe Inn, Dumfries. Robert Burns' Favourite Watering Hole

Burns Mausoleum adjacent to St Michael's Church, Dumfries

Burnsiana Postcard, on display in the Burns Centre, Dumfries

Robert Burns' House, Dumfries

Dumfries Hotels, Dumfries Golf Courses, Dumfries Visitor Attractions

Dumfries sits firming on the Robert Burns Scottish trail, Robert Burns spent the remaining years of his life here. A number of Dumfries visitor attractions in Dumfries pay homage to Scotland's National Poet and the Poetry of Robert Burns (1759-96) including The Globe Inn where Burns liked to partake, Robert Burns House and the Burns Centre. Dumfries is well served with a choice of centrally placed B&B guesthouses and hotels, as well as tasteful restaurants for eating out in Dumfries. Exploring the Dumfries area by car is recommended as public transport isn't as good down in the Southwest as in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Peaceful, and with a long history as a market town, Dumfries is a superb base from which to explore the Dumfries & Galloway area. One of Scotland's most striking castles, Caerlaverock Castle, is nearby alongside the Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Westlands Centre, plus there's local Dumfries golf, parks and gardens, family holiday attractions, a choice of Dumfries museums and an evolving arts and crafts scene centering around the Gracefields Arts Centre. Although Robert Burns, as Scotland's National Poet, has become the main tourist focus here, there's much more going on in Dumfries including a fascinating Aviation Museum, a costume museum and two excellent local history museums. Scotland's oldest bridge - Devorgilla Bridge, is here too!

Dumfries Visitor Attraction Guide, Dumfries History & Dumfries Hotels

As well as being a mecca for Robert Burns fans, Dumfries has much to offer the visitor with a choice of local Dumfries Golf Courses, a superb collection of arts and crafts at the Gracefield Arts Centre, a delightfully peaceful setting along the River Nith and a long history stretching back to its market town roots which date from Dumfries' founding in 1186. Robert Bruce murdered rival Sir John Comyn here in Dumfries in 1306 in the old Franciscan monastery - note the plaque on the side of Greyfriars Church commemorating the fact. Dumfries, being so close to the English border, saw a fair few invasions across both the 15th and 16th centuries. Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries changed hands consistently between Scotland and England during this period.

Orientation around Dumfries couldn't be easier, with most Robert Burns centres and Dumfries Museums clustered centrally. Dumfries town centre has a pedestrianised High Street and a choice of B&Bs, Pubs and Bars including the historic Burns associated Globe Inn and a choice of cafes and restaurants. See the Dumfries accommodation listings on this website. The central Midsteeple building just off High Street dates from 1707 and has served as courthouse, prison, town clock and when Burns died in 1796 his body was laid in state here. Burns is buried in a mammoth Mausoleum just across from St Michael's Church graveyard (they moved him here in 1815). Further north up pedestrianised High Street sits the Burns Statue dating from the Victorian Period, and the historic Globe Inn sits to the south off High Street.

The pedestrian only Devorgilla Bridge takes you across the River Nith to the Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries Museum and the Old Bridge Museum. For fine dining in Dumfries head to Hullabaloo at the Robert Burns Centre on Mill Street. Also within the Robert Burns centre is Dumfries' little independent cinema. Look to their website right for current film listings. Other restaurants in Dumfries include budget pub grub at the Wetherspoons Robert the Bruce pub on Buccleuch Street and checkout the acclaimed Balmoral chip shop on Balmoral Road. For a fine choice of malt whiskies and real ale, including the Tennants produced Burns Ale, head to the Globe Inn - famous Dumfries pub frequented by Robert Burns himself. Guided Burns tours are available around the Globe Inn, but it also serves still as a fine traditional real ale pub, serving food daily from 10am until 3pm. Burns Suppers and special occasions can also be arranged. Checkout the Globe Inn's website right for details.

Dumfries Tourist Information Centre, 64 Whitesands, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 2RS. Scotland. Tel International. 00 44 1387 245555. (UK. 01387 245555).

Dumfries Golf Courses, Golf Dumfries

Dumfries & County Golf Club, Nunfield, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries, Scotland. DG1 1JX. Tel. 01387 253585. (weblink right). Situated on the outskirts of Dumfries, the Dumfries & County Golf Club is a private parkland course (18 holes/par 69). This Dumfries golf course covers 89 acres and offers some magnificent views through the 18 holes across the Nith valley. The course officially opened in October 1913. A clubhouse and pro-shop is on-site.

Crichton Golf Club, Bankend Road, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, DG1 4TH. Scotland. Tel. 01387 247894. (weblink right). Crichton is another parkland golf course in Dumfries (9 holes, par 35 men/par 36 ladies). Its situated just opposite Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary about one mile outside of Dumfries city centre.

The Pines Golf Centre, Lockerbie Road, Dumfries, DG1 3PF. Tel. 01387 247444. (website linked right for details). Situated to the north of Dumfries, the Pines Golf Centre offers more of a golf package with extensive driving range on-site. The golf course is an 18 hole/par 69 course, with a choice selection of water obstacles and undulating tees - read on via the Pines weblink right. A clubhouse, Driving Range, Short Game Practice Area and Putting Green are all on-site.

Dumfries Museums

For sublime views of Dumfries head for the Dumfries Museum across the Riveer Nith via the pedestrian Devogilla Bridge. Part of the museum sits in a converted windmill tower where a Camera Obscura was sited in 1836. Local history on the Dumfries area is a focus in the museum, stretching far back to pre-historic times with fossils, animal footprints and the wildlife of the Solway all explored. Early Christian stone carvings and Victorian farm life is also delved into. Dumfries Museum is attractively set in gardens, with trails and workshops on the menu. The camera obscura and Dumfries views are a particularl highlight. Dumfries Museum, The Observatory, Rotchell Road, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway DG2 7SW. Scotland. Tel International 00 44 1387 253374 (UK. 01387 253374). See Dumfries Museums weblink right for more details and daily opening times.

The Whitesands riverside area on the northside of the River was once a thriving hub of cattle markets, timberyards and tanneries, but today it's Dumfries' main car park. The Devorgilla Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Scotland, dates from 1431 and moving across to the Southside you arrive at Dumfries' oldest house built in 1660 and now serving as the Old Bridge House Museum. Like the Dumfries Museum, the Old Bridge House focuses on local history, homing in on day to day life in the town particularly during the Victorian Period. There's a museum trail, a reconstructed kitchen, nursery and bedroom - all representative of the Victorian era. See Dumfries Museums guide right for opening times. The Old Bridge House, Mill Road, Dumfries, DG2 7BE. Tel. 01387 256904.

The Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum is situated around a former RAF Dumfries control tower, and if you're into aviation memorabilia you'll find much of interest. A highlight is the Supermarine Spitfire Mk II which was hauled out of Loch Doon. Navigators were trained here during World War II, and the site had a brief scare in March 1943 when a German aircraft shot up the airfield beacon. The pilot crashed shortly afterwards and is buried in Troqueer Cemetery in Dumfries. A garden and picnic area is on-site. (see the museum's weblink right for a history of RAF Dumfries and more details on memorabilia held here).

Arts & Crafts Dumfries Spring Flight & Gracefield Arts Centre

You might not first think of Dumfries as a Scottish Art and Crafts centre, but a visit to the Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries might make you rethink. The annual Spring Fling Art and Crafts festival revolving around the Gracefield Art Centre is also increasingly attracting attention. Gracefield is situated back on the northside of the river to the west of Dumfries Train Station.

Exhibitions change constantly, and art collections here include work by Dumfries sculpture Andy Goldsworthy. Sculpture certainly features strongly, and more sculpture is displayed around Glenkiln Reservoir near Dumfries (see Dumfries tourist information for help in finding this attraction). It's worth the effort as there's some impressive names down here, including sculpture by Henry Moore, Aguste Rodin and Jacob Epstein.

Kids workshops (including paint your own pots), an on-site arts and crafts shop selling work by resident artists (including footwear/ceramics, jewellery and more), plus the Gracefield has a superb permanent art collection of itsown wich features over 550 artworks by Scottish artists who have had strong connections with Dumfries and Galloway. Artworks date back as far as the 1840s. Checkout the Gracefield Centre/Art and Craft South West weblink right for more details. The website also lists a selection of design centres and art galleries across the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Gracefield Arts Centre & Spring Fling, 28 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 1JQ. Scotland. Tel. 01387 262084.

Dumfries Ice Bowl - Solway Sharks & Dumfries Vikings

Just outside of Dumfries Centre sits the Dumfries Ice bowl offering public skating, ice skating discos and ice hockey lessons. It's home to the acclaimed Solway Sharks, Dumfries' own ice hockey team which has seen some major success recently in the Scottish Ice Hockey league (see the Solway Sharks weblink right for details).

Scottish Ice Hockey is growing in popularity, with top teams hailing from here in Dumfries and elsewhere in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh. For detailed diections to Dumfries Ice Bowl and Solway Sharks Ice Hockey fixtures see the Solway Sharks weblink right.

Also in-site is an indoor bowls/events hall, a cafeteria/bar and conference facilities.

Dumfries Ice Bowl, King Street, dumfries, DG2 9AN. Tel. 01387 251300 (weblink right fo opening hours and details on events/public ice skating times).

Dumfries Gardens - Crichton Grounds, Dumfries University Complex

If you're into gardens you might want to call in at the Crichton Grounds within the Crichton Dumfries University grounds. The mature landscaped parkland and Rock Garden here date back to the early 1900s.

Crichton Grounds, Bankend Road, Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, DG1 4ZE. Tel. 01387 247544.

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