The Galloway coastline offers history, spectacular scenery and a real sense of freedom

Dumfries and Galloway is the third largest region in Scotland, but one of the most sparsely populated areas in Europe.

So, when travelling along the spectacular 55 miles of coastline between Glencaple, near Dumfries, and Kirkcudbright, there is a real sense of space and definitely room to breathe.

Here, the traveller has time to explore and drink in the region’s rich history, scenery and wildlife.

Dumfries has strong links with both Robert the Bruce and Robert Burns while villages such as New Abbey, Southerness and Dundrennan are home to historic buildings.

The likes of Sandyhills, Rockcliffe, Kippford and Balcary offer a wonderful range of beach and cliff-top walking with Criffel, Screel and the Mote of Mark all boasting magnificent vantage points.

Kirkcudbright is perhaps the most attractive settlement along the coast.

The scenic quality of the town, the surrounding landscape and the quality of light began to attract artists during the 19th and 20th Centuries. It is a feature that still exists today as Kirkcudbright is known as the Artists’ Town, with many artists living and exhibiting in the area.

Looping back north along the A77 towards Ayr, you can see ships heading across to Ireland and the whole region has strong links with those across the water.

Passing through Stranraer and on to the Corsewall Lighthouse is well worth the journey.

It was built by Robert Stevenson, great grandfather of author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1817.

Fact File

• The origins of Dumfries stretch back to 1186 when it was founded as a Royal Burgh. It then grew swiftly as a market town and port.
• Sweetheart Abbey, which dominates New Abbey, was built in memory of John Balliol, the husband of Lady Devorgilla, one of the most powerful women of her time.
• John Paul Jones, “father of the American Navy”, was born at Arbigland near Southerness in 1747.
• The Mote of Mark, above Rockcliffe, was once a defended hilltop and, supposedly, a court of a mighty Dark Age chieftain.
• Screel was once used by custom officers as a vantage point to catch smugglers. Illegal tobacco, tea and silk would regularly arrive from the Isle of Man.