When I think of our previous visit to Dumfries and Galloway last summer, what sticks in my memory is the food. Dougie and I were fortunate to enjoy excellent cuisine at all four of...
Graduation road trip: walk from Knockinaam to Portpatrick
“It’s a moderate walk and should take us an hour and a half,” Dougie announced to me, as I was happily scoffing toast and lounging about in our gorgeous holiday home, Shingle Lodge....
Graduation road trip: Shingle Lodge at Knockinaam Lodge hotel
“We rumbled slowly into a land of little wooded glens and then to a great wide moorland place, gleaming with lochs, with high blue hills showing northwards.” John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps. Buchan’s thrilling novel,...
Going for a walk in Bear Grylls’ trousers
After traipsing around Snowdonia last Spring in either jeans or shorts, my man decided he needed a proper pair of walking trousers for our late summer trip to Scotland. Something more practical and waterproof...
Places to visit in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is an area of Scotland that borders England and yet it can often be overlooked by visitors. After just a week travelling around the area, I would recommend turning left at Gretna Green and...
Kelpies and kirkyards in Kirkcudbright
I have always struggled with the pronunciation of Scottish place names. Dougie hoots with laughter when I read names from the map phonetically. Who knew that Milngavie is pronounced ‘mil-guy’ rather than ‘mill-un-gav-ee’? Likewise the...
Douglas comes home to Threave Castle
Earlier this year readers of the BBC’s Countryfile magazine voted Dumfries and Galloway the ‘Holiday Destination of the Year’ award. You can’t have a more resounding recommendation than an accolade from such a trusted,...
Wigtown: Scotland’s National Book Town
Book towns were established in 1961 by book dealer Richard Booth from Hay-on-Wye. Whilst this one is the biggie in the UK there is a smaller book town in the village of Sedbergh in the Yorkshire...