The Secret Scotland - Landscapes
Dumfries & Galloway has a very varied landscape. From the flat plains in the south east of the region, to the mud flats of the Solway Firth and on to the more traditionally Scottish landscape at Glentrool with burns running off the beautiful Galloway Hills. To the west lies the Irish Sea and the colourful small fishing port of Portpatrick.

Criffel

Criffel and the River Nith running into the Solway Firth. Nearby is the Wild Fowl and Wetlands trust of Caerlaverock which has about 15000 Barnacle geese. which arrive in October to over winter. At sunset in winter Canada Geese,Whooper swans, Pink Foot geese can all be seen making there way down the Nith valley to their roosts on the mud flats of the Solway Firth.

Scar Valley

Scar Valley a photographer's paradise, especially in the autumn with its beautiful colours and fine walks. You might see native red squirrel scampering about collecting nuts for the long winter. A backwater now this was at one time the main route to Glasgow. The artist Andy Goldsworthy has a number of sculpture's dotted around this area.

Lowther Hills

Lowther Hills, (named after Lothus, king of the Picts), on a fine cold clear winter's days looking towards the snow capped hills. Down to your right is the small picturesque village of Durisdeer and further up the same valley a Roman fort watches over the valley. To the left in amongest the hills is the Enterkin Pass where in 1684 Covenanters ambushed a party of Dragoons. Usually in the summer high teas are served at Durisdeer church.

Killantringan Beach

Killantringan Beach near Portpatrick. There is a very beautiful coastal walk from Portpatrick past Killantringan Lighthouse to the beach for wonderful sunsets. From here you can see Ireland and if you're lucky you might also see a sea otter bringing its dinner ashore.

Glentrool

Glentrool and the snow capped Galloway Hills. Robert the Bruce waged guerrilla warfare against the English in these hills and won a famous victory in 1307 by rolling stones down the hill on top of them, this was the turning point in the Wars of Independance. In these quieter times this is a good place for hill walking and mountain biking and getting away from it all.

Lock Skeen

Loch Skeen Source of the spectacular Grey Mare's Tail waterfall in the Moffat Hills. The hills are on the eastern edge of Dumfries and Galloway - this is good hill walking country. Moffat Dale where the water fall drops down has a number of interesting geological features. In the summer there are usually ranger lead walks to various sites. This was also a good place to hide for Covenantors in the "Killing Times" Not far away is the small scenic Victorian spa town of Moffat where "Bloody Clavers" was based.