Dalbeattie History,
Monuments, Castles, Environment,
Natural History

Behind the fine 18th century town house with its pink lime washed exterior lies a treasure trove of collections together with a magically secret garden. A little known treasure of a fine town house and garden nestling on the banks of the River Dee in Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway. Broughton House was the home of artist E A Hornel. Behind the pink lime washed walls a delightfully uplifting collection of art, ceramics, furniture and literature together with a magically secret garden lie hidden. This fine 18th century town house, bought by Hornel in 1901 became his home and studio. A recent recipient of the 2006 RICS conservation award following a two-year conservation project – today, you too, may find the inspiration that makes Broughton House and indeed Kirkcudbright the artists town we know today.

Cardoness Castle is a fine example of a Scottish tower-house castle. It was built in the later 15th century as the fortified residence of the McCullochs. They were a prominent Galloway family, who rubbed shoulders with royalty. But they were also noted for their lawlessness, even against their own. In 1501, Ninian McCulloch of Cardoness was prosecuted for breaking into a barn and stealing 1,500 assorted beasts – the property of his own mother!

On a hillside overlooking Wigtown Bay, two Neolithic chambered tombs lie within 150m of each other. Both lie open to the sky – the stones of their covering cairns were robbed long ago to build field dykes. The tombs’ skeletal stones today create a jagged outline that was never intended by their builders. Both tombs were partially excavated in 1949 by two eminent professors of archaeology, Stuart Piggott and Terence Powell, with unexpected results. Cairn Holy I This is the more elaborate of the two. It has a splendid curving façade of standing stones that once formed the backdrop to a forecourt in front of the tomb. Excavation showed that several fires had been lit here. The chambered tomb behind the façade consisted of an outer and an inner compartment. The inner compartment was built as a box, so that it was closed and therefore inaccessible from the outer one. It was probably originally roofed by a great stone slab resting on the two taller end-slabs. The outer compartment was entered through the façade. Cairn Holy II Tradition holds that this was the tomb of Galdus, a mythical Scottish king, and it is easy to see why. Perched on a rocky knoll, and set against the background of the heather-clad hill of Cairnharrow, this monument has an undoubted presence in the landscape. Despite the loss of its stone over the centuries, the two jagged portal stones and the chambered tomb behind are testimony to the strength of belief in the area over 4,000 years ago.

The delightful and well-preserved ruin of a tower house of 16th-century date.
The 18th-century ranges of outhouses are still in use by the farmer, reminding the visitor that such houses were originally linked to outbuildings.
One of its owners was the last abbot of Sweetheart Abbey.

Taking the Colvend road from the centre of Dalbeattie, access to the forest is just outside the town. The surroundings are home to a wide array of wildlife, and a 3-mile, fully interpreted ‘Dalbeattie Squirrel Trail’ provides a good chance of seeing these popular creatures. As one of the 7stanes mountain biking centres, the forest also offers great opportunities for cycling, starting from the Richorn car park.

Dalbeattie Museum has preserved Dalbeattie's heritage.
In the Museum you can see a variety of Exhibitions of Social History.
Dalbeattie was at one time in the early 1800's a very Industrious town. It has a harbour uniquely 5 miles in land from the sea and this granite town once had over 12 different types of Mill, mostly powered by the Barr burn.
In the Museum can be found records, pictures, displays and our photographic collection is extensive and free for you to browse.

A well-preserved tower of mid16th-century simply planned and built, sitting within a busy modern farmyard.
7m north east of Dalbeattie, among farm buildings off the A711

Dundrennan Abbey was founded in 1142 by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, with the help of King David I of Scotland. The white-robed Cistercian monks came from Rievaulx Abbey, in North Yorkshire. After establishing the abbey at Dundrennan, monks went forth to found two more Cistercian abbeys in Galloway – Glenluce, near Stranraer, around 1190, and Sweetheart, in the village of New Abbey, south of Dumfries, in 1273. All three are now in the care of Historic Scotland.

Once extinct in Scotland, the graceful red kite – identifiable by its swallow-like tail – has been successfully reintroduced into Galloway. Here, many local businesses and accommodation providers have grouped together to form a Kite Trail, almost guaranteeing a sighting of the bird. At the Bellymack Farm feeding station, at 2pm every day, you can see up to 30 at once!

GLENLUCE ABBEY Founded around 1192, Glenluce is situated in a beautiful and peaceful valley. Visitors can see an exhibition of objects excavated on the site. Please note: Glenluce Abbey will not be staffed during the summer season (ending 30th September 2013) but will be open to visitors. However, there will be no access to the shop, museum and chapterhouse during this time. Apologies for the inconvenience. More about Glenluce Abbey Highlights The location – in the secluded valley of the Water of Luce, easily conveying a sense of the isolation and peaceful tranquillity that was so important to the Cistercian way of life. The south transept – a well-preserved fragment of 13th-century Cistercian church architecture. The chapter house – built around 1500 and still roofed and entire, with fine architectural features and a wonderful acoustic. The museum of monastic life – a fascinating collection of artefacts found during clearance work

The cottage is furnished in the style of the 1700s when John Paul Jones was born.
Through headsets his mother describes life in the cottage.
A multi projector audio visual programme is presented in the reconstructed cabin of his ship ‘Bonhomme Richard’ in which he defeated HMS Serapis off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire in 1779.
The inviting visitor centre also boasts an interpretive exhibition on the life of ‘The Father of the American Navy' with video presentations.
There is an attractive rural picnic area offering marvellous views of the Solway and the Lake District.

Along the so-called ‘Scottish Riviera’, south-west of Dumfries, the small fishing villages of Rockcliffe and Kippford are the jewels in the crown. The Jubilee Path links the two, and follows this scenic stretch of coastline, passing by the ancient hill forts of Castle Hill and Motte of Mark. The National Trust for Scotland manages much of this area for wildlife and recreation, so interpretation along the way is of a high standard. There are also cosy pubs in Kippford in which you can reward yourself for your efforts. The route is around 2 miles one-way.

A fabulous array of bizarre and beautiful plants flourish outdoors in Scotland’s most exotic garden. Warmed by the North Atlantic Drift, the property – under the care of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – has a range of subtropical species including a number of palm trees, meaning you may forget where you actually are! Honesty box in operation during winter months, when there’s still plenty of garden interest but refreshments and gift shop are unavailable.

MacLellan’s Castle is named after Sir Thomas MacLellan of Bombie (d. 1597). Sir Thomas was provost of Kirkcudbright and a powerful man in local politics. Following the Protestant Reformation in 1560, he acquired the site and buildings of the convent of Greyfriars, established in the town by James II in 1449, and set about building himself a new residence in its place. By 1582, MacLellan’s Castle was sufficiently complete for him to move in. Five years later, he and his second wife, Grissel, entertained their sovereign, James VI, in this spacious house.

Beside the Pow Burn in the pretty village of New Abbey stands a three-storey whitewashed mill building. It was built around the end of the 18th century by the Stewarts of nearby Shambellie House. But the site probably reaches back to the late 13th century, when the Cistercian monks established their monastery of Dulce Cor (‘Sweet Heart’ ) at the far end of the village. The present mill is still known locally as ‘Monks’ Mill’

A charming little tower house of the mid-15th-century.
The property is, uniquely, circular in plan.
6m south east of Dalbeattie on the A711.

Scotland’s longest waymarked walking route runs 212 miles from the west to the east coast, traversing some beautiful hill scenery. For those who simply want a taster, start at Portpatrick, on the Rhinns of Galloway, and head up the coast to Killantringan Lighthouse. Watch out for the seabirds that make their home here. Alternatively, try the 8-mile section between Clatteringshaws Loch and St Johns Town of Dalry on the edge of the forest park.

The Stewartry Museum was founded in 1879. As the collections grew, the present purpose-built museum was opened in 1893. In recent years the interior has been considerably upgraded whilst retaining its charm as a traditional late Victorian museum.
Its collections chiefly relate to the human and natural history of the Stewartry also known as Kirkcudbrightshire. The permanent collection includes the "Siller Gun" – Britain's earliest surviving sporting trophy, and works by Kirkcudbrightshire artists including Jessie M King. Temporary exhibitions highlight different aspects of the collection and Museums Service activities.

In 1268, Lord John Balliol died. His grieving widow, Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway, had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory casket. She carried it with her everywhere.
She undertook many charitable acts in his memory. These included the founding of the Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor (Latin for ‘Sweet Heart’) in 1273. When she too died in 1289, she was laid to rest in front of the abbey church’s high altar, clutching her husband’s heart to her bosom.

Legend tells that Threave Island was the home of the ancient rulers of Galloway a thousand years ago. Today there is no trace of their fortress. The tall, forbidding tower that now dominates the island was built for Sir Archibald Douglas in 1369. He had recently become Lord of Galloway, but is better known to history as Archibald ‘the Grim’. By the time he died at Threave in 1400 , he had become the 3rd Earl of Black Douglas, and was the most powerful magnate in southern Scotland.

Close to the charming county town of Dalbeattie, this property is open year-round and is probably best known for its stunning springtime display of nearly 200 varieties of daffodil. Threave House, within the grounds, has been restored to the style of its 1930s heyday. The neighbouring Threave Estate is an important wildfowl refuge.

The Tolbooth Art Centre is based in Kirkcudbright's 17th century Tolbooth. This served previously as the Town Council offices, Burgh and Sheriff courts and the criminal and debtor's prison. One of its most famous prisoners was John Paul Jones, hero of the American Navy.
Find out about Kirkcudbright's famous artists, such as E A Hornel, Jessie M King, E A Taylor and Charles Oppenheimer in the Tollbooth's audio-visual shows "Kirkcudbright – The Artists' Town" and "Jessie M King". See their works on permanent display here, including paintings of the Tolbooth itself by the famous Scottish colourist, S J Peploe, and David Gauld, one of the 'Glasgow Boys'.
The top floor of the Tolbooth, formerly the debtor's prison is now used as a gallery for ever changing contemporary art and craft exhibitions.
Friendly café serving fresh coffee, teas and locally produced cakes and biscuits. Gift shop, retailing artists' prints, paintings, crafts, art books and reproductions. 

Whithorn and St. Ninian records the results of eleven years of research by the Whithorn Trust, which has revealed a detailed picture of the thriving community which lived around the church built by St. Ninian, and its evolution over the next 1100 years. This has established Whithorn as a site of international significance and unique archaeological potential.

Bookshops line the streets of Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown. Spend an easy day browsing and burrowing your way through the shelves before stopping in a local coffee shop for refreshment. One bookshop provides lunch on-site for those who really can’t bear to leave; Reading Lasses is worth the stop for the home-made soup alone. There are around 30 book related businesses in this small community, which hosts a book fair in May and a literary festival in early autumn