Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Dumfries (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Caerlaverock Castle, Sweetheart Abbey, and Palmerston Park. Also, be sure to include Garden of Cosmic Speculation in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Dumfries (Scotland).
Table of Contents
Caerlaverock Castle
Unique triangular medieval fortress. Caerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle first built in the 13th century. It is located on the southern coast of Scotland, eleven kilometres south of Dumfries, on the edge of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve. Caerlaverock was a stronghold of the Maxwell family from the 13th century until the 17th century, when the castle was abandoned. It was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and underwent several partial demolitions and reconstructions over the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th century, the Maxwells were created Earls of Nithsdale, and built a new lodging within the walls, described as among "the most ambitious early classical domestic architecture in Scotland". In 1640 the castle was besieged for the last time and was subsequently abandoned. Although demolished and rebuilt several times, the castle retains the distinctive triangular plan first laid out in the 13th century. Caerlaverock Castle was built to control trade in early times.
The castle, which is protected as a scheduled monument, is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and is a popular tourist attraction.[1]
Address: Caerlaverock Glencaple, DG1 4RU Dumfries
Sweetheart Abbey
Abbey. The Abbey of Dulce Cor, better known as Sweetheart Abbey, was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1275 in what is now the village of New Abbey, in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, 8 miles south of Dumfries.[2]
Address: On A710, DG2 8BU New Abbey
Palmerston Park
Stadium in Dumfries. Palmerston Park is a football stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is the home ground of Scottish Championship club Queen of the South, who have played there since 1919. South of Scotland League club Heston Rovers have shared Palmerston since 2013. The stadium has a capacity of 8,690 of which 3,377 are seats.[3]
Address: 76-94 Terregles Street, DG2 9BA Dumfries
Garden of Cosmic Speculation
Garden in Holywood, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a 30 acre sculpture garden created by landscape architect and theorist Charles Jencks at his home, Portrack House, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Like much of Jencks' work, the garden is inspired by modern cosmology.[4]
Address: Portrack House, DG2 0RW Dumfries
Dumfries Museum
Museum in Dumfries, Scotland. Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, located in Dumfries in Dumfries & Galloway, is the largest museum in the region. The museum has extensive collections relating to local and history from the pre-historic era. The museum also has the world's oldest working Camera Obscura. Admission is free, however a small fee applies for the Camera Obscura.[5]
Address: Church St., Dumfries
Lincluden Collegiate Church
Church in Dumfries, Scotland. Lincluden Collegiate Church, known earlier as Lincluden Priory or Lincluden Abbey, is a ruined religious house, situated in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire and to the north of the Royal Burgh of Dumfries, Scotland. Situated in a bend of the Cluden Water, at its confluence with the River Nith, the ruins are on the site of the Bailey of the very early Lincluden Castle, as are those of the later Lincluden Tower. This religious house was founded circa 1160 and was used for various purposes, until its abandonment around 1700. The remaining ruins are protected as a scheduled monument.[6]
Address: Abbey Ln, DG2 0DG Dumfries
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
Museum in Scotland. The Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum is a volunteer-operated aviation museum located in and around the World War II-era watch tower at the former RAF Dumfries, located two miles north east of the centre of Dumfries, Scotland, which was in service from June 1940 until 1957, when it closed. The site was sold to a private company in 1960. The museum, founded in 1977 by the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Group, has a collection of aircraft, both civil and military, aero engines, artifacts, and a small, but "ever expanding collection of memorabilia honouring airborne forces."[7]
Gracefield Arts Centre
Art gallery in Dumfries, Scotland. Gracefield Arts Centre is located in Dumfries. The gallery's main building, a Category B listed building, was bought in 1951 by a committee of local people who raised the money needed for the purchase and to do the alterations necessary to change the former house, which was known as ‘Gracefield’ into an art gallery.
The gallery houses a collection of over 600 Scottish paintings which include paintings by the Scottish Colourists, the Glasgow Boys, the Kirkcudbright School and the Edinburgh School, as well as contemporary Scottish works of art by the likes of Joan Eardley and Andy Goldsworthy. The gallery hosts a changing programme of contemporary exhibitions featuring regional, national and international artists and craftmakers.
A wide range of art and craft activities for adults and children run throughout the year at the gallery.[8]
Address: Gracefield Art Centre 28 Edinburgh Road, DG1 1JQ Dumfries
Brigend Theatre
Concerts and shows, Theater
Address: Market Square, Dumfries
Theatre Royal
Theatre in Dumfries, Scotland. The Theatre Royal in Dumfries, Scotland is the oldest working theatre in Scotland. The Theatre is owned by the Guild of Players who bought it in 1959, thereby saving it from demolition. The Guild's aim is to promote the tradition of live theatre in Dumfries. It is the venue for the Guild of Players' own productions and for performances from visiting companies. In addition it is used extensively as a venue for the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, the Dumfries Music Festival and the Dumfries Musical Theatre Company.[9]
Address: Dumfries, Shakespeare Street
Moat Brae
Building. Moat Brae is a Georgian townhouse designed by Walter Newall in Dumfries, Scotland. It was built in 1823 in the Greek revival style. J. M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, played in the house and garden as a child from the ages of 13-18 whilst at school at Dumfries Academy. Barrie was later presented with the Freedom of the Burgh of Dumfries in 1924 and in his speech said "When Shades of night began to fall certain young mathematicians shed their triangles and crept up trees and down walls in an odyssey which was long after to become the play of Peter Pan. For our escapades in a certain Dumfries garden, which is enchanted land to me, were certainly the genesis of that nefarious work"
In 1961 the building was granted Category B listed building status, as a classic example of Newall's work. In June 2019 Moat Brae opened as Peter Pan's Enchanted Land and a National Centre for Children's Literature and Storytelling.[10]