2 Day Southwest Scotland tour

Tour the Galloway Hills

We will pick you up at your accommodation for the star of your 2 day southwest Scotland tour

Within a short journey out of Edinburgh we will reach the fascinating New Lanark village. Once a cotton mill under the enlightened management of social pioneer Robert Owen, it is now a UNESCO heritage site and has been beautifully restored to house a living community.

We will spend some time at the award winning visitor centre here and find out how in the 18th century this place became known for its progressive steps in industry through providing decent homes, fair wages, free healthcare and a new education system for villagers and the first workplace nursery school in the world.

Maintaining the theme of Industry, we will then make our way to a Wanlockhead known to be the highest village in the country. Wanlockhead is also the home of the fantastic museum of Lead Mining. This excellent visitor attraction allows a real insight into the process of lead mining and into the lives of the miners and families who came to this remote spot.

Not too far from here we will reach the Galloway Hills where we can enjoy the range of magnificent countryside within the vast Forest Park. This area is particularly beautiful and provides a real sense of ‘off the beaten track’ travel. We will be staying for one night in the peaceful town of Newton Stewart which sits at the centre of this outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

Our journey from Newton Stewart will lead us on to the Rhins of Galloway. It’s a quiet corner of the country and is largely forgotten by tourists, yet the area boasts some of the country’s most stunning scenery with a much milder climate. In fact, the climate is so mild that tropical plants such as palm trees can be grown here. We will be visiting the Logan Botanic Gardens providing testament to this. The atmosphere and exotic feel of the garden will allow us time to simply enjoy an extended stroll through a garden that offers something new and interesting at every turn

On leaving this corner of the country and returning north, we will take a visit to Culzean Castle. Perched on the Ayrshire cliffs, this castle sits within a glorious estate which was once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis. Nowadays it is managed by the National Trust for Scotland and welcomes visitors to enjoy this cliff top masterpiece and marvel at the view from here of the Ailsa Craig, an island known by many as Paddy’s Milestone as it sits halfway between Glasgow and Belfast.

A short journey from here leads us to the village of Dunure. Outlander fans will be delighted to know that this pretty fishing village was transformed to into the port where Jamie and Claire stepped on board the Artemis for their Journey to Jamaica. The beach and castle next to the harbour, were used for the scenes where Claire and Jamie watch young Ian swim out to Silkies’ Island. The surrounding countryside was also believed to have been used for scenes set near Ardsmuir prison.

Our next port of call is an essential visit to Burns Cottage and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum where we can discover the roots of the most famous of Scots. This modern museum contains the World’s greatest collection of Burns life and works. We can then make pilgrimage to see the Brig O’ Doon – this ancient medieval bridge’s famous arch is home to many stories of witchcraft and folklore. At Alloway Old Kirk (church) we can stand where witches danced and frolicked in the setting for one of Burn’s most famous poems.

From here we will return to Edinburgh to conclude our 2 day southwest Scotland tour