Biking
Ride the 7stanes - award winning mountain biking in a landscape varying from rolling hills to crag sided valleys, deep forest tracks to stunning coastal views, miles of sweeping and sinuous trails to the most demanding technical singletrack.

• Dalbeattie; home of the infamous “Slab” and the “Terrible Twins.”
• Mabie; classic woodland trail mountain biking.
• Kirroughtree; singletrack twists and the largest rock trail feature in Britain. Fabulous Mountain Biking.
• Ae and Glentrool are the newest venturesin Mountain Biking ; try “Heartbreak Hill”!

Cycling
Recently developed and some of the best cycling in the country set amid spectacular scenery.  The bicycle was invented here by Kirkpatrick McMillan in 1840- try the KM Trail. The National Cycle Network has over 450 miles (724km) of sign-posted routes on quiet roads and around 40 miles (64km) of off-road paths to test even the most experienced...[more]

Water Sports

 Try sailing from the Solway Yacht Club at Kippford. Sailing regattas and cadet week in the summer.

The Galloway Sailing School on Loch Ken which has become increasingly popular as a fun but safe place to learn sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing etc. Especially good with children.Wet suits for hire. RYA Courses accredited. Weekly sailing courses available.

Water Skiing is also available at a different location on Loch Ken. Or you can try out knee-boarding, banana-boating, ringos etc. Wet suits come as part of the deal.

A tremendous variety of habitats – high barren hills, remote lochs,  tumbling rivers, swathes of conifer plantation, pockets of oak woodland, fertile lowlands and a rugged coastline that offer good bird watching at every season. The Solway is one of the most important estuaries in Britain holding up to 40,000 wildfowl and 83,000 waders during the winter period. Follow the Galloway Kite Trail, started with the release of 33 young birds in 2001 and now establishing as a new population. Ospreys have recently nested and one  returned in March 2005. Visit Keith Kirk's Dumfries & Galloway Natural History website for lots more information.

Dumfries and Galloway benefits from a mild climate thanks to the warming influences of the Gulf Stream. The favourable growing conditions,  free-draining,  lime-free soils and lack of hard frosts make possible many fine gardens such as Threave (National Trust), Logan Botanic Garden,  Galloway House , Castle Kennedy and Lochinch Gardens, Cally Garden and Nursery and the charm of  Elizabeth Macgregor’s Nursery of Violas and Cottage garden plants at Kirkcudbright. There is a  good brochure on the gardens and nurseries in Dumfries and Galloway by Visit Scotland.

There are also about 15 gardens open in Galloway under Scotlands Garden Scheme and a further 8 in nearby Dumfriesshire. For dates see http://www.gardensofscotland.org  but Catriona will be able to give you more  local info.

David Coulthard Museum
Twynholm boasts as being the home of this famous formula one driver and hosts the world’s most complete collection of F1 memorabilia in the museum.

Golf

There are over 30 golf courses in Dumfries and Galloway. You can buy a 3, 6, or 10-round pass and join in three different golf trails. Or just select one golf course whether it is Southerness – designed by Mackenzie Ross and one of the finest links tests in the U.K.; the hilly, scenic New Galloway Club, Kirkcudbright Golf Course with spectacular views over the town and estuary, or the informal golf course of Craigieknowes at Kippford; there is a golf course to suit you.

Walking

The mountains of Dumfries and Galloway offer plenty of remote and challenging walking and there are over 40 peaks that exceed 2000 feet, the highest of which is Merrick at 2766ft/843m.The chief characteristics of the southern uplands are sweeping grassy slopes - fine walking for a weekend break. The Southern Upland Way starts at Portpatrick on the S.W. coast of Scotland and runs 212miles /340kms to Cockburnspath on the East coast. The way is divided into 15 manageable, walking sections so you can choose a bit and length to suit you even if it is only a weekend. Galloway Forest Park is a 300 sq mile haven of forest and moorland, mountains and lochs with waymarked trails and masses of wildlife. Loch Trool is a favourite, but with the midges too! There are spectacular coastal walks along the heavily indented coastlines of the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea.   From 5 minutes and longer, you will find a walk to match your abilities. We especially like "25 Walks" by Tom Whitty, a Countryside Ranger. We have many other guides and maps for you to borrow too.