Recently, we came across a list of the 100 Things to do in Scotland before you die, it kinda disappointed us that there was nothing on it directly related to Dumfries and Galloway.
So, we decided to put a post out on the DGWGO social media channels to see what all our amazing followers would come up with. To be honest, we were blown away with the response, the post got quickly shared, and we were just flooded with comments and ideas.
After a lot of hard work we have compiled them into a list of 100 things to do in Dumfries and Galloway before you die. There were actually a lot more we could have added, and we’re pretty sure, many of you can come up with even more ideas.
Please do comment at the bottom of this post to add your ideas too.
Basically, it’s a wee taster of ideas to inspire you to discover the best of our region. We know Dumfries and Galloway is a spectacular region, that offers so much, yet is not living up to its full potential and is often overlooked by many as a place to come and visit, play, learn, enjoy, live and love.
We have added a few photos too (well, of the ones we have done anyway). We just hope the list inspires you to enjoy Dumfries and Galloway for all the right reasons! R.B
So here it is, in no particular order, 100 things to do in Dumfries & Galloway before you die (as voted by the DGWGO community)
1. See the Red Kites at Bellymack, Laurieston
2. Follow the Spring Fling Trail
3. Eat Fish and Chips at Kirkcudbright Harbour
4. Climb The Merrick, Highest Hill in The Southern Uplands – the 144 mile view between Merrick and Snowdon is the longest line of sight in the British Isles
5. Visit the Grey Mares Tail at Moffat
6. Have a dram at The Globe Inn – Robert Burns favourite howff
7. Climb to the Top of the Mull of Galloway Light House – Scotland’s most Southerly point
8. Buy a stamp and post a letter at Sanquhar Post office – the oldest post office in the World
9. Visit the Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Eskdalemuir
10. Go to the Eden Festival and see the Fire show
11. Visit the Moffat Toffee Shop
12. Take a walk inside Sweetheart Abbey – founded in 1273 by Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway
13. Take part in the World Flounder Tramping Championships at Palnackie
14. Visit Saint Ninians Cave , the Birth place of Christianity in Scotland
15. Visit WWT Caerlaverock, the best place in the UK to go birding in winter
16. Catch the Boat across to Threave Castle
17. Have an Ice Cream at Cream O’Galloway
18. Go to The Big Burns Supper– Europe’s Biggest Winter Fringe Festival
19. Bake an Ecclefechan Tart
20. Walk from Rockcliffe to Sandyhills along the cliffs and Coastal footpath
21. Have a Pint of Galloway Gold at Sulwath Brewery
22. Watch the Galloway Hills Rally Special Stage
23. Go to a Rugby Match
24. Go to Chancers Night Club in Dumfries
25. Visit the birth place of Peter Pan at Moat Brae house Dumfries
26. Go to the Stranraer RNLI Parkfest
27. Put a Stone on the Witness Cairn at the Isle of Whithorn in memory of a loved one
28. Visit the Blacksmith’s Anvil at Gretna Green.
29. Visit Bruce’s Stone at Glentrool.
30. See The Wild Goats in the Galloway Forest Park.
31. Mountan Bike on the 7 Stanes
32. visit the Devils Porridge Exhibition
33. Go to see the Solway Sharks Ice Hockey team play a match
34. Go to the Moniaive Folk Festival or Blue Grass Festival
35. Walk to the top of Criffel and look right across the Solway
36. Visit the beautiful estuary village of Kippford
37. Go to a D&G Farmers market
38. Visit the Gavin Maxwell memorial at Monreith
39. Go to the Kirkcudbright Tattoo
40. Go on the Dumfries Ghost Walk
41. Visit Drumlanrig Castle
42. Walk Around the Garden of Cosmic Speculation at Portrack
43. Visit the spectacular coastal village of Portpatrick
44. Go to the Moffat Vintage and Classic Car Rally, the biggest in Scotland
45. Go to a local Agricultural show ( they are not just for farmers)
46. Visit the Big Water of Fleet viaduct ( used in some scenes of the film the 39 steps)
47. Visit Southerness Lighthouse the second oldest lighthouse in Scotland.
48. Stand in the Middle of mainland Scotland’s Largest stone circle the Twelve Apostles
49. Spend a day paddling at Mossyard Beach (or any other beach on over 200 miles of D&G coastline)
50. Contemplate the universe by lying down on a Rosnes Bench
51. Pan for gold in Wanlockhead (someone recently found £10,000 in gold nuggets)
52. Climb up to the striding arches
53. Go on a nocturnal wildlife tour
54. Look up at the stars at night
55. Vist Ellisland Farm, home of Robert Burns
56. Have a go on the Loch Ken wobbly Water Park
57. Go to the Wickerman Festival
58. Visit Wigtown, Scotland’s Book-town and buy a book
59. Go Fishing
60. Have a round of Golf on Scotland’s most southerly Golf course at Saint Medans (or any other of D&Gs many golf courses)
61. Walk the Annandale Way
62. Visit Lincluden Abbey
63. Have a go on one of Europe’s longest Zip wires
67. Walk to Heston Island
68. See a local band play a local gig at a local venue. (D&G has some amazing musicians & venues)
69. See the Spring lambs frolic in the fields.
70. Go on the Kirkcudbright Arts and crafts trail
71. Visit Portpatrick Folk festival
72.Visit the Countries only round tower house at Orchardton tower
73.Visit Dumfries Aviation Museum and sit in a jet fighter
74. Sleep in a yurt
75. Stay in the world’s narrowest hotel
76. Drive along the Raiders Road and stop at the otter’s pool
77. Visit Britain’s only triangular castle at Caerlaverock
78. Visit a Museum (we have an amazing amount of history in this region to learn and enjoy)
79. Fly a kite at Sandyhills beach
80. Go Pony Trecking
81 . Watch Queen of the South at Palmerston Park (or any of our long established football teams)
82. Visit one of Dumfries and Galloway’s many Megalithic sites
83. Walk among dinosaurs
84. Make a chocolate duck
85. Walk amongst the palm trees of Galloway
86. Walk in the footsteps of Robert the Bruce
87. Visit Galloway’s famous Movie locations
88. Try Clay Pigeon Shooting
89. Eat Loch Ryan oysters.- The only wild native oysters in the UK.
90. Make Galloway Cheddar on Toast.
91. Have a glass of Scottish Cider
92. Visit a distillery
93. Go to one of the regions Riding of the Marches events
94. Walk along the Balcary Cliffs and Rascarell cliffs
95. Hug a Tree
96. Become a Triathlete
97. Be a Loony Dooker
98. Go for a walk in the Park
99. Go take photos ( and share them on DGWGO)
100. Go to one of Thornhill’s Music Festivals, electrics fields or the Thornhill Music Festival
We hope you like the list , please do let us know if you can think of anything else by adding it on the comments box below , and if you do anything on the list in the next year or so , do feel free to post your pictures on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DGWGO
All photos copyright of R.B Photography
