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Dumfries & Galloway’s Landis Farm Caravan Park Triumphs in National Awards

Credit: Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Certificated Location (CL) of the Year 2023 Awards

Landis Farm, situated just outside New Abbey, has been honoured with the title of ‘Certificated Location (CL) of the Year 2023’ for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The accolade was awarded by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, celebrating the exceptional quality and serene beauty that this region has to offer.

Landis Farm, run by Colin and Sandra Carruthers, holds a special place in the hearts of many locals and visitors alike. This campsite is situated on a working farm with a rich family history spanning over 90 years. Its serene location, nestled amidst the picturesque village of New Abbey, has long been cherished for its peaceful atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings.

Visitors to New Abbey are drawn to the historical Sweetheart Abbey, which dates back to the 13th century, and the idyllic Nith Estuary. The campsite’s proximity to iconic landmarks like the 150-foot Waterloo Monument and the panoramic views from Criffel Hill makes it a haven for those seeking tranquil escapes and breathtaking scenery.

Perfectly positioned on the South West Coastal 300 Route, it’s a convenient stopover for travellers exploring Dumfries and Galloway.

The site offers hardstanding pitches, all equipped with electric hook-ups, ensuring a comfortable stay. Facilities include a wheelchair-accessible toilet and shower block, as well as free Wi-Fi. This small, family-friendly site is not just about serenity; it’s also dog-friendly, allowing families to bring their four-legged members along.

One of the standout features of Landis Farm is its accessibility to local attractions on foot. Footpaths leading from the farm open up the opportunity to explore the stunning Nith estuary, visit the remarkable Waterloo Monument, or hike Criffel Hill. A short ten-minute walk will take you to the heart of New Abbey, where you can explore Sweetheart Abbey, a Cornmill open to the public, and enjoy the village’s amenities, including a small shop, a village pub, an award-winning tea room, and a gift shop. Don’t forget to say hello to the farm’s residents, including goats, chickens, and cattle.

Landis Farm Caravan and Motorhome site has rightfully earned its place as the ‘Certificated Location (CL) of the Year 2023’ for Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s a testament to the region’s beauty, the warm hospitality of the Carruthers family, and the serenity that makes Dumfries and Galloway a truly exceptional destination for campers and nature enthusiasts. Congratulations to Landis Farm on this well-deserved national recognition.

Tennessee Students Visit D&G Citizens Advice Service

Tennessee students visit D&G Citizens Advice Service
Phil Stewart (Left) and Jane Flanagan (right) of Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service, with Professor Dennis Duncan, Assistant Professor Victoria Ayres and students from Tennessee Tech.

From the Great Smoky Mountains to the Galloway Glens. Last week Dumfries welcomed a group of agricultural education students and professors from Tennessee Tech University, close to Nashville, to take part in a community service project.

During their short stay, some of the group made a stop at Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (D&G CAS), where CEO Phil Stewart outlined how the service is available to help all residents of the region with a wide range of issues, including benefits, debt and money, employment, health, housing, family matters, and many more.

Professor Dennis Duncan commented, “I was impressed by their true passion to serve those in need in any capacity possible while keeping specific details private and confidential. Another important factor is that there is no fee for the service”. Third-year student, Jessica Delong, added, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, when you walk through the doors, help is there for you”.
Phil Stewart, CEO of Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service said, “It was great to meet Dennis, his colleague Victoria Ayres and some of the students to give them an overview of all the great work we undertake across the region. It was interesting to hear from them how our work correlated to similar work in their home cities and to hear about their studies and career ambitions”.

If you would like to know more about the services that D&G CAS provides or are interested in volunteering then please contact us by telephone (0300 303 4321) or email ([email protected]). Self-help information is also available via the website: https://www.dagcas.org/get-advice/

 

 

Dog Friendly Celebration Event in Castle Douglas

Dog-friendly celebration event in Castle Douglas
Jade Earley, General Manager of WCF Pet & Equestrian

DOG owners can treat their pets to a range of canine-friendly experiences at a charity celebration event in Castle Douglas this month.

WCF’s Pet & Equestrian store on New Market Street is holding the event on Saturday, October 28 to mark the launch of its own brand dog food.

The in-store event will include an afternoon tea designed especially for dogs with treats such as dog-friendly cupcakes and Pawsecco, complimentary goodie bags, and a special selfie-stand. There will also be free nutritional advice and one-to-one sessions for solving common pet problems.

The WCF team will be raising money for its chosen charity, Kirkcudbright-based Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice, with a collection on the day, and bags pre-filled with items selected specifically to support its work available to purchase and donate.

Jade Earley, General Manager of WCF Pet & Equestrian, said: “The event aims to celebrate everything we love about dogs, while also raising money for The Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice to give something back in recognition of the brilliant work they do.”

The celebration day, which runs from 10am to 4pm, also features pop-up shops from local artists and makers, a free prize draw to win WCF vouchers, and competitions including the chance for pets to become WCF’s next Top Canine Model and feature on its social media channels.

The event marks the launch of WCF’s premium own brand dry dog food, The Lakes Collection, which has been inspired by the company’s long-standing Cumbrian heritage and connection with the Lake District. The brand includes four products: Lakes Legacy, Lakes Heritage, Lakes Established and Lakes Pioneer. Manufactured in the UK from responsibly sourced ingredients, it is high in quality protein and contains naturally sourced vitamins and minerals with no artificial colours or preservatives.The range has been specifically designed to suit different nutritional needs, with staff on hand to offer advice on the best product for Individual pets.

For more information about the event, visit the Castle Douglas store’s Facebook page. Free goodie bags for dogs available on a first come, first served basis.

 

Two Dumfries & Galloway Forests In The Top 15 In UK To Visit

TWO DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY FORESTS IN THE TOP 15 IN UK TO VISIT

HomeToGo have released a ranking of the UK’s 50 top forests to visit this autumn Dalbeattie Forest comes in 9th position and Mabie Forest is 11th.

Using exclusive price and inventory data, alongside insights as to hectares covered, autumnal hours of sunshine, average rainfall, and under-the-radar status, HomeToGo has unearthed and evaluated the 50 best forests to visit as the weather turns crisp this year. Featuring iconic locations alongside off-the-beaten-path beauty spots, the list provides plenty of inspiration for breaks across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with forests and woodlands in the Snowdonia, Cairngorms, and North York Moors National Parks, as well as the Isle of Wight, Mourne, and Antrim Coast and Glens Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty all making it into the top 20.

Whether you’re searching for a spot for woodland walks or moments of tranquility in nature, it’s time to lace your boots, fill up a flask of tea, and wander with us into the list of the 50 best forests to visit in autumn 2023.

9. Dalbeattie Forest, Scotland

With an adventure playground, a visit to Dalbeattie Forest will keep the whole family happy. Of this destination’s waymarked routes, families with younger children might also enjoy the gentle, mile-long Birch Trail. Walkers can find even more charming autumnal views on the Plantain Loch Trail, with its picturesque waterside setting, while the Quarry Trail offers insights as to Dalbeattie’s industrial heritage.

How HomeToGo Produced This Guide

A shortlist of forests and woodlands in the United Kingdom was collated using information from the websites of UK tourism boards and organisations such as Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales, and NI Direct*. To rank these destinations, HomeToGo researched a number of data points to form four ranking categories, calculating a Serenity Score, a Price Score, a Rain & Shine Score, and a Room to Explore Score for each location. After obtaining the raw data, HomeToGo assigned each data point a representative numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the least positive data point and 10 representing the most positive data point. The hypothetical “perfect score” would therefore be 40 out of 40. The following equation was used to calculate this for every factor:

Score(i) = 5 · (x(i) – xmin ) / (xmax – xmin ) + 5

Serenity Score: The forest with the lowest search volume, as taken from Semrush, in combination with exclusive search insights from travellers using hometogo.co.uk, was awarded a score of 10. The remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher according to the above equation.

Price Score: Exclusive HomeToGo data was used to find the median nightly cost of accommodation during autumn (23rd September 2023 – 21st December 2023) in the surrounding area of each forest. The area with the lowest median price per night was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Price data was collected in September 2023 and prices are subject to change.

Rain & Shine Score: HomeToGo used insights from each destination’s nearest climate station, made available by the Met Office, to record the average hours of sunshine and millimetres of rainfall for the months of October and November in each location. The destination with the most hours of sunshine across the two months was given a score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher. The destination with the least rainfall across the two months was given a score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Averages of the two scores were then calculated to find each destination’s final and overall Rain & Shine Rating.

Room to Explore Score: HomeToGo used information from tourism board portals, alongside the websites for organisations such as the Woodland Trust and Forestry England, to ascertain in hectares the size of each forest. The destination covering the most hectares was given a score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher.

* In order to facilitate the surfacing of lesser-known, hidden gem forests, the ten largest forests in the UK were not included on this list.

Gallaberry Bridge Repair Breakthrough Welcomed

Gallaberry Bridge repair  breakthrough Welcomed

A conditional decision by Crown Estate Scotland to repair and reopen the closed Gallaberry Bridge, near Lockerbie for pedestrian use has been welcomed.

The news was confirmed at a virtual meeting including the landowner’s director of property Oster Milambo, Local MP David Mundell and local community campaigner and walking enthusiast George Trudt.

The metal and timber structure spanning the Dryfe Water at Maxwell’s Thorn north-west of the town was designated unsafe due to flood damage in spring 2022.

Mr Mundell wrote and held discussions with Crown Estate Scotland to highlight the local concerns about the prolonged closure of the bridge.

In a letter to the MP, Mr Milambo states: “A significant amount of background work has been required to establish and review options and to inform decision-making.

“However, having carefully considered the legal and business cases for reinstatement of the bridge and the strong local interest in restoring pedestrian access, Crown Estate Scotland has concluded that there is a case to restore the bridge to a 7.5 tonne vehicular capacity.

“This will allow pedestrian access, but heavier farm machinery will still be required to use a longer route.”

Subject to there being no increase in estimated costs, Crown Estate Scotland state they hope repair work on the flood-damaged bridge could begin next spring although point out there is no legal requirement for them to do so.

Mr Mundell said: “Whilst it is disappointing the crossing will not be reopened to vehicular and heavier farm traffic because of the high costs, the compromise plan by Crown Estate Scotland is a significant step forward.

“The route is valued by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, has been appreciated by generations of local people and I’m grateful the landowner listened to the community concerns.”

Mr Trudt stated he was encouraged Crown Estate had also shown an interest in the wider local paths network, adding: “They recognise the importance of the paths to people in the community for getting continued enjoyment from the great outdoors.

“We are not there yet but there is at least a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel or should I say bridge!”

Duo of Dark Tours Set to Haunt Dumfries!!

For lovers of legends, horrid history and dastardly doings, there’s a treat in store for you this weekend, when award-winning storytellers, tour guides and paranormal researchers – Mostly Ghostly – take to the streets with a duo of dark tours, the Dumfries Ghost Walk and Ghosts and Graverobbers tour! On Sunday 22nd October, the team will bring a dark dimension to the historic town of Dumfries, part of a week of celebrations on the run up Mostly Ghostly’s 15th birthday, and the spookiest date in the calendar – Halloween. Taking place across Dumfries and Galloway, the festivities will feature a host of new tours and events, blended with firm fan favourites.

Part one of what promises to be an eerily entertaining evening is given over to the Dumfries Ghost Walk; the team’s flagship walking tour, which launched on 31st October 2010, and continues to be very popular. The ghost walk delves into some of the most chilling events in over 800 years of local history, also showcasing the spookier side of the town, with a promise guests will never see Dumfries in the same light again…

Giving an insight into the tour, Team Founder Kathleen Cronie said:

“We specialise in exploring the darker side of human nature; harsh times when dreaded punishments were meted out to those who fell foul of the law, their neighbours and in some cases, families. Guests can anticipate tales of a dread pestilence that put a stranglehold on the town, historic executions and the injustices of the witch-hunting era which left a permanent stain on our history. Entwined around these gripping insights are a spine-tingling collection of local ghost stories, some tying in with historic events, others witnessed by unsuspecting people going about their daily business…”

Adding an unnerving twist, numerous guests have come forward over the years to report strange experiences. Sharon from Dumfries had an unusual encounter on the site of the old Buccleuch Street Prison yard; “I had felt someone pressing against me on the right-hand side a couple of times – I just presumed someone was standing too close to me so moved and looked over but no one was that close to me. I didn’t say anything and then when we were walking off from that spot another guest mentioned she’d felt something down at the same place! Then I told them what I’d felt – quite weird.”  On the same night, a woman reported feeling a cold hand on her face…

And if that wasn’t enough, guests have the opportunity to experience Ghosts and Graverobbers! The street and graveyard-based walking tour will cover a range of darkly dramatic subjects; ghosts, in the sense of spirits who return to haunt a particular place and also the type that is a trace, an echo of the past, something grim and repellent that the town may prefer to forget… Graverobbers certainly fall into the latter category!

Kathleen goes on to explain:

“The days of the Resurrection Men are a fascinating period in history and our ghastly tour aims to bring alive some of the stories linked to those unsavoury characters that terrorised our region, and the ingenious methods they employed.”

Guests will discover eerie, unsettling accounts as they wander in trepidation through the town’s shadowy, dimly lit streets and two historic churchyards, each brooding with Gothic atmosphere…

Team member John Hill said:

“Many burial grounds throughout the country bore witness to the devilish deeds of the bodysnatchers, when the dead were ruthlessly raised from their graves to supply the anatomist’s tables in cities such as Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.”

Summing up, Kathleen said:

“Ghosts and Graverobbers burrows deeper into the town’s extensive past to unearth some truly compelling accounts. From a harrowing court trial to a grisly execution, stories of The Killing Times to a hapless character whose love of drinking nearly led to a date with dissection, we hope that all of our tales will stimulate thought, discussion and maybe just a fraction of fear…”

With passionate guides, gripping history and thrilling ghost stories aplenty, dare you venture into old Dumfries for a jittery journey through the town’s frightful past?

  • Tour dates and times: Sunday 22nd November, Dumfries Ghost Walk starts at 5pm, Ghosts and Graverobbers Tour starts at 7:45pm – meet at The Midsteeple.
  • Tickets are available online at Ticketsource and at the Midsteeple Box Office in Dumfries.

St John Scotland Dumfries Area Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary

Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting the celebration of 25 years of St John Scotland in our region.

A private reception will take place on Friday 20 October 2023 at 2pm at the Dumfries Baptist Church Hall. Depute Convener, Councillor Gail Macgregor, and Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries Fiona Armstrong will be participating.

Councillor Gail Macgregor said: ‘‘It is with immense pride that Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting such a worthy organisation as St John Scotland. The purpose of the event is to recognise and celebrate the commitment of the volunteers who provide an invaluable service by transporting cancer patients to appointments locally, and to hospitals in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.
“Their service ensures that the people of Dumfries and Galloway have one less worry when going through their cancer journey because they know they will get to and from their appointments safely, with caring and trained people. I am looking forward to meeting this amazing band of volunteers being able to thank them personally for their outstanding service.”
Andy Brown, Area Secretary of St John Scotland, Dumfries added: “We are very pleased that Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting this event, and that the Depute Convenor Cllr Gail Macgregor is attending. We are also delighted that the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries Fiona Armstrong is able to be with us.
“The volunteering over the past 25 years by our founding committee, as well as past and present committee members, our treasurers, secretaries, press officers, patient transport co-ordinators and our colleagues at the oncology department of Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary have all contributed greatly to this service. But none of this could have been achieved without our volunteer drivers. Come rain or shine they are always there to transport patients, without them there would be no service. Our grateful thanks to all of the St John team.”

 

Come and watch the Scottish Ploughing Championships in Ayrshire

Come and watch the Scottish Ploughing Championships in Ayrshire
Vintage-R-McKechnie-Photo

For only the second time in its history, the Scottish Ploughing Championships, which take place on 27th and 28th October, will be hosted in Ayrshire.

 

Monktonhill Farm, Prestwick, Ayrshire will see ploughing commence at 9.30am on the Friday and on Saturday ploughing will witness a parade to the plots prior to the commencement of the ploughing. In addition, there will be an array of stands and activities to keep visitors entertained all day, as well as an educational area, run by RHET, for children.

 

For 2023, one of the best ploughers in the world, Andrew Mitchell Snr, is coming out of retirement and competing at Monktonhill Farm and so competitors are gearing up for a tight contest. Mr Mitchell has rarely been beaten on home soil and a number of competitors are keen to give him a run for his money.

 

Winners of certain classes also get the opportunity to compete at the World Ploughing Championships in Estonia in 2024 and so there is much to plough for!

 

Hugh Currie, Director of the Scottish Ploughing Championships Management Committee, said:

 

“We are very grateful to the owners of Monktonhill Farm for allowing us the space to host this year. Ayrshire is traditionally a livestock area and so it’s superb to find such a top-quality arable farm keen to work with us.
“This year we have 17 different classes which include small tractors, vintage ploughs, horses and the chance for young people to get involved and compete.
“We also have competitors from all four nations this year, for the first time in a while, so it’s great to have some nationwide competition! Ploughing is highly competitive and it isn’t easy. The best way to explain good ploughing to a non plougher would be that you’re aiming for the ground to look like corduroy – dead straight, all the same, nice and even and dead level. Each competitor hones his or her equipment like a Formula 1 racing car and it really is a case of marginal gains – combined with a bit of luck.
“Over and above the competition, The Scottish Ploughing Championships are a great day out for farming and non-farming folk alike. We have vintage machinery, three pairs of horses coming along to do a demonstration, trade stands, food stalls, craft stalls and lots to see and do. It’s a great fun day with the chance to meet old and new friends and socialise. There is also a farm shop on site for those wishing to stock up on local produce.
“The championships have also paired up with RHET, The Royal Highland Education Trust, with four schools visiting on the Friday and a classroom on wheels open on the Saturday for children and families to pop in and learn more about food, farming, and ploughing of course. It’s really important to all of the committee that we make the link between what we do and the production of food and give members of the public the chance to learn and have fun when they visit the championships.
“I’d highly recommend coming along on 27th or 28th to see what ploughing championships are all about – you’ll have fun!”

 

  • To find out more about the Scottish Ploughing Championships, visit: www.scotplough.co.uk
  • An OnFARM podcast about the Scottish Ploughing Championships has been broadcast on the OnFARM channel – to listen, please visit www.on-farm.co.uk

 

  • Visitor entry to the championships:

Adults £10
Over 65s £5
Under 16s FREE
Pay on arrival (cash and card payment available)
Venue: Monktonhill Farm, Prestwick, Ayrshire, KA9 1UL

Travelling Gallery to Visit Stranraer

Travelling Gallery to Visit Stranraer

‘You might want to note this date in your diary if you live in Stranraer.

For one day only, the Travelling Gallery will be in town. On Wednesday, the 1st of November, you will find it outside the Library and it is FREE.

Travelling Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in a bus, will visit Dumfries and Galloway this November, with its latest exhibition, Take Care, a group show exploring our relationship to the non-human things we care for in an often isolated society.

Artists include Uma Breakdown, Gwenan Davies, Ellie Kyungran Heo, Laura Wilson and Joy Baek with Sculpture Placement Group.

Working across a variety of mediums the artworks in the exhibition look at everything from the intimacy of baking, where artist Laura Wilson’s new video, You Would Still Almost Expect To Find It Warm, presents growing, gloopy, fresh dough as a living organism that is alive with yeast; to the humble house plant where Ellie Kyungran Heo’s moving image work, Plantarians: appendix, explores our care of house plants asking, “Why is it that we place a plant in a pot, constricting its ability to grow and occupy physical space?”.

Continuing our relationship to non-human things, artist Uma Breakdown presents their video game Animal Agency, the multi-layered click-and-point game invites the player to work with animal-like creatures to move between a number of rooms and spaces. Gwenan Davies’ paintings then explore our ‘in-between’ times as she observes the ritual and social function of the coffee break, turning a sea of abandoned coffee cups into a surreal landscape.

Finally, Travelling Gallery is collaborating with Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) to exhibit the sculpture, Here, My Waiting by Joy Baek, from their Loan scheme. The SPG Loan scheme works with artists to extend the life-cycle of artworks that are currently in long-term storage, allowing people to care for and enjoy artwork, often outside of a gallery context.

The ‘Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands’ Initiative Is Launched With £1,000 Grants Available For Tree Planting Across The Region

The ‘Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands’ Initiative is launched, with £1,000 grants available for Tree Planting across the region.
Mcnabb Laurie (D&G Woodlands) and Jonathan Barrett (DGC Env Team) 2

Could a grant of up to £1,000 towards trees, tree guards and protection help you plant some trees this winter? The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme is designed to support small scale planting of native trees across Dumfries & Galloway, delivering biodiversity, carbon capture and landscape benefits for all.

 

The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme aims to assist projects that are planting up to 0.25 hectares of native trees, with funds able to support the actual purchase of the trees and the tree protection. Full information about the Scheme is available here: https://gallowayglens.org/projects/south-of-scotland-tree-planting-grant-scheme/.

 

The Scheme was launched in Dumfries & Galloway in 2021, with more than 22,000 trees planted so far. This year’s scheme is now open for applications, with support and administration now provided by ‘Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands’, a new, not-for-profit initiative established in the region to support trees, habitats and people as we look to respond to the climate and biodiversity crises. The Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands Initiative is supported by a range of partners including The Woodland Trust and Borders Forest Trust. This month has seen the appointment of McNabb Laurie as Project Officer.

 

To make an enquiry about the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme, or for an application form, contact McNabb on 07538 798837 or on [email protected].

Speaking about the scheme and new role, McNabb said:

“It is easy to see the biodiversity and climate crises as beyond our influence, but Dumfries & Galloway has a really important role to play on the national stage, and we can be part of the solution.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is set up on a proactive basis to seek to support habitat improvements and to respond to emerging opportunities amidst the challenges. The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme is a perfect example of how people can deliver biodiversity and landscape benefits that will benefit future generations. If you are thinking of planting some trees this winter, please do get in touch.”
 

For more information, follow ‘Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands’ on social media or sign up for the newsletter here: https://hotmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d4fd35eab2f6bdec609621499&id=412c42d63b.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.

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