Castles & Gardens of South West Scotland

Monday

We travel north to Dumfries and Galloway, arriving late afternoon in Stranraer for our 4-night stay.

Tuesday

Our morning takes us to Portpatrick, a pretty town of pastel-coloured houses with its own harbour. Later, we visit the magnificent Castle Kennedy Gardens which are among the most famous in Scotland. The gardens host 75 acres of spectacularly designed loch-side landscape, a romantic garden paradise with quite literally something for everyone to enjoy.

Wednesday

Our day takes us along the eastern shore of Loch Ryan and the coast of Scotland to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The museum is a celebration of the early life and the enduring legacy of Scotland's national poet and is home to 5,000 Burns artefacts including his handwritten manuscripts.

Thursday

This morning we head east through Newton Stewart and along the coast to Gatehouse of Fleet. We have a break here where you can visit The Mill on the Fleet Visitor and Exhibition Centre. Discover the history of Gatehouse, enjoy the regional arts and crafts or lose yourself in the amazing bookshop. Then it is on to the Threave Garden & House - a landscaped beauty of a garden in all seasons and a haven for wildlife. Take a stroll through the secret garden, rockery and walled garden with the 19th-century Threave House as its backdrop. Later, we head for the harbour town of Kirkcudbright - a town that was a magnet for Scottish artists in the late 19th century and is now known as The Artists' Town.

Friday

Homeward Bound.