Kirkpatrick C2C – 3 day Bitesize Itinerary West

Portpatrick is a picturesque seaside village located on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula. It was once a busy port that served the ferry to Northern Ireland, and is now a serene holiday resort, with pastel-coloured houses and a stunning bay. To the south of the town, the ancient ruins of Dunskey Castle perch dramatically on the clifftops.

The Castle of St John sits in a prominent position in the centre of Stranraer and is a fine example of the tower houses built and used by Scottish Lairds in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Built around 1500 by the Adairs of Kilhilt, one of the most powerful families in Wigtownshire, it was later used as a military garrison and then as a jail. The fascinating story of the Castle and its many inhabitants can be found in the exhibitions on site.

Wigtown is Scotland’s Book Town, is a must visit for book lovers. The town holds The Wigtown Book Festival each year to celebrate literature and culture. The town hosts bookbinders, publishers and arguably the largest traditional second hand book-shop in Scotland outside of Edinburgh. It is also home to the printer of the smallest books in the world! Aside from books, Wigtown is home to the largest Local Nature Reserve in Great Britain, great place to see wildlife all year round.

Nestled on the edge of Newton Stewart, Crafty Distillery is a modern grain to glass distillery. It pumps out gallons of multi award winning tasty stuff and delivers panoramic views over the Galloway Hills. Here you can learn about their unique distilling approach and enjoy a taste of their award winning spirits.

The famous four star Creetown Gem Rock Museum is a unique, worldwide and world class, collection of gems, crystals, minerals and fossils. It’s one family’s collection and crammed full of wonderful specimens from all over the globe.

Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve is a paradise for walkers. With panoramic vistas over the stunning landscapes, there are sculptures by local environmental artists to be spotted amongst the landscape. It is home to spectacular birds of prey that hunt over the open landscape, including the peregrine falcon – the world’s fastest bird.

Kirkcudbright Galleries are the home to a nationally important art collection and host a wide range of temporary art and craft exhibitions. Learn the story of the Kirkcudbright ‘Art Colony’ through an audio-visual show “The Artists’ Town” and a permanent display of some of the best Kirkcudbright paintings in our collection.

The Dark Space Planetarium is a brand new, state of the art interactive experience for everyone. The exhibition space contains interactive science and space themed exhibits designed to enthuse and educate people of all ages. Visitors can also enjoy the immersive Planetarium domed cinema screen, enjoying virtual trips to the edge of the Universe, exploring inside the human body, and journeying around the Earth.

Castle Douglas is an 18th century market town and is the perfect destination for food lovers, nature lovers and history lovers alike. As Scotland’s only designated Food Town, Castle Douglas prides itself in its top quality, locally produced food and drink. So whether you’re eating out or discovering the wide array of wonderful produce available from local retailers, we know you’ll be delighted with your food and drink options!

Threave’s wonderful garden has been created over the years by students of the Trust’s School of Heritage Gardening – and is a fine example of landscaped beauty. The garden is divided into a series of smaller gardens to showcase different styles, including a rose garden, rockery and walled garden. A garden for all seasons and a haven for wildlife, with an osprey platform and bat reserve.

It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, spent the last years of his life. He died here in 1796 at the age of just thirty seven. The house shows us how the poet and his family lived in the late eighteenth century and is now a place of pilgrimage for Burns enthusiasts from around the world. The sales area has books, gifts and keepsakes, all with a Burns connection.

Situated in the town’s eighteenth century watermill on the west bank of the River Nith, the Robert Burns Centre tells the story of the renowned poet and lyricist’s last years spent in the bustling streets and lively atmosphere of Dumfries in the late eighteenth century. The exhibition showcases a precious collection of artefacts that are of national significance.