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Free attractions in Dumfries and Galloway
- Agnew Park
- Dalbeattie Museum
- Dock Park
- Eskrigg Nature Reserve
- Galloway Forest Park
- Grey Mares Trail Nature Reserve
- Mossburn Animal Centre
- Red Deer Range Trail
- Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum
- (A) St. Ninians Cave
- (B) Station Park
- (C) The Mill on the Fleet
- (D) The Mull of Galloway Trail
If you’d like to discover even more places to visit take a look at my Scottish Tourist Attractions Map – but don’t forget to check my Weather Forecast Map before you leave home.
Agnew Park
Address: Agnew Crescent, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, DG9 7JZ
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: +44 (1776) 703535
Email Address: karen.brownlie@dumgal.gov.uk
Website: Agnew Park
About: Agnew Park has a wide range of leisure facilities including a boating lake, a miniature railway that takes a complete tour of the park, a play island, an 18-hole putting green, and a mini car racing circuit. In addition, there is a café serving a range of hot and cold refreshments.
Dalbeattie Museum
Address: Southwick Rd, Dalbeattie, DG5 4BS
Opening Times: April to October: Mon – Sat 11:00 till 16:00
Tel Number: 01556 611657
Email Address::info@dalbeattiemuseum.co.uk
Website: Dalbeattie Museum
About: Dalbeattie Museum is a fascinating wee museum that was set up with a vision to record the town’s history through a collection of artefacts, displays, and photographs that have been chosen for their contribution to the social history of Dalbeattie.
Dock Park
Address: Dock Park, Dumfries, DG1 2RY
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 01387 245911
Email Address: contact@dumgal.gov.uk
Website: Dock Park
About: The most prominent feature of Dock Park is the nineteenth-century bandstand that plays host to frequent events throughout the year. The rest of the park borders a riverside that is extremely popular in summer, while a large children’s play park, a historic maze, and a Peter Pan-themed mini golf area are used by families year-round.
Eskrigg Nature Reserve
Address: Quaas Loaning, Lockerbie, DG11 1HY
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: N/A
Email Address: N/A
Website: Eskrigg Nature Reserve
About: Eskrigg Nature Reserve is a peaceful site that was once an old curling pond, but is now maintained by a local charity. There are various paths to follow around the adjacent woodland which offer visitors the chance to see plenty of wildlife, while a mountain bike trail is a favourite with those feeling a little more energetic.
Galloway Forest Park
Address: Creebridge, Newton Stewert, DG8 6AJ
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 01671 402420
Email Address: galloway@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Website: Galloway Forest Park
About: Galloway Forest Park covers an impressive three hundred square miles of prime forest in the heart of southern Scotland. Stretching from seashore to mountain, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife and visitors can frequently see red and roe deer and several species of birds of prey in its forest, moorland and lochs.
Grey Mares Trail Nature Reserve
Address: Moffat Valley, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, DG10 9DP
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 07713 786230
Email Address: information@nts.org.uk
Website: Grey Mares Trail
About: This spectacular trail features one of the highest waterfalls in the UK where the tumbling waters of Loch Skeen plunge 60 metres down the Moffat Water Valley. Walkers will often catch sight of ospreys, peregrine falcons and wild goats as they traverse the glacier-scarred terrain.
Mossburn Community Farm
Address: Mossburn Community Farm, Hightae, Lockerbie, DG11 1LE
Opening Times: Contact site for details
Tel Number: 01387 811288
Email Address: mossburnanimalcentre2@hotmail.com
Website: Mossburn Animal Centre
About: The Mossburn Animal Centre was established to care for abused, unwanted and neglected animals and is home to a wide variety of farm, domestic and exotic animals. The charity organization prides itself on providing education for children through its interesting tours and also features a tearoom and a shop.
Red Deer Range Trail
Address: Castle Douglas, DG7 2BL
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 0300 067 6156
Email Address: fcscotland@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Website: Red Deer Range Trail
About: The Red Deer Range offers visitors the chance to see over 60 red deer in their natural environment thanks to a purpose-built viewing area and hide. Numerous paths allow visitors to experience all areas of the forest and guided walks are available in summer.
Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum
Address: High Street, Sanquhar, Dumfries & Galloway, DG4 6BN
Opening Times: Apr to Sept: Tues to Sun 10:00 (14:00 Sun) to 17:00
Tel Number: +44 (1659) 50186
Email Address: dumfries.museum@dumgal.gov.uk
Website: Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum
About: This museum is dedicated to Sanquhar’s renowned knitting industry as well as the mines and miners of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel. The 18th-century tollbooth is a fascinating backdrop to the audiovisual presentations which include explanations of what prison life was like in Sanquhar jail.
St. Ninians Cave
Address: St Ninian’s Cave, Nr Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway, DG8
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 0131 668 8600
Email Address: hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Website: St. Ninians Cave
About: St. Ninians cave lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the beach of Physgill, close to Whithorn. Visitors can explore the dark and gloomy depths of the sea-cave where St. Ninian supposedly had a hermitage, while the stony beach is perfect for taking a relaxing afternoon stroll.
Station Park
Address: Beattock Road, A701, Moffat, DG10 9HF
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 01683 220 697
Email Address: beechgrove.leisurecentre@dumgal.gov.uk
Website: Station Park
About: This family park and boating pond, set in beautiful surroundings, is a superb place for families to enjoy a wide range of activities. In addition to the manicured gardens there is a boating lake, a putting green, an interactive water feature, and a children’s play park.
The Mill on the Fleet
Address: High Street, Gatehouse of Fleet, DG7 2HS
Opening Times: Mar to Oct: 10:00 – 17:00
Tel Number: 01557 814099
Email Address: millonthefleet@btopenworld.com
Website: Mill on The Fleet
About: The Mill on the Fleet was built in 1788 as a cotton spinning mill, but today it is used as an exhibition centre for the heritage of the local area. The main exhibition floor houses displays that provide a glimpse into the life and times of Gatehouse and Fleet Valley, and there is also a café and a bookshop.
The Mull of Galloway Trail
Address: Various points of entry. See website for details.
Opening Times: Open year-round.
Tel Number: 01776 707408
Email Address: info@mullofgallowaytrail.co.uk
Website: Mull of Galloway Trail
About: The Mull of Galloway Trail runs from Mull to Stranraer, and Stranraer to Glenapp, across 35 miles (56.33 km) of stunning south Scotland terrain that not only provides breathtaking views but is also rich in wildlife. Visitors to the trail will frequently see red deer, red squirrels, seals and a wide variety of wild Scottish flora and fauna.
Discover more free places to visit in Scotland with: The Best FREE Places to Visit in Scotland – Ultimate Visitor Guide.
More free places to visit in Scotland
- Glen Ogle – Stirling: Complete Visitor Guide
Glen Ogle lies in a particularly scenic area of Stirlingshire, 2 miles northwest of the village of Lochearnhead. The Glen is a popular tourist destination thanks to the Sustrans Route 7 which offers a superb cycle and walking route through the glen, where stunning views are on offer from Loch Earn to the Glen Ogle railway viaduct and beyond. - Seacliff Beach – East Lothian: Complete Visitor Guide
Seacliff Beach is situated 5 miles south of North Berwick in East Lothian. This remote beach is overlooked by the dramatic ruins of Tantallon Castle and is best known for its unusual sandstone harbour which is said to be the smallest in the UK. - Preston Mill – East Lothian: Complete Visitor Guide
Preston Mill is located next to the River Tyne in picturesque farming country in the heart of East Lothian. The mill dates from the 18th-century and was used commercially until the 1950s but is now open as a tourist attraction managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Discover this unique historic attraction with this guide which includes a 360° virtual tour. - Silver Sands of Morar – Inverness: Complete Visitor Guide
The Silver Sands of Morar are a series of celebrated beaches located on the Morar Peninsula, south of Mallaig. These stunning white-sand beaches are a favourite spot for tourists due to the crystal-clear turquoise waters along this stretch of coastline, as well as the stunning views of the Small Isles.
