Feast your eyes - and appetite - on the wonders of west Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway is often overlooked by tourists travelling to the Highlands. But do you want scenic drives along coastal roads, densely wooded forest tracks or high passes? Want to indulge with a slice of ‘Vicar’s Vice’ cake or taste a wee dram from the local whisky distillery? Then this region is for you. But it’s also an area steeped in history. Edward I of England found Dumfries and Galloway to be one of the most irritating yet important areas of Scotland. Not only was it a key route to Ireland, but it was also the plotting ground for two of Scotland’s loudest voices for independence: William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Given its pivotal position, it’s no surprise that a wealth of castles were built to defend the land. Within an easy drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow, it is also connected to the rest of the country by the M6. So if discovery is your aim, why not give the Highlands a miss this year?