By Gordon Irving

Where, in Scotland, can you find 200 miles of wild and varied coastline, awash with secret coves, smugglers' caves, and deserted little bays?

Or hills, rising no more than 2,800 feet (850 metres), just the place for family outings in spring, summer and autumn?

For the answer, go to Dumfries and Galloway, a still unspoiled area stretching from Langholm in the East to the bonnie village of Portpatrick in the West.

I'm a native of the area - "Doonhamers from Dumfries, they call us - but that's not why I commend it! It's because Scotland's south-west is one of the better places to get away from it all."

In the Logan Gardens, 14 miles south of Stranraer, I found palm trees and exotic plants in abundance. The Gulf Stream makes this the mildest part of Scotland. At nearby Port Logan is the famous pond, a tidal pool in the rocks, where the cod are so tame they come to be fed by hand.

The area covers over 2,500 square miles of diverse and beautiful countryside. Only 148,000 people live here, so there's lots of breathing space.

In the Galloway Hills and on the inland lochs every day is a delight for anglers, bird-lovers, botanists, hill walkers and photographers.

The Galloway Forest Park, north-west of Newton Stewart, covers 250 square miles of magnificent countryside, including the Merrick (2,765 feet), the highest hill in southern Scotland.

The energetic can tackle the Southern Upland Way from Portpatrick to Cocksburnspath, a long-distance footpath of some 212 miles.

The youngsters will be intrigued when they visit where famous people were born. Like John Paul Jones, the gardener's son who became the first Commander of the United States Navy. His cottage home is near Kirkbean, on the Solway. Or Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the blacksmith who built the world's first pedal bike in 1839 and was dubbed the "Devil on Wheels." His cottage home is at Keir Mill, near Thornhill.

Or Bonnie Annie Laurie, heroine of the song, who lived at Maxwelton House near Moniaive.

At Ruthwell, a Solway shore village east of Dumfries, you can see the cottage museum where Henry Duncan opened the world’s first savings bank.

In Dumfries is the old house where poet Robert Burns died, his favourite howff the Globe Inn (where his chair is preserved) and the Mausoleum where he is buried.

Wanlockhead is Scotland’s highest inhabited village. Drumlanrig, just north of Thornhill, is a 17th-century castle with classic furniture, precious paintings and an adventure woodland play area. Oh, and don't bypass the artists' town of Kirkcudbright after first making sure you pronounce it "Kir-Coo-Bree" !

Drummore, on the Mull of Galloway, is the most southerly village in Scotland. On a clear day you can see the coastline of Ireland, the Lake District mountains in Cumbria and the Isle of Man.

Stranraer, a cosy wee market town at the foot of Loch Ryan, is busy with ferry and hovercraft travellers crossing to and from Northern Ireland. Corsewall Point, where the loch meets the open sea, has a lighthouse converted into a small holiday hotel.

And at Gretna Green, the village where England meets Scotland, you can even get wed to your partner. Dozens of eloping couples have married here.

There's even a fun ceremony at the Blacksmith's Shop visitor centre where a "blacksmith" stages mock weddings for the amusement of your friends and fellow-tourists. It's all part of a holiday in this quiet, scenically beautiful and always romantic corner of Britain.

Click here to meet Author Gordon Irving

Links:

Famous Scot Robert Burns

Famous Scot John Paul Jones

Scottish Tourist Board Links