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Begin the day in Wigtown, Scotland’s first “National Book Town.” Sheer heaven for bookworms, this village has no fewer than a dozen book-related businesses within very close proximity, including The Bookshop, the largest secondhand one in Scotland. In between browsing, it would be a crime against cakes not to visit ReadingLasses Bookshop and Café for a hot drink and a decadent delight. (The huge, ever-changing selection here might include masterpieces like ras el hanout sponge cake topped with rosewater glace icing.) Late 180s: The legions in Britannia embroil themselves in politics and several leading figures were approached with a view to becoming Emperor. The tribes in Scotland appear from records to be left in peace while the Roman garrison ferments political agitation, ending temporarily with the assassination of Commodus but resurfacing in support of the governor Clodius Albinus. Ayrshire is rich farming country, with fewer sights than its neighbours; almost everything of interest is confined to the coast. The golf courses along its gentle coastline are among the finest links courses in the country, while fans of Robert Burns could happily spend several days exploring the author’s old haunts, especially at Ayr, the county town, and the nearby village of Alloway, the poet’s birthplace. AD: Flavius Stilicho, famed general and guardian of the young emperor Honorius campaigns in the north, as recorded by Claudian in 400: “Then spoke Britannia……Stillicho defended me when I too was about to be destroyed by peoples across the frontier, and the Scots stirred up all Hibernia, and the sea foamed with the pull of their oars. Thanks to Stillichos attentions, I would not fear the spears and javelins of the Scots, nor quake before the Picts”. Gildas however mentions the wall of stone and it appears that any occupation of southern Scotland was either given up or left in the hands of the allied buffer states after a season or two of campaigning at the most. Any remaining outlying forts are finally abandoned and Hadrian’s Wall given rough and ready repair.
AD: Urbicus campaigns in Scotland. Attempts to identify his campaigns are difficult as scholars tend to classify marching camps as either Flavian or Severan unless they are construction camps for work gangs next to the wall. The region even has it’s own Route 66-style road trip route, the South West Coastal 300 which you could explore for days. We opted to spend three nights in this region, using a central home base in Newton Stewart. I spent one week exploring the hidden gems that are waiting for you in southern Scotland including historic abbeys and stunning coastlines, quirky small towns and rolling hills, ruined castles and exotic gardens. This is my best-of!
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Explore this striking new land art that transformed a former coal mine into an incredible outdoor attraction. From the bird colonies and nature reserves on the east coast to the coastal walks and lighthouses of the west, the remote hills and mountains of the Southern Uplands to the lush banks of the River Tweed. The landscapes in the south of Scotland are incredibly diverse and so are the activities you can do there. Which brings me to… 3. The South has Something for Everyone
We stayed in a large holiday home, The Old School House, about 20 minutes walk from the High Street of Newton Stewart. It is located in a quiet residential area and has a whirlpool in the garden – luxury, especially after a rainy day on the road. No trip to the south-west of Scotland is complete without a stop in Wigtown, Scotland’s national book town. Bookworms, in particular, will love it here and could easily spend all day browsing the plethora of bookshops. This interactive map contains all the places I mentioned in this itinerary, including optional stops that I did not manage to visit myself. You can also find this interactive map here. Why should you visit South Scotland? Most people who arrive at one of the international airports in Glasgow or Edinburgh can only think about one thing: going north. They have been dreaming of the Scottish Highlands, the mountains and the valleys that they have seen all over blogs, in TV shows and on billboards.
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Covering an area of 77,933 sq. km, Scotland is 2 nd largest country in the United Kingdom. Located in the southeastern part of the country, on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth estuary is Edinburgh - the capital and the 2 nd most populous city of Scotland. It also serves as the United Kingdom’s 2 nd largest financial center. Located in the West Central Lowlands region of the country on the shores of the River Clyde is Glasgow – the largest and the most populous city of Scotland. It also serves as an industrial and trading center as well as one of Scotland’s largest seaports. Where is Scotland? The final stop of the day is Stranraer, a coastal town on the shores of Loch Ryan. You can walk along the refurbished pier and glimpse views of Arran and Ailsa Craig. But in recent times, the town has become increasingly well-known for its focus on music. To get the most out of the stunning scenery of this area, follow an easy coastal trail out to Killantringan Lighthouse. The loop-trail takes around 3-4.5 hours to complete. Stop 4: Live music in Stranraer AD: Construction of Hadrian’s wall and outlying forts (including Newstead) by elements of the II Augusta, VI Victrix and XX Valeria Victrix legions and detachments from the fleet (Classis Britannica). Including several revisions to the construction work and by moving forts onto the line of the running barrier from the old Stanegate line, building work is considered to have ceased only on Hadrian’s death in 138 AD. Clearly, there had been some dissent on Hadrians many “showy” policies and a revision to his policy regarding southern Scotland would dramatically change everything.
AD: Magnus Maximus, commander of the Roman Army in Britannia campaigns against the Picts and Scots, probably driving them (or their aristocracy) out of modern southern Scotland where they may have gained dominance. Maximus is popularly recorded as the forefather of federated “states” in southern Scotland with Galloway’s first ruler Antonius claiming dynastic descent from Maximus himself. The Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is more than a pleasant surprise. From the road and the car park you can only see layers of green hills, but when you walk closer, you see that they actually cover a narrow valley and a waterfall that drops 60 m from top to bottom.If you fancy a longer hike with some elevation, you could return to Melrose in time to climb the Eildon Hills. There are three summits, but you could easily also just focus on one if you have less time. The trail starts in the centre of Melrose,is straight forward and easy to follow but can be muddy at times. Sturdy hiking shoes with good grips are highly recommended, as is proper raingear and a map of the area. In terms of water bodies, Scotland boasts numerous lochs, or lakes, that contribute to its picturesque landscapes. The most famous of these is Loch Ness, which is not only one of the largest freshwater lakes in the British Isles but also the reputed home of the mythical Loch Ness Monster. Another significant loch is Loch Lomond, the largest freshwater lake in Britain by surface area, situated in the Trossachs National Park.
AD: Carausius, with the support of the British legions and substantial elements of the Rhine garrison creates the breakaway British and Gallic empire. The entrance to Rosslyn Chapel includes an exhibition at the visitor centre and entrance to the chapel. Inside the chapel, there are staff members to answer your questions and regular demonstrations to bring to life the time period in which the chapel was built.
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Dumfries: Dumfries is the largest town in the region and a popular stop for my people visiting the south of Scotland. I would have loved to explore the blossoming vegan food scene – especially the vegan menus at Cavens Arms and Mrs Green’s. There are also many other things to do in Dumfries, including the Dumfries Art Trail, the Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura and the Crichton Gardens. If you visit, you are in good company:Bonnie Prince Charlie, William Wallace and Robert theBruce have all spent time in Dumfries as well! AD: With Stillicho preoccupied on the eastern frontiers the British garrison acclaims as emperor Marcus, whom they murder then Gratian who shares a similar fate. He is replaced as emperor elect by Constantine III. Following the successful breaching of the Rhine frontier by swarms of Alans, Vandals and Suevi Constantine crosses to the continent and enjoys considerable success against these recent invaders as well as forces sent against him by the legitimate emperor Honorius. In 408 he sets up his permanent headquarters at Arles in southern Gaul, never to return to Britain. One of seven forest biking centres in southern Scotland – known collectively as the 7 Stanes (w scotland.forestry.gov.uk/activities/mountain-biking/7stanes) – Glentress Forest, two miles east of Peebles on the A72, has some of the best mountain biking in Scotland. There are five superb, carefully crafted purpose-built trails, colour-coded for difficulty, and a fantastic bike hire centre, The Hub (t 01721 72136, w www.glentressforest.com). Sir Walter Scott Many visitors are surprised to hear that the west coast of Scotland is blessed with fairly mild climate year-round – in fact, mild enough to allow palm trees to grow in people’s gardens!
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