Walks And Cycle Routes

While Kippford itself has plenty to offer, the wider region of Dumfries has its own share of hidden gems. You have the choice of numerous forest footpaths, leading to and from the site, with the neighbouring village of Rockcliffe just a short walk through the countryside. There you can take in the views of Rough Island, Hestan Island, the Solway Firth and the Cumbrian Coast. Venture a little farther to Carlingwark Loch, near Castle Douglas, for a charming stroll along the water or have a walk along Sandyhills beach, located only 3 miles from our site. For cyclists, there are boundless trails to undertake, with over 450 miles of signposted cycle routes across the region. The most notable mountain biking trails are ‘7stanes’ or the 19km long ‘Phoenix Trail’, both in Mabie Forest or the ‘Red Trail’ in Dalbeattie Forest.

Exploring The History Of Dumfries

Dumfries and Galloway's turbulent past has left a legacy of many castles and historic monuments. Dulce Cor (better known as Sweetheart Abbey) is one of Scotland's most romantic spots, with its poignant tale of lost love. The ruins date back to 1275 and is within a 20 minute drive of Kippford. Other great monuments to visit include Drumlanrig, Caerlaverock and Threave Castles, the latter of which makes for a lovely walk around the picturesque gardens. Head to the village of Auldgirth and visit Ellisland Farm, the house that was built by Robert Burns in 1788 for his wife Jean Armour. Set on the river Nith, he lived at the farm with his family until 1791 and is the tranquil setting for many of his poems. A little further out is Clatteringshaws Loch, which houses the infamous 'Bruce's Stone', recalling Robert the Bruce's first victory in his quest to claim his crown.

Breakout By Car

We want to help you experience as much as possible on your trip to Kippford and whether by car or taking local buses, Dumfries has some of the best activities within Scotland. For music festival goers, Knockengorroch is held annually in Kirkcudbright and the popular Eden Festival is held at Raehills, near Lockerbie. While a little further afield, Newton Stewart holds the UK’s first (and only) dark sky park. Exceptionally dark night skies mean you will be able to see over 7000 shining stars, the bright band of the milky way and even planets, all with the naked eye.

Gift shops are plentiful in Castle Douglas, each one individually unique so the area is perfect for browsing and perhaps pick up some handcrafted gifts or other crafts. There are also some great places for grabbing lunch or for something a bit different, make a pit stop at Sulwath Brewery and go on a beer-tasting tour, or take away a few locally brewed ales from their onsite shop if you’re driving. Dumfries also has a strong art scene so there are many contemporary galleries to explore.

Fun For The Whole Family

The Laggan Outdoor activity centre has plenty on offer for different age groups. It houses one of Europe’s longest zip lines, as well as clay pigeon shooting, waterballing (April-October), segway tours, archery and grass sledging - all with instructors on hand. The Cream o’ Galloway Farm is another great day out and perfect for keeping the kids busy. There is a woodland adventure playground with attractions (such as the Flying Fox and Drop Slide), pedal karts, trampolining and nature trails. It is also where the famous Ice Cream is made, so grab a cone or some Cream o’ Galloway cheese in their cafe, while the rest of the family are off adventuring.

Children will also love Mabie Farm Park, located around 25 minutes drive from Kippford. The farm has a variety of friendly barnyard animals to pet and feed, including Shetland Ponies, Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, Welsh Cob Horses and chipmunks. There are also donkey rides, quad bikes, go karts and many other outdoor fun attractions. If you fancy getting out on the water, head to the Galloway Activity Centre at Loch Ken. Windsurfing and sailing courses are available, in addition to air pillows, kayaking, giant water slides and inflatables.

And There Is Plenty More..

Check out the videos below which showcase more adventures to be had around Dumfries and Galloway (credit: Visit Scotland) or for more on things to do a little more locally, continue to our Location page.