hscot2
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SCOTLAND Rich rolling farmland, rugged sea coasts and Clyde islands characterise the South of Scotland. Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott all lived in this land of ancient abbeys, castles and historic houses. p4 hospitality scotland T he real Scotland starts right at the border. Different accents in the shops and different names for beer in pubs are just two of the ways in which Scotland stamps its own personality straight away. Even the Old Blacksmiths Shop Centre at Gretna Green right at the border is a reminder that Scotland is different. It was here that eloping couples took advantage of Scotlands more lax marriage laws. In scenery, too, the hazy blue hills running out to a wide horizon have cheered generations of travellers at the border on the A68 at Carter Bar. Then there are the forests and moors of upland Galloway, the vivid greens of Ayrshires pastures, with the mountain profile of the Isle of Arran as a backdrop. Wherever you travel here, you can be sure of a real Scottish experience. Dumfries and Galloway Lonely hills roll down to pasture and dark woods give way to rich farmlands and a sunny south facing coast. Scotlands southwest is blessed with a mild climate lots of gardens to visit - and plenty to entertain you, such as birdwatching, cycling and golf or touring photogenic villages and dramatic castles. Dumfries is an important local centre with many places to visit associated with Robert Burns, Scotlands national poet. Just northwest is his farm at Ellisland. Here he wrote some of his most famous works, including AuId Lang Syne. Kirkcudbrights pretty layout of Georgian houses painted in pastel colours is one of the reasons it has attracted artists for generations and is now recognised as a major artists town. It offers the Tolbooth Arts Centre as well as Broughton House, associated with the Scottish painter E. A. Hornel. The ferry port of Stranraer is just north of Logan Botanic Garden, where Australian tree ferns thrive in the mild climate. The new Countryside Centre at Threave Garden near Castle Douglas is where you can learn about the work of this major estate. Threave House is also newly opened. Then sample local real ales with romantic names such as Criffel and Knockendoch at the new Sulwath Brewery in Castle Douglas. Newton Stewart is the gateway to the Galloway Forest Park. Here lochs, woodland and craggy hill slopes plus forest trails and cycle routes create a beautiful natural playground to match the Highlands further north. Nearby is Wigtown, sited on a hill overlooking Wigtown Bay. This is Scotlands own book town with, at the last count, 16 book- related businesses. A few miles to the south at Garlieston is the new Harbour Gallery featuring the work of local artists and crafts people. Throughout the south of Scotland, nowhere is pride in the community better expressed than in the Common Ridings. These annual summer events recall earlier times when community boundaries had to be protected from invaders. Now they are great celebrations of horsemanship. In Dumfries and Galloway the Langholm Common Riding is just one notable gathering. From England to the South of Scotland hospitality scotland p5 discovering hospscotwinter01.qxd 10/9/02 1:56 PM Page 4
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SCOTLANDRich rolling farmland, rugged sea coasts and Clydeislands characterise the South of Scotland. Robert theBruce, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott all lived in thisland of ancient abbeys, castles and historic houses.p4 hospitality scotland
The real Scotland starts right at theborder. Different accents in theshops and different names for beerin pubs are just two of the ways in whichScotland stamps its own personalitystraight away. Even the Old Blacksmith�sShop Centre at Gretna Green right at theborder is a reminder that Scotland isdifferent. It was here that eloping couplestook advantage of Scotland�s more laxmarriage laws. In scenery, too, the hazyblue hills running out to a wide horizonhave cheered generations of travellers atthe border on the A68 at Carter Bar.Then there are the forests and moors ofupland Galloway, the vivid greens ofAyrshire�s pastures, with the mountainprofile of the Isle of Arran as a backdrop.Wherever you travel here, you can besure of a real Scottish experience.Dumfries and GallowayLonely hills roll down to pasture and darkwoods give way to rich farmlands and asunny south facing coast. Scotland�ssouthwest is blessed with a mild climate
lots of gardens to visit - and plenty toentertain you, such as birdwatching, cyclingand golf or touring photogenic villages anddramatic castles.Dumfries is an important local centrewith many places to visit associated withRobert Burns, Scotland�s national poet. Justnorthwest is his farm at Ellisland. Here hewrote some of his most famous works,including AuId Lang Syne. Kirkcudbright�spretty layout of Georgian houses paintedin pastel colours is one of the reasons ithas attracted artists for generations and isnow recognised as a major artists� town.It offers the Tolbooth Arts Centre as wellas Broughton House, associated with theScottish painter E.A. Hornel. The ferryport of Stranraer is just north of LoganBotanic Garden, where Australian treeferns thrive in the mild climate.
The new Countryside Centre at ThreaveGarden near Castle Douglas is whereyou can learn about the work of
this major estate. Threave House is alsonewly opened. Then sample local real aleswith romantic names such as Criffel andKnockendoch at the new Sulwath Breweryin Castle Douglas.Newton Stewart is the gateway to theGalloway Forest Park. Here lochs,woodland and craggy hill slopes plusforest trails and cycle routes create abeautiful natural playground to match theHighlands further north. Nearby isWigtown, sited on a hill overlookingWigtown Bay. This is Scotland�s own booktown with, at the last count, 16 book-related businesses. A few miles to thesouth at Garlieston is the new HarbourGallery featuring the work of local artistsand crafts people.Throughout the south of Scotland,nowhere is pride in the community betterexpressed than in the Common Ridings.These annual summer events recall earliertimes when community boundaries had tobe protected from invaders. Nowthey are great celebrations ofhorsemanship. In Dumfries andGalloway the LangholmCommon Riding is just onenotable gathering.
From England to the South of Scotland
hospitality scotland p5
discoveringhospscotwinter01.qxd 10/9/02 1:56 PM Page 4
