Dumfries lies on the banks of the River Nith and this charming town, which became a royal burgh in the 12th century, has countless attractions as well as an intriguing history.
Lady Devorgilla, matriarch of the powerful Balliol family, was a great benefactress to the town. She paid for the building of the first bridge over the Nith as well as nearby Sweetheart Abbey, which was founded in 1273 to honour her late husband.
It was in the town’s Greyfriars monastery in 1306 that Robert Bruce murdered John Comyn, ally of the Balliols and Bruce's chief rival for the then-vacant Scottish throne, leading to Bruce's coronation and the Scottish War of Independence. Today, Greyfriars church shadows the site of the original monastery.
Dumfries has been home to various well-known individuals, including J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan and, of course, Robert Burns. The town has a number of sites associated with the bard who lived in Dumfries in his later years and died there in 1796. Burns’ former house is now a museum dedicated to him while the town also boasts his favourite howff - or drinking haunt - the Globe Inn.
Robert Burns lived in nearby Ellisland Farm from 1788 to 1791. It was here, inspired by the tranquil setting, that many of Burns' finest songs and poems, including Tam o 'Shanter and the world-famous Auld Lang Syne were penned.
The town's High Street is home to many well known shopping chains alongside independent retailers. There are a variety of places for eating out and several supermarkets to cater for all your food necessities.
