For many Australians visiting Britain, the journey often involves a quick train ride from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow. While efficient, this route speeds right past the stunning landscapes of northern England and southern Scotland. There's a more immersive alternative: hop off the train in Carlisle, hire a car, and embark on a memorable road trip through Scotland's captivating south-west corner. Here are five essential stops to include on your itinerary.
Romance, Literature, and Historic Charm
Your first port of call should be the iconic border village of Gretna Green. This place earned its fame in the 1750s after English law forbade under-21s from marrying without parental consent. Love-struck couples fled north, where Scottish law was more lenient, to be wed at the local blacksmith's shop. Today, the Gretna Green Experience museum brings this romantic history to life with original artefacts and displays. Remarkably, around 4000 couples still marry here annually, despite the village's permanent population of just 3000.
Venture deeper into the rolling green countryside, dotted with ancient stone circles and castle ruins, to find charming bases like Dumfries. This riverside market town is where Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, spent his final years, and where J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, went to school. Nearby, the 1760-built Murray Arms in Gatehouse of Fleet offers a stylish boutique hotel and gastropub experience. A short drive away lies Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town, famous for its numerous bookshops and its annual literary festival, running from September 25 to October 4, 2026.
Spirits and Starry Skies: Natural and Liquid Gold
Scotland's south-west is a haven for spirit enthusiasts. On the outskirts of Wigtown, you'll find the Bladnoch Distillery. Established in 1817, it's Scotland's oldest independently-owned Scotch producer and was revived a decade ago by Melbourne entrepreneur David Prior. It crafts both non-peated and peated single malts. Another revived gem is the Annandale Distillery near Gretna, founded in 1836. For a taste of modern craft, visit the Galloway Distillery in Newton Stewart, co-owned by Outlander star Sam Heughan. It offers tastings of whisky, vodka, and gin infused with local botanicals like wild berries and seaweed.
The region's natural splendour is equally intoxicating. A significant part of this area falls within a UNESCO Biosphere, protecting 9720km of land and sea. At its heart is the Galloway Forest Park, Britain's largest forest park. By day, explore its ancient woods, lochs, and rivers. By night, it transforms into the UK's first International Dark Sky Park (designated in 2009), where minimal light pollution offers spectacular stargazing. Park rangers lead tours to help you spot constellations and, on a clear night, perhaps even the Milky Way.
Coastal Gardens and Hairy Coos
The unpredictable weather of Dumfries and Galloway, warmed by the Atlantic Gulf Stream, fosters surprising flora. At the Logan Botanic Garden on the Rhins of Galloway peninsula, you can see eucalyptus, palm trees, and Wollemi pines thriving. On clear days, you can see Ireland, just 25km across the water.
No trip to Scotland is complete without meeting a Highland cow. At Kitchen Coos & Ewes, a family-run farm near Stranraer, you can encounter over 100 of these adorable hairy beasts. The experience includes sheepdog demonstrations, tractor-pulled trailer safaris, and even the chance to groom the cows, followed by afternoon tea. It's the perfect, heartwarming finale before continuing your journey north into Ayrshire and beyond.
Steve McKenna was a guest of Visit Scotland and Visit Britain. They have not influenced this story.
Fact File:
- Double rooms at the Murray Arms in Gatehouse of Fleet start from £160 ($323).
- For more travel information, visit visitbritain.com and visitscotland.com.
