| REGIONS
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South West Scotland |
This part of Scotland is tucked away in the south west
corner, filled with unspoilt beauty, moody misty mountains;
it is a very fertile area of Scotland. Painted in green
- it is said to hold 40 shades of green - which might
be due to the tropical influence of the Gulf Stream,
it is certainly one of the reasons for the agricultural
dominance of the area.
Dumfries and Galloway is made up of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright
and Wigtown; it is the fifth largest of the Scottish
mainland regions, covering over 2,500 square miles of
diverse and beautiful country in the south west of Scotland.
With a population of 148,000 people, the region is comparatively
sparsely populated with the majority of people living
in the main towns, the largest of which is Dumfries.
The 200 miles of wild and varied coastline offers some
of the cleanest, most beautiful, sandy beaches in the
UK. The coastline is awash with secret coves and snugs
and deserted little bays available to those who are
prepared to use their feet.
The area is a sportsman's dream. Fishermen can cast
into crystal clear waters from the shore, a boat or
take advantage of the many inland lochs. If you have
other interests apart from fishing, these can all be
catered for; golfers, ornithologists, botanists, hill-walkers
and photographers will not be disappointed.
The Galloway Hills are deserted, scenic places in their
own right; they do not rise more than 2,800ft (850 metres),
making them accessible for family outings.
If you are travelling in the car from England on the
M6, do not keep heading north along the A74/M74 to Glasgow,
Edinburgh or the Highlands. When you see the sign for
Gretna Green take a left toward the South West of Scotland.
Famous for its weddings, it was the first available
community where eloping couples from England could take
advantage of Scotland's different marriage laws. Many
a makeshift ceremony was performed at the Old Blacksmith's
Shop, which is now a museum - still many a romantic
bride chooses to be married at Gretna Green today.
The South West of Scotland also boasts the world's
oldest working post office and first savings bank. Many
famous names are associated with the area - the best
know being Burns. This area has so much to offer visitors
and, with the wealth and variety of places to choose
to stay in or eat at, it is well worth putting the South
West of Scotland on your itinerary.
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