Dumfries Scotland is located just a 20 miles north of the border with the county of England.

Apart from walking tours of the town, a vacation to Dumfries Scotland offers plenty of outdoor opportunities such as hiking at the Galloway Forest Park and water activities along the Dumfries coast line.

If you are traveling to Dumfries Scotland for the first time, the town is famed by the nearby ruins of Sweetheart Abbey and ‘The Merrick’, which is the highest mountain in southern Scotland.

Things to do in Dumfries Scotland: Outdoor Activities

Hiking, Climbing & Biking

Galloway Forest Park

If you are looking to explore Scotland’s natural scenery during your Dumfries Scotland vacation, the Galloway Forest Park is only 40 miles west of the city center.

If you are visiting Galloway Park for the first time, it’s best to start at one of the park’s visitor centers such as Glentrool visitor center.

To get there, take the A712 road towards Newton Stewart and then take the A714 road towards Glentrool Village where you’ll find directions to the Glentrool visitor center.

Once there, the park has plenty of marked hiking and biking trails around Loch Trool, as well as designated picnic areas.

If you love climbing, the park is also home to ‘The Merrick’, which is one of the highest peaks in Scotland, standing at over 800 meters.

If you are a climbing or hiking enthusiast, the town of Newton Stewart is home to a few tour operators that offer organized day treks to the summit of ‘The Merrick’.

Drumlanrig Castle and Country Park

If you are traveling to Dumfries Scotland with kids, one of the best places to enjoy outdoor activities it’s at Drumlanrig Castle and Country Park.

This place offers many facilities and many easy hiking and biking trails, as well as a kid’s play areas where the little ones can climb and roam freely.

Camping & Water Activities

Another excellent place for finding fun outdoor activities it’s along the coastline of Dumfries Scotland.

In fact, Dumfries Scotland is just 20 miles from the coastline, which is home to beautiful sandy beaches and cliff tops where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the sea.

For instance, Sandyhills Bay is home to a camping and caravan site where you can enjoy camping overlooking the beach.

Sandyhills Bay is only a 30 minute drive south of Dumfries Scotland, along the A710.

Another popular area not far from Sandyhills it’s Rockcliffe, which is also home to a couple of sandy beaches.

Things to do in Dumfries Scotland: Places of Interest

Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura

If you are a history buff, the Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura is one of the best museums in the UK.

The museum, which is housed in an old windmill, is an exciting place where you can learn more about the region’s early history, weapons and tools used.

The Camera Obscura section is actually located on the windmill’s tower and it is great vantage point for amazing views of the city.

Sweetheart Abbey Ruins

The Sweetheart Abbey Ruins are located in the village of New Abbey, just 7 miles south of Dumfries Scotland.

The 13th century Sweetheart Abbey is one of the most popular abbeys, and the ruins of this abbey are one of the best preserved in Scotland.

You can take a stroll around the abbey and appreciate the standing parts of this monastery, the gardens and a very old cemetery.

Drumlanrig Castle

If you are visiting Dumfries Scotland for the fist time, a visit to a castle is a must-add on your itinerary.

For instance, you can tour the beautiful Drumlanrig Castle, which is a 17th century castle located on Drumlanrig Mains, just 15 miles north of Dumfries’ city center.

You can tour the castle, the gardens and the Country Estate, although the Castle itself is only open between March and August.

Wanlockhead Village

If you are adding Drumlanrig Castle to the itinerary, Wanlockhead Village is just a further 10 miles from Drumlanrig Castle, along the A76.

This village is famed for being Scotland’s highest village, located on a 500 meter elevation.

At the village, you can explore the Lead Mining Museum and an 18th century library, which is one of the oldest in Europe.

Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery

Visiting the Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular things to do in Dumfries Scotland.

If you’ve never seen a Buddhist temple before, you can come here and get a real glimpse of a gilded temple, statues of Buddha and the famous thangkas art works.

To get to the temple, take the A709 route towards Lockerbie and from there the B723 road towards Eskdalemuir (around 35 minutes by car).

Things to do in Dumfries Scotland: Shopping

For a bit of shopping, head to the High Street where you can find small stores and boutique type shops.

Also, along Irish Street, you can find the popular Loreburne Shopping Centre and Marks & Spencer store where you can enjoy a bit of retail shopping.

Things to do in Dumfries Scotland: Nightlife & Entertainment

The nightlife in Dumfries consists mainly of pubs and bars offering live entertainment such as karaoke and sport nights.

The High Street and the area around is where you’ll find most of the pubs and bars such as the popular Globe Inn pub.

Entertainment-wise, the town is home to an Odeon Cinema (Queen Street) and the Robert Burns Center (Church Street) where you can catch the latest releases.

Things to do in Dumfries Scotland: Events & Festivals

Dumfries Film Festival

If you are movie buff and love indie movies, the Dumfries Film Festival is held in late April. The event aims to promote the indie films and is a great event to see up-and-coming talent.

Knockengorroch Festival

If you travel to Dumfries in late May, you can catch the Knockengorroch Festival, which aims to promote Celtic heritage.

This family-friendly event is home to live entertainment, workshops and play areas for the little ones.

Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife Festival

The Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife Festival is held in early April and if you are traveling with kids, this is one of the most popular events to attend.

During the two-week long festival, everyone can enjoy nature-based activities such as walks that include wildlife spotting.

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Great Yarmouth UK is located on the northeast of England, just a few hundred miles away from London top tourist attractions, the City of Bath and Edinburgh Scotland.

If you are looking for an idyllic summer retreat that offers plenty of beach and outdoor opportunities, Great Yarmouth UK is one of the most popular holiday destinations in England.


Things to do in Great Yarmouth UK: Outdoor Activities

Norfolk Broads

If you are traveling to Great Yarmouth in search of fun outdoor activities, the Norfolk Broads, inland waterways and shallow lakes provide the ideal place for enjoying hiking, wildlife-spotting, fishing, canoeing and boating tours.

Norfolk Broads: Boating

There are plenty of tour companies offering all kinds of boats and should you decide to hire a power boat or a paddle boat; you can enjoy over one hundred miles of non-blocked waterways.

Norfolk Broads: Wildlife Spotting & Walking Trails

If you are traveling with kids, the Broads are home to many walking trails and nature reserves where you can explore wildlife.

Two such nature reserves include Ted Ellis Nature Reserve and Suffolk Broads Wildlife Centre, which both include miles of easy walking trails for everyone to enjoy.

The Ted Ellis Nature Reserve is located in Surlingham, 24 miles west of the town of Great Yarmouth UK (around 40 minutes by car along the A47).

Suffolk Broads Wildlife Centre is located in Oulton Broad and it is the closest reserve to Great Yarmouth UK (around 20 minutes by car along the A12).

Family Adventure Parks

If you are looking for things to do in Great Yarmouth with kids, consider visiting Pleasure Beach Amusement Park, Pettitts Animal Adventure Park and Pleasurewood Hills.

Pleasure Beach Amusement Park

Pleasure Beach Amusement Park is located along Great Yarmouth’s South Beach Parade and features plenty of fun rides for adults and small kids.

Pleasurewood Hills

Pleasurewood Hills is only 7 miles south of Great Yarmouth UK and offers plenty of fun water rides for a fun day out.

Pettitts Animal Adventure Park

Pettitts Animal Adventure Park also offers plenty of fun rides and exotic animals, which the kids can pet. This park is just 10 miles southwest of Great Yarmouth UK, near the town of Reedham.

Brewery Tour

Another activity worth adding to your holiday in Great Yarmouth, it’s a visit to one of the regions breweries.

If you are touring the Broads, the charming village of Woodbastwick is home to the Woodforde's Brewery, which offers a 30 minute guided tour.

During the tour, you can learn about the brewing process and, at the end, sample some of their finest brews.

Things to do in Great Yarmouth UK: Places of Interest

Great Yarmouth's Marine Parade

One of the popular things to do in Great Yarmouth UK it’s to take a stroll along Marine/ S. Beach Parade, which offers lovely views of Great Yarmouth’s oceanfront.

The mile-long waterfront features arcade centers, beaches and plenty of cafes and bars overlooking the ocean.

The Tollhouse

One of the most peculiar places of interest in the town it’s the 12th century prison quarters of the Tollhouse.

The Tollhouse is open for public viewing and you can enjoy an interesting tour that tells you a bit more about the history of this old prison building and what happened to criminals that where sent there.

The Time and Tide Museum

If you are a history buff, the Time and Tide Museum is housed in a 19th century herring curing factory, located on Blackfriars Road.

At the museum, you can learn more about the town’s maritime history through interactive exhibits.

House of Wax

If you like wax works, Great Yarmouth House of Wax is located nearby Market Gates Shopping Center.

The wax center features anything from military figures, TV personalities and celebrities to vintage arcade machines.

Things to do in Great Yarmouth UK: Shopping

Great Yarmouth Town Center is the shopping hub of the town and along it you can find Market Place, where you can find the popular Market Gates Shopping Center.

Also, if you’re in town on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a flea-market along Market Place, filled with many vendors selling all kind of goods.

Things to do in Great Yarmouth UK: Nightlife & Entertainment

The night scene in Great Yarmouth is one of the best in the region and it comes alive during the summer months.

You can find a variety of pubs, bars and clubs offering live entertainment around the Town Center.

Also, along both Marine and S. Beach Parades you can find more nightlife and entertainment such as the Britannia Pier Theater, which offers entertaining acts such as comedy shows.

Things to do in Great Yarmouth UK: Events & Festivals

International Festival of Arts and Circus

If you are visiting Great Yarmouth UK in September, the annual International Festival of Arts and Circus is an extravagant event that features a myriad of street performers and live shows to keep you busy for two days.

Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival

The Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival is another popular family event that happens also in September. At the event, you can enjoy live entertainment as well as a parade of traditional ships and vessels.

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