I have a great fondness for this ram statue! Often when driving to or from Scotland we stop in…read moreMoffat for a meal and usually park near to this wonderful ram (it is surrounded by parking spaces in the middle of the main street). This statue was sculpted by William Brodie (1815-1881) and presented to the town by the local businessman William Colvin in 1875 to commemorate the town's thriving wool trade. Other notable works by Brodie which can still be seen today include his marvellous 'Hercules', a bronze statue in Portmeirion, North Wales. The Moffat Ram sits on top of the Colvin Fountain whose water was used by men and animals for drinking. There were once iron cups for men to fill from the water spouts whilst the animals drank from the filled bases the lower ones for dogs and the higher ones for horses! The ram was constructed without ears and a myth (apparently without any foundation) circulated for long afterwards that Brodie committed suicide when he realised his mistake!

Caerlaverock is unusual both for its triangular design and its pink limestone. Both make it quite…read morea striking sight (see photographs). The castle is technically ruined, but the two front-facing walls and most of the rest of the superstructure remain intact. There is a classic moat surrounding the building, and a narrow wooden bridge gives access to the main gate. Like Dryburgh Abbey, this property is administered by Historic Scotland, so the grounds have been landscaped and the interior courtyard paved and gravelled, with railings added in spots. It's fun to climb around inside the towers and interior buildings, which are labelled to explain their original purpose and use. Like many castles, different portions date from various eras, so the design is a bit of a jumble. The main attraction is a 17th-century residence, with servery, kitchen, and private rooms. On the opposite side is a 15th-century structure which apparently contained a great hall and other residences. The two towers bestride the main gate were used as lord's residences in the 13th and 14th centuries. One interesting bit of history: in 1300, Edward I himself, with a 3000-man army, besieged the castle. The garrison of only sixty men held out for 36 hours. When Edward learned how few his enemy had been, he was so impressed that he allowed the Maxwell family to keep the castle after swearing an oath of loyalty to him. As wonderful as the castle is, the visitor's centre boasts a "museum" which is nothing but a sad joke. Breeze through it, just enough to get the story of the castle, the Maxwells, and the various military actions over the years, and then get right out onto the grounds. There is also a "nature trail" which leads about 200m to the site of the previous castle, used for only a few decades in the mid-13th century and abandoned due to the marshy ground (Caerlaverock is very near the Solway Firth). There are picnic tables, and on a day with good weather, this would be a great site to bring the family for an afternoon.

My all time favorite castle! 'Home Sweet Home' to Clan Maxwell! All kinds of history pours from…read morethis property, we spent hours here at the castle & in the woods. Take your time climbing in the castle, there is a lovely tea room on site to rest. Absolutely precious architecture. A must see for castle hunters. #myfamilytree

Absolutely spectacular! Over 700 years old, by far the oldest building I've ever personally had the…read morepleasure to touch, or photograph, Sweetheart Abby speaks to the history lover in all of us. The drive to the Abby is picturesque, along the rolling hills and tucked away in a quaint village - the roads not changed much since the village was founded, narrow and harrowing if there's any traffic. The walls of the former monastery rise up from the verdant hills towards the sky, ruins now, but once, they would have been grand. For 4.50 you get to spend as much time as you like, roaming through the well preserved old gal, there are signs that tell you about her bones, and her history. Listen to the pigeons who roost in her eves and flutter back and forth. Occasionally some sound like Monks speaking their prayers - or perhaps that is just an echo from the past coming back to your ears. Either way, The Sweetheart Abby tells the tale of a woman, lost, who had her husband's heart embalmbed, so that when SHE died, she could be buried holding onto it. Love is eternal they say. Behind the old Church is a vast and dated graveyard. Pay attention walking amidst the stones. The ground is moist and the soil can be loose. It is said that the stones may falter. Tread lightly lest you be the next resident among the stones.

These ruins are on the way from Manchester to Scotland - not too far out of your way. They were…read morethe cover photo for my Fodors Scotland book. That was, of course, and eye-grabbing photo. You will be able to get a great set of photos too - even if you are not a pro photographer and if it's raining, as it was for us. Worth the stop.

This would once have been a beautiful building. Unfortunately, after Henry VIII disbanded monastic…read morecommunities in England, Wales and Scotland in the 1500s, all that remains is the gatehouse. This functioned as a vicarage to the local church and is now in the care of English Heritage and probably dates back to the 1100s. Definetly worth the walk, or the drive.

300 feet up on a winding road, the view is incredible. When the fog rolls in (or are those low…read morelying clouds?) it can steal the view but make it no less beautiful. Apparently recently someone drove a van off this cliff and down to the bottom.. And survived. The van is still at the bottom. *Shakes head* When I got a chance to view this, The area was blanketed in a thick wall of fog. We walked out to the markers, we peered down over the lip of the cliff and no, we could not see the van, but we know it's down there. Bring a camera, don't look too far down..

A recent makeover of a derelict open-cast coal mine by local land artist Charles Jencks, this is a…read morefantastic place to walk the dog or just get some exercise (and you *will* get exercise - it's a 55-acre site!). Returning to his favourite themes of science and astronomy, and using his signature spirals, lagoons and mounds, Jencks has created several set pieces representing galaxies, comets and other astronomical events. The site is bisected by a long N-S avenue of megaliths aligned to the highest point, which is a pretty steep hike up the 'comet walk' but affords stunning 360-degree views over the surrounding countryside. You will need stout footwear and strong legs to make it up here - it is not for the unfit and is definitely not suitable for wheelchair users, although I did see one resolute parent wheeling a pushchair up to the highest point. Jencks has incorporated some 2,000 megaliths, which were unexpectedly excavated on site during the works, into each artwork, making it look like some Neolithic theme park gone mad in places; but it has a delightful exuberance about it that is impossible to resist. It only opened in June 2015 and in parts it seems to still be a 'work in progress'. They could do with improving the steeper sections of path with some steps, and parts of it look like they could do with some more turf being laid. But as the artist only lives 'down the road', I can foresee that he'll be tweaking this place for some years to come.

This is is a grade B listed iron fountain (built in 1882) and one of the main landmarks in the…read moretown, standing today in a pedestrianised area surrounded by shops. It has three tiers (which always make me think of one of those old-fashioned cake stands), four demonic-looking cherubs squeezing water out of the mouths of crocodiles (I haven't been able to find out why) with a few dolphins and storks thrown in for good measure. I seem to remember this fountain looking much better before it was painted in the garish red and gold colours of today, although, to be honest, I never paid it much attention before. I couldn't help but notice it recently!

A wonderful piece of national heritage that deserves a visit from you. It was saved from complete…read moredisintegration by the intervention of Prince Charles, and deservedly so. In this house there are some unique and priceless pieces of Chippendale furniture and some equally rare Axminster carpets. I also loved the big orrery in the entrance hall; I've never seen one that size before. The restoration has involved a lot of local craftspeople and the house & estate still employs over 200 locals to keep things running, The house tour (you have to book) is fascinating, as they explain not only the history of the place, but tell you about the conservation methods that were used. I particularly like the way they avoid roping off parts of the room to stop you walking on the carpet, but instead have custom-made carpet runners printed with the actual design of the carpet they cover so that the image of the room is not compromised. The estate is vast too, with a hedge maze, arboretum, walled garden and plenty of walks to keep you and the kids occupied for a few hours. The cafe is pretty decent, and the shop has some upmarket tourist items that are a definite cut above the norm - as are the prices, mind. Dumfries House is run by a trust, it's not managed by any national heritage body, so everything you see on the estate is due to their own efforts and the artisanal skills that they are training young folks in. Love it.

I'm so stupid. Why haven't I visited Dumfries House before when it's on the doorstep just 20 mins…read morefrom Ayr and less than an hour from Glasgow. It's free for visitors to park the car and roam this stunning huge estate 365 days a year til dusk. I wrongly thought the house was pretty much all there was to see and now I'm kicking myself for making that mistake. I won't give everything away here. Check out their online presence to find out a little more and if walking is your thing bring some stout shoes. There's a maze, a cafe, an afternoon tea venue at weekends (a must book), a fine dining restaurant and so much more. Oh yes I musn't forget the two playparks, the Robert Adam bridge, the gobsmacking walled rose garden and all manner of cleverly crafted follies. I almost forgot the house full of chippendale and lovingly restored. Go spend the day. That Duke of Rothesay Prince Charles fella is a local hero around these parts for saving Dumfries House at the eleventh hour and opening a seldom seen gem for the public. Highly recommended!