I visited Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura on 18 July 2019 while on a walking tour of Dumfries…read more When I arrived I was informed about a potential camera obscura show, though whether we would get to see it in use would be dependent on the weather as the technology is weather sensitive. I attended the use of the camera obscura with another group (a dad and two kids). The camera obscura worker was clever and creative in showing us how the technology worked and descriptive in providing societal context of how it was received and distributed across Scotland. We were stopped early due to weather, however, we were able to see it in use, which was very cool. Had a crisper image than a lot of even the nicer cameras these days. A variety of exhibits were well laid out and easy to navigate. Some provided background about Scotland and the Dumfries area. Others covered more global events and topics. All of the ones I perused had informational placards and straightforward displays that made reading, learning, and contextualizing approachable. Gifts and other items were on sale near the entrance. I found a card I loved with a female harvest mouse holding onto blades of grass. As a rodent-adorer (I had pet mice, rats, and hamsters growing up) it melted my heart on sight and I had to get it, so I did. All of the workers I interacted with were friendly and helpful.

If you're visiting dumfries, pay a visit to the museum, its an old windmill that sits on higher…read moreground on the maxwelltown side of the river nith. The exhibits havent changed a great deal over the years, but are of a pretty high standard in my opinion. The building itself is really cool, and theres one of the few remaining working camera obscuras in the uk, so its worth it for that alone.

Visited the Mill on the Fleet today and thought it was awesome. The surrounding area is stunning…read moreand the building with the old mill wheel turning is lovely from the outside. The Mill building houses a little shop and cafe on the ground floor. When you head up to the first floor (with lift access) there is a museum detailing the history of the Mill. There are lots of information boards and interactive displays. Great for engaging kids. Plus there is a dressing up section for the children. But the magic really happens when you reach the top floor. There is a little gallery space with local art which is great to wander round. However, the show is really stolen by the 'book shop'. I have never seen so many books piled up. It is like a labyrinth of nooks and crannies with walls of every type of book you could imagine. I am not articulate enough to find the right words but it is like something out a story book. The staff are very friendly and helpful and never moaned once as we spent ages wandering round looking at everything and touching lots of books! Unfortunately I had not take my purse as there were lots of little treasures I would have loved to have bought. All very reasonably priced too. Plus, there was a children's section with big cushions on the floor. I will definitely be back. Gatehouse of Fleet is one of my favorite places and the Mill just adds to it's draw.

This place is brilliant…read more Gatehouse is where my parents live, and its really beautiful. The Mill on the Fleet is an old mill, as the name suggests, inside theyve got a pretty good little museum, but the real treat I found was the awesome bookshop at the top floor. You will never have seen a bookshop quite like it! It is chaos, piles and piles of old books form corridors of, yes you guessed it, books!! If you've got time to burn and you're a book fan, this is an absolute must!!!!!

In the words of the Centre's website: "This award winning visitor centre [sic] tells the story of…read morethe connections between Robert Burns and the town of Dumfries. The well-researched exhibition is illuminated by many original documents and relics of the poet." That's all accurate, although I'm not sure what the awards are. The museum is more in-depth than the Burns House, but then again, the two establishments are apples and oranges. Basically, this Centre tells the story of Burns' relationship with Dumfries, and shows you a few cool artifacts along the way, such as Burns' sword, which he was entitled to wear as a member of the Royal Dumfries Volunteers. Admission is free, so this is definitely worth thirty minutes or so to hear the story of Dumfries' most famous resident. There is an audiovisual presentation for a nominal fee, but I skipped it.

A great place to visit for anyone even remotely interested in the works of Robert Burns and, for…read moresomeone like myself, who loves his poetry and was brought up on some of his best-loved songs, it's a real treat. In particular, it tells the story of his last years which were of course spent in Dumfries. A nice modern building with much to see, including original manuscripts, an audio-visual presentation, and a well-stocked gift shop as well. Admission is free too! In the evenings, the centre is a film theatre. I'd love to go back to spend more time there as, the last time I went, we didn't have very long.

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

This is a fantastic little volunteer run air museum. Staff extremly helpfull & friendly. We went on…read morea Sunday arfternoon & was pleasantly supprised at the access to the aircraft, especially the Vulcan Bomber. There is a well informed museum, It was a pleasure not to surrounded by hordes of people. Good athentic location next to Carlisle Airport. I didn't realise there was a voucher availible untill writing this review but am more than happy to support volunteers efforts. No cafe but the reception did provide hot & cold drinks, crisps.

This is a magical place just outside the village of New Abbey. Museum of Costume that has over the…read moreyears hosted exibitions such as the costumes from the motion picture Titanic." How did Kate Winslet get into those dresses " was common say at the time. Most recently a fantastic exibition on the work of the great scottish fashion icon Jean Muir. Its a lovely place to visit for the fashion minded and creative. The house and grounds are beautiful also.

Been going here with my family for years, however the choice of food in the tea room has decreased…read moredramatically.

Cradle of Christianity Whithorn is famous as the site where…read moreSt Ninian founded the first ever Christian Church in Scotland. Traditionally, the White Church here was dated to 397 AD, and the archaeological evidence supports the existence of a very early Christian community, sophisticated, literate, and importing goods and ideas from Europe. Later, Whithorn became the centre of a network of pilgrimage routes, leading from all over Scotland and the Irish Sea; by the High Middle Ages, St Ninian's (http://www.qype.com/place/479679-St-Ninians-Priory-Newton-Stewart) healing powers drew Robert the Bruce in search of a cure for his leprosy and, every year, James IV, right up to the Battle of Flodden, 1513. Whithorn's Georgian buildings have respected the old mediaeval layout of the town, narrow at both ends to house the burgesses' cattle and markets. Whithorn is still a centre for the South Machars, retaining many small shops and family businesses. More recent, surprising celebrities are marked by a series of plaques, which you can follow round the town, including one of the founders of Esso, the Scots poet J.K. Annand, poet and Spanish translator, Alastair Reid, and a Spanish Civil War veteran. Many visitors will recognise film locations used in the cult Wicker Man film, with local residents as extras.

On a typically stormy night in Cumberland, more than 400 years ago, an oak tree crashed to ground…read morein Keswick. The split earth gave up a wealth of black lead, known locally as wad and soon to be renamed graphite. It was the purest graphite in the world and gave rise to riches, skulduggery and the world's first pencil industry. This tale is told by Professor Henry Petroski in The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance (1990) and laid out in admirably simple style in this quirky museum, off a side road in the town. Everything you ever wanted to know about pencil manufacture (but were afraid to ask) is answered here, from how early artist's pencils were made to why the Napoleonic Wars broke the Cumberland monopoly on pencil production. Budding and successful artists can hone their skills in a small workshop at the back of the museum.

You know when something is so naff, that it comes full-circle and actually becomes quite cool? Yes?…read moreWell, that's the pencil museum. It's a museum. And it's full of pencils. We went along because it was raining, and we needed something to keep us out of the pub for an hour. On entering and paying your £3, you receive a free pencil. Now, how many museums give out demos of their exhibits like that, eh? The last time you walked into the Natural History Museum, did they hand you the thigh bone from a woolly mammoth to take home and decorate your mantel with? I'll bet not. Point 1 to the Pencil Museum. Clutching your cedar-smelling new pencil, you walk through a kind of papier mache tunnel (graphite mine) into the museum: a small set of rooms with case after case of pencils. From the humble origins (writing with dirty lumps of graphite), through the evolution of the wooden holder, and on to the colourful array of pencils we all take for granted today. I know. Case upon case of pencils - I can see you stifling a yawn - but, remember, it's got to be truly rubbish to be able to swing round full circle. Highlights: clever secret war pencils with maps and compasses inside, and a big photo-opportunity pencil to stand next to with a sign saying 'This is me a the Cumberland Pencil Museum'. Brilliant.