south west Scotland any info please

[notashotasthepreviousyear]

Hi we are looking for recommendations for a weekend break with activities around in Dumfries and Galloway area, preferably by the coast, have heard it's relatively unspoilt, can any one suggest anywhere please?

With children?

young teens, thanks.

It’s a really lovely part of the country. What time of year were you thinking of going?

There's lots of mountain biking.

I live here, there isn't much going on in winter but summer I would recommend portpatrick. My parents live there and it's a great base for visiting the mull of Galloway. I live a bit further down coast but there are plenty of beaches and walks. There are plenty of historical areas like Whithorn but the visitors centre is closed through winter. Hope this is a bit helpful xx

This lovely place would be good for teens barendholidaylodges.uk

I stayed at Barend about 18 years ago, it was a great spot then

that's great thanks, taking 2 young teens who will join in biking / hiking/ sight seeing, we'll be going in spring.

Avoid Dumfries it is an utter shit tip.
West of region picturesque.
There are a few light houses you can rent.
Laggan outdoor for adventures - high wires zip wires etc if brave.
Lots of mountain biking stuff going on
Kirkcudbright is pretty.

Barend looks lovely and relaxed on the website so will consider that, however the lighthouse idea is very exciting and I think dc would love that, any locations I can follow up for these please? Thanks everyone, the info is useful!

What about ayr, Prestwick, troon? There's a bit more going on there

Love that part of the world, just walking on the beach and soaking in the atmosphere and revelling in the fact that six people on the sand makes it crowded... though can see how it must be tough to try to make a living there. On a clear day (!!!) you might be able to make out the coast of Northern Ireland if you're over to Stranraer or Cairnryan (not visited them much apart from to take the ferry so can't really comment on if there's much to do there).

Suggested places to visit:

• Creetown gemstone museum
• Threave Castle
• Devil's Porridge museum
• If you're into books then Wigtown is "Scotland's book town"
• And if any of you like astronomy, try out the Dark Park's events, scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies
• there's also horse riding at Castle Douglas and pony trekking (I think) Kirkudbright and the activity centre - see www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/galloway-activity-centre

Enjoy. You may not want to come home!

thanks everyone, we will be up there in 2019!

I would avoid Dumfries too. The only time I ever go there is for hospital appointments. I live 10 mins away from Wigtown, it's lovely and my 13 year old son went to Lagan outdoor with youth group, he loved it. There's also Kirroughtree visitor centre near Newton Stewart that has a mountain biking bit, you can hire the bikes also. There's the Isle of Whithorn and St Ninians chapel too.

You can easily have a day trip to Belfast too, the ferries run from cairnryan regular. If you look on Stena line they do trips to Belfast zoo and the Giants causeway.

www.lagganoutdoor.co.uk/
Check this place out - fantastic zip wire and kids/teens adventure stuff. They were also building some accommodation last time I was there.
Kirroughtree forest park has some great mountain biking tracks.

Check out activities at Lagan Outdoor.

Lots of mountain biking at The 7Stanes centres, and Drumlanrig Castle

Cross posts with bluearsed!

X post Oldtiger.

If your teens are at all geeky or interested in Geology, we spent an interesting couple of hours at the Creetown Gem Rock Museum whilst the weather was being particularly “Scottish”.

Trains also go to Glasgow from Stranraer quite frequently. We have a lovely beach near us at A village called Monreith. Sorry keep remembering things.

BikeRunSki the weather here is extremely Scottish at the minute

It’s pretty Scottish in Yorkshire too @Bluearsedfly36

@BikeRunSki I'd say it's probably most of the country. I'm from Lancashire originally and the weather is usually particularly Scottish there too

Loch Ken Activity Centre

www.lochken.co.uk/

thanks these are fab suggestions, there is more to do than I had first thought.