| DAY 1 65 MILES, (104KM) At Gretna on the Border go west for Dumfries (Burns connections, shopping) via
Caerlaverock Castle. Take coastal roads westwards (Sweetheart Abbey and other village
attractions in New Abbey). Continue to Castle Douglas (Threave Gardens, Threave Castle)
and Kirkcudbright (galleries, shopping, museum).
DAY 2 72 MILES, (115KM)
Go west to Gatehouse-of-Fleet (Mill on the Fleet visitor
centre), then Creetown (Gen Rock Museum). From Newton Stewart (shopping), go south to
Whithorn (Vistor centre) then west to Castle Kennedy Gardens or, south of Stranraer
(Museum), Logan Botanic Gardens. Alternatively, go north for the Galloway Forrest Park.
DAY 3 45 MILES, (72KM)
From Newton Stewart
Travel north to Culzean Castle, continue to Ayr (Burns
connections) or Irvine (Scottish Martime Museum).
DAY 4 70 MILES, (112KM)
Go west for Lanark and New Lanark (textile heritage,
spectacular waterfalls). Continue eastwards for Bigger (choice of museums, puppet theatre,
shopping) and Dawyk Botanic Gardens. Go on to Peebles (Museum, Neidpath Castle).
DAY 5 25 MILES, (40KM)
Continue east to Innerleithen (Traquair House and Robert
Smail's preserved printing works), then Walkerburn (textile museum) and continue to
Galashiels (wool centre, mill visit). Visit Abbotsford House. Also nearby is Selkirk
(shopping) or Melrose (abbey, motor museum and Roman exhibition).
DAY 6 70 MILES, (112KM)
Take in Scott's View of Eildon Hills (east of Melrose) and
Dryburgh Abbey. Go east to Duns, then reach coast at St Abbs Head or Eyemouth (fishing
community museum). Return west via Coldstream to Kelso (abbey, Floors Caslte).
DAY 7 58 MILES, (93KM)
Continue south-west to Jedburgh (Mary Queen of Scots House
and abbey visitor centre), then Hawick (shopping, museum). Go south to Hermitage Castle,
then continue to Langholm and Gretna. |
