castle
Caerlaverock Castle
A unique triangular moated castle near the Solway Firth, twice besieged and rebuilt with a Renaissance range inside.
12 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Dumfries
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Dumfries
Dumfries is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Locharbriggs, 53km from Bassenthwaite Lake.
Dumfries is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 47,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Locharbriggs, about 4 km away.
Dumfries ( dum-FREESS; from Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phris [ˌt̪un ˈfɾʲiʃ]) is a market town and former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, near the mouth of the River Nith on the Solway Firth, 25 miles (40 km) from the Anglo-Scottish border. Dumfries is the county town of the historic county ofRead more
Dumfriesshire.
Before becoming King of Scots, Robert the Bruce killed his rival John Comyn III of Badenoch at Greyfriars Kirk in the town in 1306. The Young Pretender had his headquarters here towards the end of 1745. In World War II, the Norwegian armed forces in exile in Britain largely consisted of a brigade in Dumfries.
Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South; this is also the name of the town's football club. People from Dumfries are known colloquially in Scots language as Doonhamers.
Where to Stay in Dumfries
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Explore the Area
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Dumfries?
Within an hour or so of Dumfries: Caerlaverock Castle (12 km), Grey Mare's Tail (44 km), Bassenthwaite Lake (53 km), Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park (54 km).
Are there any good drives near Dumfries?
The nearest famous roads are Whinlatter Pass (B5292), Newlands Pass (Newlands Hause) and Honister Pass.
Where is Dumfries?
Dumfries is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Locharbriggs.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 46,500
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.0696, -3.6114
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Dumfries
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
waterfall
Grey Mare's Tail
A 60m hanging-valley waterfall beside the A708 near Moffat, with a steep path up to Loch Skeen above.
44 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Bassenthwaite Lake
Strictly the only body of water in the National Park called a 'lake', lying beneath Skiddaw and known for its ospreys.
53 km · about 60 min drive
national park
Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park
The UK's first Dark Sky Park, crossed by the A712 Queen's Way, with some of the darkest measured skies in Britain.
54 km · about 60 min drive
famous road
Whinlatter Pass (B5292)
The forested pass between Braithwaite and Lorton, England's only true mountain forest road, gentler than its Lakeland neighbours.
57 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Loweswater
The smallest and most tranquil of the western lakes, uniquely draining inland towards Crummock Water rather than out to sea.
57 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Dumfries
14 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 57 kmWhinlatter Pass (B5292)The forested pass between Braithwaite and Lorton, England's only true mountain forest road, gentler than its Lakeland neighbours.
- 62 kmDerwentwaterA serene island-studded lake beside Keswick, perfect for a lakeside drive, launch cruise and the Surprise View overlook.
- 62 kmNewlands PassA quiet, narrow pass through Newlands Valley with the Moss Force waterfall tumbling beside the road.
- 62 kmNewlands Pass (Newlands Hause)A single-track climb from Braithwaite to Buttermere over 333m, with a roadside waterfall at the summit and views down to Crummock Water.
- 63 kmCatbellsA small but shapely fell on the western shore of Derwentwater, one of the most popular first fell walks in the Lake District.
- 64 kmAshness BridgeA single-arch packhorse bridge above Derwentwater, one of the most photographed spots in the Lake District with Skiddaw framed behind.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
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