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Situated on the Solway Firth at the mouth of the River Annan, this is one of the larger towns in the area, with a population of just under 8,500.
Annan is a bustling town with a wide selection of shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. In recent years the pharmaceuticals, timber and food processing industries have grown in and around the town.
Castle Douglas has a population of 3,671 and lies on the edge of Carlingwark Loch. During the 20th Century the town developed as a tourist and local service centre.
Recently Castle Douglas became known as a “food town” so as you can imagine, there are plenty of places to eat out, but also a fantastic selection of outlets selling quality food.
Dalbeattie has a population of 4,000 and is about 14 miles southwest of Dumfries and adjacent to Dalbeattie Forest. In the 17th century there was a Mill of Dalbety , but it was not until the 1780s that the village of Dalbeattie appeared.
The town has a variety of small family businesses. There are a number of hotels providing comfortable accommodation and plenty of restaurants, cafés and takeaways.
With a population of just under 38,000, Dumfries is located about 35 miles northwest of Carlisle and 79 miles south of Edinburgh.
Dumfries is by far the largest town in the area and has excellent shopping and leisure facilities. In the 1990s the former Crichton Hospital complex, was adapted for use as a university campus.
Kirkcudbright sits at the mouth of the River Dee which flows into Kirkcudbright Bay. The town has a population of just under 3,500 people. It is known as "The Artists' Town" this name reflects the colony of painters and craftworkers who live there.
Kirkcudbright's Tolbooth was the model for the prison in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Guy Mannering' (1815) and the town features in Dorothy L. Sayers' novel 'Five Red Herrings' (1931).
Langholm has a population of just under 3,500. The town became a regional wool centre with several mills in production from the mid 19th Century onwards. Its industries have also included cotton manufacture, brewing and distilling.
There are independent shops selling everything from pies, tablet, haggis, jewellery, and giftware.
Lockerbie is 14 miles east of Dumfries and just east of the River Annan, by the M74 motorway. It is a market town with a population of just over 4,000 and has strong links with the dairy industry. Nearby is Lockerbie 18-hole golf course.
Moffat has a population of around 2,000. From the late 1650s it developed as a spa town attracting visitors including Robert Burns.
Attractions include a Museum, Woollen Mill and Craiglochan Gardens. Fishing is available at the Moffat Fishery and there is an 18 hole golf course. Traditional and independent shops, offer speciality foods and unusual gifts.
Newton Stewart has a population of 3,573 and is located on the River Cree. It was founded in the late 17th Century by William Stewart, but was not built until the early 18th century.
The town has access to a range of outdoor pursuits, including golfing, walking and cycling. There are good shopping facilities, and varied accommodation from hotels through to self catering.
Sanquhar lies to the north west of Dumfries and has a population of just over 2,000. It grew in the early 19th Century with the development of coal mining and textile production.
There are good local amenities such as shops, a swimming pool and golf course. Sanquhar’s train station caters for trains heading North to Kilmarnock and Glasgow, and South to Dumfries, Carlisle and Newcastle.
Stranraer has a population of 10,851 and lies at the head of Loch Ryan on the eastern side of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula.
This is a busy ferry port which operates regular ferries to and from Ireland. The town has lots to see and do such as the Ryan leisure Centre with fun pool, gym and theatre. There are also golf courses and a wide variety of shops.
Thornhill is located on the River Nith and has a population of around 1,500. The town has a number of shops and accommodation can be found at several hotels. There are also cafés to sit in and have a bite to eat.
Wigtown is a traditional market town and has a population of just under 1,000. It is Scotland's National Book Town with around some thirty book-related businesses.
As well as books, there are many gift and craft shops. You can enjoy a meal or a light refreshments served in the town’s cafes, inns and hotels. You can tour Bladnoch Distillery Scotland's most southerly distillery, which was established in 1817.
