Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas is a town in South West (Scotland), designated Scotland's Food Town [1].
This guide also includes the nearby town of Dalbeattie and the coastal areas on the Solway Firth.
Get in
By car
The A75 from Dumfries to Stranraer by-passes the town to the north with easy access from roundabouts at either end of the town.
By bus
Various bus services get you to Castle Douglas including the 501/2 from Dumfries and Kirkcudbright and the 503 from Dumfries.
By train
The nearest station is some 18-miles away in Dumfries
Get around
The town is fairly compact and can be easily explored on foot; however a car or other means of transport is essential to explore the area around the town.
See
- 1 Threave Estate and Gardens (To the west of the town), ☏ +44 844 493 2245. One of the National Trust for Scotland’s top ten most visited attractions, Threave Estate is the perfect place for a family day out – or two: there’s so much to see and do here, you may not fit it all in to one visit. Covering 647 hectares (1,600 acres), the estate is split into four main elements: Threave House, a restored Scottish baronial-style house; Threave Garden, made up of landscaped gardens and themed ‘rooms’; Threave Sculpture Garden, containing over 30 works by Scottish sculptors; and Threave Nature Reserve, featuring landscape ranging from wetlands to woodlands. Whichever part of the estate you’re in, you’ll see some of Threave’s famous wildlife – it’s one of Scotland’s bat hotspots, as well as a wildfowl sanctuary, and birds of all kinds flock here throughout the year.
- 2 Threave Castle, Kelton Mains, Castle Douglas (Off roundabout 0n A75 to west of town), ☏ +44 7711 223101. On an island in the River Dee stands Threave Castle, a massive 14th century tower built by Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway. The stronghold of the Black Douglases, it has at its base an artillery fortification built before 1455 when James II besieged the castle Visitors have to travel to the island via a rowing boat. Also the location of the Osprey viewing platform
- 3 Carlingwark Loch (At the south west side of the town). The town loch, feed the ducks, walk round or just enjoy. Caravan/Camp site available at the town end of the loch.
Do
Castle Douglas has a community web site Castle Douglas dot com which lists events, attractions, seasonal events and other items of interest to both Tourists to the area and residents.
- The Red Kite Trail (Various locations around Castle Douglas & Loch Ken), ☏ +44 1556 670464. View the stunning red kite in its natural environment or at a feeding station.
- 1 Rockcliffe (Off A710 to south of Dalbeattie). Pleasant seaside bay, plenty of rock pools to play in. At low tide you can walk across to Rough Island.
- 2 Kippford (Off A710 south of Dalbeattie). Watch the water sport enthusiasts or walk around the bay to Rockcliffe.
Buy
A small but lovely town for shopping with predominantly independent retailers including many food shops. King Street is the main shopping street.
Eat
- 1 The Mad Hatter, 53 King Street, ☏ +44 1556 502712, the.hatter1@yahoo.com. Monday to Saturday 9AM-4PM. The café is friendly, welcoming and comfortable. The only dog friendly café in Castle Douglas an ideal ‘refreshment stop’ during a walk.
Drink
- 1 Sulwath Brewers, 209 King Street (At eastern end of High Street set back in yard.), ☏ +44 1556 504525. Castle Douglas' own brewery, where you can have a drink or buy off-sales to take home. Their Scotch Pies are highly recommended.
- 2 The Laurie Arms, 11-13 Main Street, Hough of Urr (About 4-miles west of Castle Douglas signed off A75), ☏ +44 1556 660246. A family-run pub with real ales and restaurant with excellent local food.
- 3 The Anchor Hotel, Kippford, Dalbeattie, DG5 4LN, ☏ +44 1556 620205, sloananchor@yahoo.co.uk. Traditional pub overlooking the old harbour, good food and accommodation also available. Real ales sold. If the weather is fair a great place to sit outside and watch the world go by.
Sleep
- 1 Douglas Arms Hotel, 206 King Street, DG7 1DB, ☏ +44 1556 502231, enquiries@douglasarmshotel.com. "The hotel has been tastefully modernised to meet the standards of today's traveller whilst retaining many of its original features. The coaching credentials and the hotels reputation for hospitality have been well known over the years. The Douglas Arms Hotel is a warm and welcoming retreat for all."
- 2 Lochside Caravan and Camping Site, Lochside Park, DG7 1EZ (At the north end of Carlingshaw Loch.), ☏ +44 1556 503806. 108 caravan stances, 73 of which are on hard standing with a separate camping site for 53 tents.
Connect
- Castle Douglas Travel Guide. On-line guide
- Castle Douglas Food Town. Food and drink information for Castle Douglas