One of the happiest places in Scotland 😃

The first step for anyone coming to stay with us in Dumfries should be to watch our brilliant Dumfries team's Discover Dumfries: A Students' Guide. Join students Aidan, Emily, Edwina and Tehya as they show you around the town and introduce you to their favourite places. From gyms (Elev8 Athletics Gym), to restaurants, café’s and bars (The Boathouse, Greens Dumfries, Riverside Tap, Kings Coffee and Books) and outdoor activities and festivals (Dock Park, Mabie Forest, Doonhame Festival) this tour has it all!

For lovers of literature and the arts, Dumfries is guaranteed to have something for you. 

Perhaps most notably, Dumfries was home to Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, the man who gave the world ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘Address to a Haggis’ and ‘Tam O’Shanter’. Visit Robert Burns House to see the home where he created some of his most memorable poems and view some of his manuscripts and belongings. Burns Mausoleum also stands in churchyard of the town’s beautiful St Michael's Church. 

To commemorate the bard, the town hosts the Big Burns Supper every January. Featuring music, comedy, food and much more, the festival is an essential for any resident! 

Dumfries was also home to another literary hero, J.M. Barrie, the creator of the legendary Peter Pan. The home that inspired the famous tale, Glen Moat, has recently been turned into a visitor attraction so, if you are fan of Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook, then it’s well worth a look!

Amongst all the festivals that the area hosts, book lovers would be well advised to make the short trip to the Wigtown Book Festival. Every year, the festival attracts renowned authors from around the UK to discuss their careers and introduce their latest works.

Fans of theatre will also be pleased to find out that Dumfries is home to the Theatre Royal, the oldest working theatre in Scotland.

If history is more to your taste then a trip to the Dumfries Museum has to be on the cards.

Located in a stunning 18th century windmill and featuring collections ranging from prehistoric fossil footprints and ancient stone carvings through to the Victorian era, there is something for everyone.

The museum is also home to the oldest working Camera Obscura in the word. Installed in 1836, the instrument gives viewers amazing panoramic views of Dumfries and the stunning countryside that surrounds the town

For aficionados of aviation and military history, you’ll find the Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum well worth a visit. Located in control tower of the former RAF Dumfries, you’ll find a great collection of aircraft and other artefacts and memorabilia.

For the sporty amongst us, Dumfries has some excellent gym and sports facilities available including the DGOne Leisure Complex which has a gym swimming pools, and games halls. Keen cyclists will find repairs, equipment and a cup of coffee available at The Frothy Bike Co. Fans of the beautiful game will also be able to visit Palmerstone Park, the home of Queen of the South, one of Scotland’s most historic clubs and the only football club mentioned in the Bible!

Dumfries is also home to some great bars and restaurants like The Bank and there is a wide range of shops, ranging from the small and quirky to the major supermarkets.

Whatever you get up to, enjoy your time as a Doonhamer!