Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright is a small harbour town on the River Dee, long nicknamed the "Artists' Town" for the painters and craftspeople who settled here from the late 19th century onwards, drawn by the quality of light and the coastal scenery.
The town's most striking landmark is MacLellan's Castle, a large 16th-century tower house built by a former provost of the town, now roofless but otherwise substantially intact and open to visitors right in the centre of town. Around it, the streets are lined with brightly painted 18th and 19th-century townhouses, a look the town has deliberately preserved and which gives it a distinct character compared with its neighbours.
Harbour and surroundings
The harbour itself is tidal, sitting on the Dee estuary, and still sees working fishing boats alongside leisure craft. The surrounding countryside is quiet and rural, with the coastline of the Solway Firth and a scattering of small villages within easy reach for anyone wanting to explore further afield during a stay.
Where to Stay in Kirkcudbright
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Selkirk Arms Hotel — a long-established hotel on the High Street. -
Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel — a short walk from MacLellan's Castle in the town centre. -
Arden House Hotel — a small hotel on the edge of town overlooking the River Dee. -
Star Hotel, Twynholm — a former 18th-century coaching inn a few miles from Kirkcudbright. -
Balcary Bay Country House Hotel — a coastal country house hotel at nearby Auchencairn.
Getting there
Kirkcudbright has no railway station — the nearest mainline stations are at Dumfries or Stranraer — so most visitors arrive by road, typically via the A75, which runs along the north side of the Solway coast.