WALKING
Walks to suit all abilities, from gentle ambles round the village
or down to the river and back; waymarked walks in Drumlanrig woods and Ae
Forest; and longer treks on surrounding hills, or on The Southern Upland Way. Some transport to the start or from the end of walks can be arranged.
A
copy of the book "Walking the Lowther Hills" by local resident
Ronald Turnbull
is in the
cottage, along with a selection of maps and older guides.
NATURAL HISTORY
Bird watching from the crags of Scaur Glen through the
mixed species woodlands to the river and on to the Solway coast and the wetland
reserves of
Caerlaverock
and
Mersehead.
Stenhouse Wood,
Tynron is a local Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. The Red Kite feeding station at Laurieston is a very pleasant excursion.
CYCLING
For cyclists there are many picturesque villages in easy cycling
distance - Moniaive (James Paterson -
Glasgow Boy
- museum, etc.), Keir
(home of
Kirkpatrick McMillan
, originator of the pedal/crank driven bicycle), Durisdeer
(afternoon teas at the kirk on summer Sundays) etc.
There are facilities for mountain biking in nearby Drumlanrig Woods, Mabie Forest and Ae Forest, with more specialised routes available if
notified by phone beforehand. Telephone : 01387-860247. Fax : 01387-860312.
GOLFING
Golf at
Thornhill Golf Club
, a
part parkland, part heath course with open views of different outlooks on
surrounding countryside as you progress. There are many other good quality
courses in easy reach. Most participate in a "Gateway to Golf Pass" discount
scheme with six-round @ £99 and three-round passes @ £70 available. Participating Courses. Contact
Visit Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01387 245566 for a leaflet, or visit the website.
FISHING
River Nith for Salmon, SeaTrout, Brown Trout and Grayling.
Mid Nithsdale Angling Association and Dalswinton Estate.
There are nearby Lochs for Brown or Rainbow Trout, e.g.
Loch Ettrickor for Tench and Pike.
WATER SPORTS
Canoeing on the Nith
(bring your own canoe)
Sailing and water skiing are offered on Loch Ken (20miles)
FAMILY HISTORY / GENEALOGY
I have an interest in Family History Research and am pleased to assist
visitors in their quest. Local offices / libraries have resources and the
Scottish Record Office in Edinburgh is 90 minutes away.
VisitScotland have developed an internet site
Ancestral Scotland as an introduction for international ancestral tourists.
OTHERS
Ice skating and curling (at Dumfries and at Lockerbie).
Leisure pools at Dumfries and at Sanquhar
Horse riding (and carriage driving).
Locally there are the studios and workshops of several craft workers, and
"summer schools" are run in a number of disciplines.
And there must be others that I haven't even heard of.