DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY FAQ'S
If you are staying in Dumfries and Galloway, you will most likely arrive at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (PIK), located approximately 90 minutes by car northwest of Dumfries City. Taxis from Prestwick typically cost anywhere between £75 and £125 depending on where you are going in the region. Budget, Europcar, Easirent, AutoEurope, and Arnold Clark rental companies all have representation in Glasgow Prestwick Airport. More rental car companies are located in the city of Ayr just south of the airport. If you rent your car through Tripmasters, you will be picking it up at your arrival airport unless specifically stated otherwise.
The Glasgow South Western Line runs from Prestwick International Airport railway station next to the airport to various towns in the region. To get to Stranraer, get off the train in Ayr and connect to a new train to Stranraer. To get to Dumfries and Gretna, get off the train in Kilmarnock as it is going north to Glasgow, and then head south to Dumfries and Gretna on a separate train (this one will be marked as going to the final destination of Carlisle, England). One-way tickets cost approximately £15 to Stranraer and £20 to Dumfries.
Driving directions to Dumfries from Prestwick Airport: Take the A77 motorway to the B742, which will take you to Mauchline and is also called Mauchline Road. In Mauchline, head south on the A76 motorway for 48 miles until reaching the other side of the Devorgilla Bridge and the River Nith from central Dumfries. Turn left just before the Devorgilla Bridge onto Buccleuch Street and pass over the New Bridge into the center of the city.
Driving directions to Stranraer: Instead of getting off the A77 motorway like you're going to Dumfries, keep driving south on the A77 for 57 miles until you enter the center of the town of Stranraer. The portion of the A77 that connects Stranraer and the environs is Cairnryan Road.
All buses in the Dumfries and Galloway region are operated by Stagecoach (www.stagecoachbus.com), under the supervision of the Dumfries and Galloway Council (www.dumgal.gov.uk/timetables).
Dumfries is the main hub of the local system, with buses leaving Great King Street in Dumfries City to various places across the region. Bus routes 1, 3, and 6 circle the town center, as do lines 5 and 7 (pickup point at the Loreburne Centre). Route 74 takes travelers from Dumfries to Moffat, Route 79 takes people from Dumfries to Annan, and Route 81 connects Dumfries and Lockerbie. Stranraer has its own town service, Route 365, and Route 367 connects Stranraer with Portpatrick. Route 500 connects Dumfries with Newton Stewart and Stranraer, and Route 501 connects Dumfries with Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright. For more information, visit www.dumgal.gov.uk/timetables.
The best value bus pass is the 7-day Dumfries and Galloway MegaRider, which costs £18.50 plus tax and can be purchased online at www.stagecoachbus.com.
There is one taxi rank in the region, on Munches Street in Dumfries City. Taxis can be hailed from the street in Dumfries and in other towns if you see them. All taxis in Dumfries and Galloway will have a taxi light on top of their cars, and there will be a "licensed taxi" sticker on a back window with the Dumfries and Galloway Council logo prominently displayed, with the registration number of the vehicle and related information.
Flagfall is £4.50 for the first 1.5 miles, after which there is a £1 charge for every additional half-mile. £1 is added to the fare between midnight and 6 a.m. and during the Christmas holidays. Waiting time is 40 pence per two minutes. In Dumfries City it is recommended to call Dumfries Taxis (+44 7784 920096) or Woodgrove Taxis (+44 7721 309537). In Moffat, call Moffat Taxis (+44 1683 221666), call Herdsman Taxis in Castle Douglas (+44 1556 502551), and A 2 B Taxis in Stranraer (+44 1776 700070).
One great thing about driving in Dumfries and Galloway is that there is a lot of parking space available, and nearly all of it is free. Parking is plentiful in Dumfries City, with the Dumfries and Galloway Council operating 20 small parking lots on every side of the city center, with the largest free parking situated on Newell Terrace. There is also a large parking area on Well Street on the other side of the River Nith. In Moffat there is free parking near the Town Hall on High Street, in Kirkcudbright you can find free parking at Harbour Square, and in Stranraer there is a large free parking lot at Port Rodie. Keep in mind, however, that these spots are first-come, first-served, so you may run into a shortage of spots at peak times.
Can I pay/tip in U.S. dollars?The currency of Scotland, like all constituent nations of the United Kingdom, is the pound sterling (£). U.S. dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for pounds upon arrival. ATMs can be found at many locations across Dumfries and Galloway.
What should I expect as far as the food scene is concerned?Dumfries and Galloway, while not particularly well-known for any one restaurant or chef, is renowned for its farm-to-table approach to cuisine and is also known as "picnic country", because the natural landscape is so beautiful here that it naturally lends itself to packed lunches, which can be made yourself by visiting local butchers and bakers. Some great places to buy foodstuffs for your dream Dumfries and Galloway picnic include King Street in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries City, Gretna Green, and Gatehouse of Fleet. There are gin distilleries in Annan and Newton Stewart. The Solway Riviera, including Kippford and Rockcliffe, are great places to sample fish and chips. Galloway Honey Farm is well-known domestically for its thick, dark-tinted honey.
What is shopping like in Dumfries and Galloway?Dumfries and Galloway is filled with shops that are great for souvenir shopping, whether the souvenirs are for yourself or for friends back home. To get a kilt, we recommend looking at Anderson Kilts on Church Crescent in Dumfries City. The town of Moffat is a great place to go if you are interested in buying wool clothing or locally-made handicrafts. The Galloway Craft Guild has brought together over 60 small businesses from all over the region and their wares are sold on King Street in Castle Douglas. Kirkcudbright is a great place to stop for locally-made jewelry and clothes from southern Scotland's most chic fashion boutiques. Head to Gretna Green if you want to buy everything from foodstuffs to books on Scotland. Speaking of books, the largest secondhand bookshop in the country is located on North Main Street in Wigtown.