Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright is a small coastal town in South West Scotland. It is situated in the Dumfries and Galloway area

Get in

Scotrail run a sparse service (a train every 2-hours in each direction and less on Sundays) from Glasgow Central to Carlisle which calls at Dumfries. From here you can take a bus or taxi to Kirkcudbright a journey of about 27-miles.

Consequently, the car is the best way to get to Kirkcudbright which is situated to the south of the A75 trunk road which runs from Carlisle to Stranraer

Get around

See

The witch that wasn't It sounds mediaeval, but belief in witches, and legal or church persecutions, were uncommon in Britain until the 16th century. Then the belief system grew, witchcraft was made a capital crime, and people started seeing them everywhere. King James VI / I was particularly obsessed by diabolical plots, personally attended some trials and wrote a tract against witchcraft. Scotland had witch-hunts out of proportion to its population, with some 4000-6000 tried and 1500 put to death. Prosecutions were especially common in Dumfries, Galloway and the East Coast, with those convicted being hanged or strangled then their bodies burnt. But scepticism grew in the 18th century, and the laws were changed in 1735 / 36. Jean Maxwell, the "Galloway Sorceress", might then seem unlucky to be tried in 1805 in Kirkcudbright, for the crime of pretending to be a witch. Damned if you do and damned if you don't? But it was bad enough: she was abusing a gullible young farm servant, extorting "protection money" from her against the devil, amid sulphurous threats, eye-rolling and hocus-pocus. Maxwell was convicted under the 1735 laws and was jailed for a year. Heaven knows what might have happened 100 years earlier, to her and anyone associated with her.

• There's a lot to see in the area around Kirkcudbright. Kirkcudbright is famous for its "Scottish colourists", artists who painted the beautiful surrounding area.
• Among the many pleasant beaches to visit are The Doon, Carrick, Brighouse Bay and Ladies' Bay.
• 🌍 Broughton House and Garden, High Street, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JX. 25 Mar- 31 Oct, daily 12.00-17.00, garden open Feb, Mar. A house built in 1734 which was the home of Scots impressionist artist E. A. Hornel between 1901 and 1933, with Japanese-influenced gardens. Adult: £6.50. (updated Sep 2016)

MacLellan's Castle

• 🌍 MacLellan's Castle. Apr - Sept, daily 9.30am to 5.30pm. Castle ruins with a reconstructed kitchen. £4.50. (updated Sep 2016)
• The White House Gallery, St. Mary Street.. (updated Sep 2016)
• Clarence Studio Gallery. (updated Sep 2016)
• Tolbooth Art Centre. (updated Sep 2016)
• Hornel Art Gallery. (updated Sep 2016)
• Harbour Cottage Gallery. (updated Sep 2016)
• Cornerways Studio and Gallery. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Stewartry Museum, St Mary St., ☎ [phone]. local history and artefacts (updated May 2017)

Do

• Kirkcudbright Golf Club. overlooking the River Dee. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Cream o' Galloway, Rainton, Gatehouse of Fleet,. there is an assault course and various farming related activities, all aimed at families. For the less adventurous, there is also ice cream tasting and tours of the ice cream factory. (updated Mar 2017)
• Kirkcudbright Country Fair is held annually late July. The next event is Sat 20 - Sun 21 July 2019.

Buy

• Jo Gallant is a textile artist and you can find her wonderful studio in Kirkcudbright High Street. Here you can buy her cushion, scarfs, bags and unique wall hangings.

Eat

• 🌍 The Castle, 5 Castle St, ☎ [phone]. (updated May 2017)

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Commercial Hotel, St. Cuthbert Street, ☎ [phone]. From £24. 

There are also a few caravan sites and cottages to let in the area.

Mid-range

• The Royal Hotel, St. Cuthbert Street, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From £69.50. 
• Selkirk Arms Hotel, High Street, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From £70. 

Go next

• Castle Douglas
• Newton Stewart