Three Cool Visitor Attractions Really Worth Visiting In Castle Douglas, Scotland
Nov 2nd, 2008 by DavePF
Castle Douglas is found in an area of Scotland named Dumfries and Galloway. In the eighteenth-century the town of Castle Douglas benefited something of a make over by a local boy called William Douglas who wished to make his hometown into a noteworthy commercial and industrial center. Sadly the idea failed, but the town benefited slightly with some notable buildings constructed from a mixture of red sandstone and gray granite and a straight main street called King Street. Being only eighteen miles from Dumfries, Castle Douglas benefits from an incredible selection of visitor attractions and places worth visiting and we give details of 3; Threave Castle, Threave Gardens and Castle Douglas Art Gallery:
Threave Castle
Standing on an island in the middle of the River Dee, is the breathtaking Threave Castle. The journey to the castle itself is really exciting. First one has a ten minute walk over farm land and through woods, where one stumbles upon a jetty, at the river’s edge. Here you will find a brass bell that is the sign for the boat man to come and ferry you across to the castle. Threave castle was built in the 1370′s by Archibald Douglas (Archibald the Grim), soon after he became Lord of Galloway. Threave remained his strong hold until his death in 1400. The source of the name Threave comes from the Old Welsh word for Homestead, ‘Tref’.
Threave Gardens
Liverpool businessman, William Gordon, acquired Threave House and estate, as a summer dwelling for his expansive family, in 1867. The 24 acre Threave Gardens were established alongside the house, and are now a popular tourist attraction. The National Trust for Scotland continue to maintain and develop the gardens and house, as well as running the tourist center. There are many different gardens around the estate, including the
Peat Garden, Woodland Garden and Secret Garden. In springtime, the parade of daffodils are superb, and attract visitors from far and wide. A favorite of children who visit Threave Gardens is the Discovery Garden. It was created to attract children, with its mown grass paths winding through meadows of wild flowers.
Castle Douglas Art Gallery
An excellent venue is The Castle Douglas Art Gallery, which regulary hosts an array of art and crafts throughout the year. Many touring exhibitions are displayed regularly, as well as temporary exhibitions, all running from Easter to Christmas. Castle Douglas Art Gallery opened in 1938, and was given to Castle Douglas by the artist, Mrs Ethel Bristowe. In 1996 the gallery was refurbished with funding granted by the National Lottery. A lot of the displays in the gallery, including photographs, are for sale. Close to the gallery, are two other attractions, Threave Garden and Threave Castle. These are to be found no more than a couple of miles away.
If you are in the process of considering having a vacation in Scotland and you wish to spend some time in Castle Douglas you may wish to book your accommodation online and you will find listings of Castle Douglas accommodation and hotels at http://castledouglas.hotelreservationhelper.com.
