Georgetown Library

Georgetown Library sits quietly in Dumfries, the sort of place you'd walk past without noticing unless someone pointed it out. It's a proper local library - not a tourist draw, but worth knowing about if you're staying in the area and fancy browsing second-hand stock or settling in with a paperback while the weather's dodgy. The building itself has character, the kind that comes from age rather than renovation budget, and staff tend to be helpful about local recommendations.

Really, this is useful rather than unmissable. If you've got kids tired of walking around Dumfries town centre, an hour inside the library won't hurt. There's usually a decent selection of fiction, and the kids' section keeps younger ones occupied long enough for a cup of tea in the attached café - if there is one, details are thin on the ground. Admission is free, which is always a bonus.

It makes sense as a backup plan if you're based at one of the nearby caravan sites - Newbridge Country Park or Marthrown of Mabie are close enough that a rainy afternoon trip to town becomes bearable. Don't plan your whole holiday around it, but if you're in Dumfries anyway, pop in. Bring your library card from home if you have one; you might be able to borrow. Check opening hours locally before you visit - small libraries can be unpredictable with staffing.