St Mary's Roman Catholic Church

The Victorian Gothic Revival facade of St Mary's stops you dead when you round the corner in Landis. It's all pointed arches and red sandstone - proper theatrical for a Scottish Lowlands parish church. Inside, the stained glass and soaring ceiling have that hushed quality that makes even fidgety kids quieter than usual.

This is church tourism for the architecture-minded rather than the deeply pious. The building dates to the 19th century and it shows in every detail - if you're into ecclesiastical design or Victorian craftsmanship, you'll find yourself lingering. Others might spend fifteen minutes and call it done. It's free to visit, though opening hours aren't fixed, so you'll want to check locally or arrive during a service if you're particular about getting inside.

Religious sites like this work well as a quick break if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Landis Farm CL and Criffel View are practically on the doorstep, while Caerlaverock Castle Corner Camp Site sits just three miles out. Pairing it with a walk around Landis itself makes sense; the church alone won't fill an afternoon. If you're camped in the area and fancy a gentle potter round local architecture before heading elsewhere, it's worth a detour. But don't expect it to be a focal point of your holiday unless you're genuinely keen on Victorian churches.