Dalbeattie

Granite quarries once powered this Galloway town, and you can still see the grey stone buildings that give Dalbeattie its distinctive character. The old quarrying heritage means the high street has a solid, no-nonsense feel - proper Scottish town architecture rather than tourist frippery.

Most visitors come for the surrounding landscape rather than the town itself. Fair enough, really. The Mote of Urr sits just outside town - one of Scotland's finest motte-and-bailey sites where a 12th-century castle once commanded the valley. Buittle Castle offers another slice of medieval history, though there's not much left standing these days.

What really draws people here is the hill walking. Barclosh Hill and Culloch Hill provide cracking views across the Solway Firth on clear days, while Buittle Hill gives you a proper workout if you fancy a challenge. The area's dotted with lochs too - Culdrain Loch and Loch Fern are both pleasant spots for a quiet afternoon, though don't expect anything dramatic.

Getting here means driving, really. Dalbeattie sits about 20 miles southwest of Dumfries on the A711, and the nearest train station is back in Dumfries itself. The town makes a decent base for exploring this quieter corner of Galloway, particularly if you're after walking or cycling rather than nightlife.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around here puts you within easy reach of both the Solway coast and the Galloway hills. Kippford's just down the road if you fancy a bit of sailing or coastal walking, while the Forest of Ae is close enough for mountain biking.