Dalbeattie

This granite town carved its reputation from stone - literally. Dalbeattie's distinctive grey buildings were shaped from the same quarries that supplied London's Thames Embankment and Liverpool's Albert Dock. The town centre feels purposeful rather than pretty, but that's precisely its appeal. No tourist frippery here, just honest Scottish charm and proper local pubs.

Castle Hill dominates the skyline, offering cracking views across Dumfries and Galloway's rolling countryside. More adventurous types can tackle the circuit of peaks including Mark Hill and Ironhash Hill - it's a proper hill walk that rewards with panoramas stretching to the Solway Firth. The ancient Motte of Mark, perched above the estuary, whispers of Dark Age kings who once ruled this coastline.

Down at Kippford, just a few miles south, things turn decidedly more seaside. The village clings to the Urr Water estuary, all sailing boats and weekend sailors. Kippford Community Nature Reserve provides gentle walking along mudflats where curlews probe for worms. The Millennium Cross marks the spot where pilgrims once crossed to Whithorn - these days it's dog walkers and bird watchers who make the trek.

From Castle Douglas, trains run to Dumfries in forty minutes, connecting to the main Glasgow-London line. The A75 sweeps you here from anywhere in the south. Staying at one of the nearby parks like Sandyhills Bay or Kippford View puts you within striking distance of both the Galloway hills and the surprisingly wild Solway coast. You're ideally placed for exploring the region's castles, forests and that magnificent stretch of coastline that most visitors completely miss.