Kirkcudbright

Artists have been drawn to this former fishing port for over a century, and you'll see why the moment you round the corner into the harbour. The Dee Estuary opens up before you, all mudflats and moored yachts, with the town's candy-coloured Georgian houses climbing the hill behind. This is Scotland, not England despite what some maps might suggest - Kirkcudbright sits proudly in Dumfries and Galloway, about 25 miles southwest of Dumfries itself.

The town earned its reputation as Scotland's artist colony back in the 1880s. Today you can still visit the studios and galleries dotting the high street, though midweek it's wonderfully quiet. The real draw lies beyond the town boundaries. Milton Sands offers proper beach walking when the tide's out, while The Dhoon Beach provides a more secluded spot for those willing to venture further along the coast.

Walk any of the surrounding hills - Moor Hill, Meikle Culcaigrie Hill, or Dow Craig Hill - and the views across Solway Firth to the Lake District are cracking on a clear day. History buffs should seek out Doon Hill fort and the various mottes scattered around Twynholm, remnants of medieval fortifications that controlled this stretch of coast. The forests of Doon Wood and Drambog Plantation offer gentle rambling when the weather turns.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Brighouse Bay or Seaward gives you the best of both worlds - coastal access and easy reach of the town's galleries and pubs. The A75 brings you here from Dumfries in about 40 minutes, while the A711 coastal route from Dalbeattie is particularly lovely if you're not in a rush.