Location: Dumfries
Top Things to do in Dumfries
Countries
Top 8 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Dumfries, Scotland
Dumfries (/dʌmˈfriːs/ ( listen) dum-FREESS; possibly from Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phris) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland, United Kingdom. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries is the traditional county town of the historic county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South. People from Dumfries are known colloquially as Doonhamers.
Restaurants in Dumfries
1. Solway Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 97 reviews
We offer guided historic and ancestral tours of South West Scotland and beyond. We plan bespoke personalised tours with clients across half day, full day or multi day tours. We can also plan and prepare an Ancestral Tour where you can walk in the footsteps of your ancestors. We offer a door to door service and can collect you from any airport, train station or hotel. We will provide unforgettable experiences through our extensive knowledge and insight into the History of Scotland which will create memories and smiles that last a lifetime. Individualised tailor made tours of incredible quality!
2. Caerlaverock Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 998 reviews
Caerlaverock Castle is now open and we are delighted to welcome you back. Booking in advance is essential. Find out more and book at restarthistory.scot. With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements, this awe-inspiring castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold and one of the finest castles in Scotland. Although ruined, Caerlaverock is still a substantial structure and you can explore many different features within its unique triangular ground plan. The castle's turbulent history owes much to its proximity to England which brought it into the brutal cross-border conflicts and you can enjoy a fascinating siege warfare exhibition complete with reconstructions of medieval siege engines.
Reviewed By Quirky-Bird-Gardener - Biggar, United Kingdom
We combined visiting the castle with Ruthwell Cross making it a great day out and worth the hour and half drive. The castle though fairly small is fascinating to explore with its triangular shape and interesting facades. Being in a moat adds to it's uniqueness. We walked around the castle to the site of the original castle and back to the cafe for lunch. This was the low point of the visit sadly. Its very unusual to have a disappointing lunch where ever we visit. We ordered soup and a sandwich, the soup was lovely but the sandwich was 2 slices of cheap white bread with a sliver of ham and a dollop of mustard, no salad, crisps or anything as is the case in most places these days. It was a very poor excuse for a sandwich. Service was very very slow despite it not being that busy. I wish we'd gone elsewhere for lunch or brought a picnic but as it's out only day off in the week we like to treat ourselves to lunch.
3. Drumlanrig Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 662 reviews
Set on the spectacular 80,000 acre Queensberry Estate complete with Country Park and Victorian Gardens, Drumlanrig Castle presents one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture in Scotland and an internationally renowned art collection. Beyond the castle are over 40 acres of enchanting gardens and a wide range of activities including walking, mountain biking, adventure playground, wildlife watching, Scottish Cycle Museum, Landrover tours, Ranger-led walks, events programme as well as shopping and catering.
Reviewed By 919tracyj - Fakenham, United Kingdom
Lovely visit to this amazing castle, although castle is closed at the moment because of Covid, the gardens are well worth a visit, also can highly recommend the walks around the castle great place to explore.
4. Dalscone Farm Fun
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 284 reviews
A Great Day Family Fun Day Out - Rain or Shine. Dalscone is a family adventure farm located in Dumfries, Scotland. Here you can also visit Scotland's largest independent toyshop! Have fun in our huge indoor soft play area that is filled with ball cannons, slides and other exciting features. Explore our outdoor attractions for children and adults alike including trampolines, pedal karts, bumper boats and crazy golf! Take a ride around our Farmari where you can encounter llamas, donkeys, goats, pigs and more!
Reviewed By xxKatxx2011xx - Cockermouth, United Kingdom
Visited here today, two family’s 4 adults and 4 children in total. I travelled from Cockermouth and would do it all over again!! It’s worth the travel and we will be going back. It’s amazingly clean and the staff are amazing (there are lots of them) but they are busy keeping everyone happy and the place spotless. All the doors are secure and alarmed so little ones can’t get out of the indoor area. So there is a huge indoor play area (soft play) and a cafe which is reasonably priced and tasty. Also a huge area with ride along tractors and little tike cars. Outside there is a park, huge bouncy castle inflatable, go kart track, mini golf, trampolines, sand area and a huge track for family go karts to go right round the farm park. Plus a water fight area. The water boats are £2 and the electric motorbikes that are on a track outside and inside take £1 coins. Water bombs are 50p but apart from that everything is included in the price. We were there all day and left at 4.30 We will be returning I would rather travel the extra 30 mins from Carlisle and go here instead of Walby.
5. 7stanes - Mabie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Mabie Forest, the original mountain biking venue in the south west of Scotland. Mabie lies just a few miles south of Dumfries and caters for beginners right through to the most expert of riders.
Reviewed By charl061191 - Pickering, United Kingdom
We did the longest trail which was a very varied walk. We got absolutely drenched in a downpour about 1/3 of the way round and didn't see anyone for most of the remainder of our walk. It's a nice place to visit for a walk.
6. Mabie Farm Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 546 reviews
Family fun farm park with lots to do for old and young. The whole family can spend hours from feeding the animals, bouncing on the jumping pillows, slides,play barn,straw barn, boating pond,donkey rides,our choochoo express,quad biking and lots of fresh air out in our park area. We have a tearoom for lunch and gift/toy shop to keep the kids happy.
Reviewed By TheFireyOne - Glasgow, United Kingdom
What an amazing find! We were down in Southerness for a long weekend and thought we would pop into “this wee farm park” for an hour or 2 to pass the time with the kids.....6 hours later and we were the last to leave at closing time! Amazingly spacious, we had no covid worries whatsoever. The animals are adorable and friendly, the indoor barn rope swing brilliant (loved that my 5 year old could play in that section, while my 10 month old could play in the adjoining tots area.....not often they can both be entertained at the same time!). The bouncy pillows were great fun (again the 5 yo was on the larger one, the 10 mo on the smaller). Because of the layout I could let the 5yo play on the big slides while I sat in the sand pit with the 10mo (again I cannot stress how rare it is to keep both my little womb gremlins happy at the same time) the peddle boats were lovely and chilled, but the winner at the end of the day was the train ride! I enjoyed it as much as the kids. The staff could not have been nicer or more helpful, going above and beyond (ie the man running the toboggan slide who dragged the sledge up the hill because my spoiled daughter couldn’t be bothered doing it herself). I can’t believe how affordable it is and how much you get for your money. I never usually post gushing reviews but I’m totally fan girl-ing over Mabie Farm and promised 5yo that I would bring her and friends down for a day trip.....it’s worth the 2 hour drive.
7. Dino Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 453 reviews
Southern Scotland's best dinosaur experience is open. Step back 150 million years and discover the giants who roamed the earth. Take a trip through the Dino Mine, hear stories and facts in the Dino Den, dig for fossils, have fun on our bouncy dinosaur and much more! A great day out for all the family! We are open 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm from 28th March to 1st November 2015.
Reviewed By 538lornab - Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
We love bringing our grand children here, they have a ball and the food and staff are excellent, the outside Dino park is great for child Dino enthusiasts, the garden centre is an array of delights from plants shrubs to kitchen ware clothing kids toys and another more grownup cafe to go to when the kids aren't along with you
8. Robert Burns Mausoleum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By bdon257 - Morpeth, United Kingdom
This churchyard is only a short walk from Burns House and is worth a visit. It is full of huge and elaborate headstones some dating back around 300 years including a communal grave of the 420 victims of the 1832 Cholera epidemic. The large and recently restored Mausoleum is the principle attraction and has an information board for visitors.
