Drumlanrig Castle Gears up for Easter

Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate is gearing up for a busy Easter. From 1st April, the Gardens and Adventure Playground will reopen daily, 11am-4pm. The Adventure Playground, already a favourite with children, will unveil some new pieces of equipment specifically for some of the youngest visitors to the Estate, including a swing set, mini assault…
Read more

Early bird tickets on offer as Galloway Country Fair teams up with Defender Jam

Land Rover event, Defender Jam, will once again join Galloway Country Fair on 12th and 13th August following last year’s successful partnership. 2022 saw the two events join forces for the first time. This year, they’re collaborating again to produce a show bigger and better than ever. Visitors to the annual two-day event which takes…
Read more

From kimonos to photos – creativity is blossoming for 21st annual Spring Fling

Commission a kimono, purchase a portrait, admire artworks, meet makers and discover Dumfries and Galloway – there’s an abundance of things to see and do during the 21st annual Spring Fling open studios weekend. The full programme has just been unveiled and offers: · 100 open studios · Online virtual studios · Bike routes ·…
Read more

Witch Corner trail to launch at Abbotsford in April

Witch Corner, a new sculpture story trail themed around the folktales and legends that enchanted the region’s most famous author, is launching on Saturday 1st April at Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, near Melrose. The event will start with an opening ceremony in which Witch Corner will be officially opened by Abbotsford’s Collections…
Read more

Borders Book Festival Celebrates 20th Edition

A staple in the June diaries of booklovers the length and breadth of the country is the Borders Book Festival, a firm favourite of audiences and authors alike, and this year celebrating its 20th edition. Once again to be held in its iconic home of Harmony Garden, Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, and this year…
Read more

New Coast to Coast Cycle route named in homage to Scotland’s pedal bike pioneer

The 250-mile coast to coast cycle route set to launch in the south of Scotland this summer will be named after Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the 19th century Dumfriesshire blacksmith who invented the first pedal-driven velocipede. The official name for the exciting new route connecting Stranraer in the west with Eyemouth on the east coast – Kirkpatrick…
Read more

Partners unite for drive to boost South of Scotland Visitor Economy and support thriving communities

Sustainable economic growth and community prosperity are the key objectives of ongoing work by a group of major organisations to co-develop a new responsible tourism strategy for the south of Scotland in collaboration with local stakeholders, according to a key announcement today. David Hope-Jones OBE, new-in-post Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance…
Read more

South of Scotland to receive its own VisitScotland Thistle Awards

The South of Scotland is to have its own dedicated regional tourism awards, as part of the prestigious annual Scottish Thistle Awards, celebrating excellence in Scottish tourism and events, it was announced today. David Hope-Jones OBE, new-in-post Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) revealed the Thistle Awards news as he welcomed…
Read more

SSDA Newsletter February 2023

It’s been a wonderful first month in post. Thank you to all who have taken the time to meet me and share their vision and their priorities for the future of tourism in the South of Scotland. If you fancy chatting and haven’t already, do watch my introduction video and schedule a meeting. I am…
Read more

Full programme details announced for ‘must-attend’ South of Scotland Destination Alliance Conference

A packed programme of topical talks, breakout sessions and networking opportunities has been unveiled for the South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s (SSDA) second annual conference being held at Peebles Hydro next month, for which tickets are already being snapped up. Appropriately for 2023, when the region will come under the spotlight as home to one…
Read more