Getting to and around Dumfries and Galloway

By Mark Campbell

Getting here

By road
From the south, the M6 motorway leads you straight into the east of the region, if you are coming from the north, head towards Glasgow and take the M74 which also runs through eastern Dumfries and Galloway or travel into the west via the A77 down the coast.

Dumfries and Galloway has a great network of local roads which makes for excellent stress-free touring. Why not take one of the signposted touring routes – the Galloway Tourist Route, Burns Heritage Trail or the Solway Coast Heritage trail for a great way to explore different parts of the area? By public transport There are many public transport links to Dumfries and Galloway. Further information is available at travelinescotland.com

Wanlockhead is Scotland’s highest village and a pleasure to drive through

By bus
National Express offer journeys from across the UK to various towns in the region including Dumfries and Stranraer. Other bus companies including Stagecoach provide regular buses from Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Manchester to Carlisle. From Carlisle you can catch one of the local buses which will take you into the heart of the region. By rail Scotrail runs services either direct to Dumfries, Annan, Stranraer and Lockerbie or to Carlisle, where you can switch on to a local train or catch a bus to get around the region.

Carlisle and Lockerbie are accessible by Avanti West Coast from across the UK on the main west coast line. Detailed maps and timetables are available on the National Rail website nationalrail.co.uk

By ferry
Travel by ferry from Ireland or Europe for a relaxed start to your trip. Ferry crossings between Ireland and Scotland run from the Northern Irish ports of Larne and Belfast and both travel to Cairnryan. There are several ferries every day and depending on the particular service, you could arrive in Scotland in only an hour.

If you are coming from Europe, ferry services also run regularly from the Netherlands to Newcastle in the north east of England which is only 90 minute’s drive from Dumfries and Galloway.

By air
The closest airport to the region, Glasgow Prestwick, is situated less than an hour away in neighbouring Ayrshire and regularly welcomes inbound flights from across the UK including London, Stanstead and Derry. There are train connections from the airport to Stranraer and Dumfries as well as other stations in the region.

Scotland’s two main airports, Edinburgh and Glasgow, are both reachable within an hour and a half and flights come in from all the main UK and Irish airports. Regular services fly between London and the Scottish airports allowing easy transfer from the UK’s capital.

By cycle
Dumfries and Galloway is an ideal destination for a long distance cycle tour as national routes link Dumfries and Galloway to Cumbria as well as the rest of Scotland. There are hundreds of miles of routes in the area, including accessible off-road forest trails, long distance routes on quiet roads and mountain biking adventures.

Scotland’s two main airports, Edinburgh and Glasgow, are both reachable within an hour and a half and flights come in from all the main UK and Irish airports

Getting around

Travel around Dumfries and Galloway to enjoy the region’s diverse landscapes of rolling hills and stunning coastline. Explore in a car or take public transport to discover attractions and villages within easy reach.

Bus
Convenient local bus services connect many of the villages and all main towns, making it easy to visit attractions, restaurants and shops. Online timetables are available to help you plan your trip while a variety of ticket options are available such as group, day and return tickets to let you enjoy great value touring.

Dumfries and Galloway has many convenient local bus services

Car
The region has a great network of roads which makes for excellent stress-free driving. Take one of the touring routes for a great way to see the area – the Galloway Tourist Route, Robert Burns Trail or the Solway Coast Heritage Trail. Find out more about driving in Scotland, use a route planner to help organise your journey, view live traffic information or take a look at car hire options.

Rail
Rail services are run by Scotrail to Dumfries, Annan, Sanquhar, Gretna Green and Lockerbie either directly or by changing to local trains at Carlisle, which is served by the main west coast line. By train, Stranraer can be reached from Glasgow or via Ayr.

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