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Hi Boycey72, and welcome.

The Dumfries and Galloway area is terrific - beautiful and with some nice family attractions. You pass through this area as you drive east from Stranraer. Once you hit the motorway you could head north to Loch Lomond area, south for Cumbria or further east for the Borders region.

Depends how far you want to drive, really. I'd suggest staying in D&G. It's an area people often drive through on the way to somewhere else, but it's really worth exploring. Fuel's not cheap, so why spend cash and time going too far?

I grew up with lots of family visits to the Lake District. To me, D&G has all the advantages of the Lakes but without the crowds and traffic problems.

Check this out: http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/

Viggo, I agree with you, we live at Carlisle and we go for weekends to Hoddom castle in D & G rather than the lakes.  You get ripped off parking in the lakes, as well as food, shops etc.  D & G has so much to offer, lovely beach at Powfoot near Annan, as well as coves all the way up the coast.  Kirkkudbright is lovely as is Dumfries, just outside Dumfries is Maybee Farm Park, idea for a day out, animals, tractor rides, go carts, hill slides, picnic area or cafe.  ENJOY

Shirley

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Hi Boycey

I live in Dumfries and i would reccommend D&G loads of things for you and your kids to see and do.

I could reccommend a few sites for you but if you give me more info such as beach forest loads todo or a quiets site. Here are a few to get you started have a look at brighouse bay cracking big site has loads to do like swimming £6 for a family of 4 loads of nature walks and not far from cream of galloway (ice cream farm/factory) which the kids would love as it has a big adventure park.

You could try Hoddam lovely site has everything you need but bit quieter.

Powfoot again a lovely site bit quieter but right on the beach.

If you opt for D&G let me know and i will give you loads of info on days out for the kids that wont cost the earth.

Gerry

Hi boycey

Both mabie park farm and cream of galloway great days out prefer cream of galloway as you can get awesome ice cream.

If you go into Kirkcudbright about 5 miles from Brighouse they have a wildlife park/zoo only a small one but ideal for your kids ages and kids get to feed the animals if there at feeding time.

If you want to come to Dumfries for the day try Dalscone farm right on the A75 and if you drive about 7 miles south of Dumfries you have Dalton pottery this is a great place kids can pick a pot or other item they then paint it and gets put in the oven kids love it and pots/tiles start from a few £ also has a cafe and small play area but for a great lunch try the garden centre before the pottery great.

Dumfries also has a museum and camara obscurer all museums in D&G are free but pay for cam obscurer. There is also DG1 pool complex in Dumfries kids go free on a sat morning.

The best activity of all acording to my daughter when she was about 8 now 12 is going down to the beach at brighouse collecting stones and bringing them back to paint while dad watches with a cold magners so take some paints with you you will be amazed at the time the kids spend doing this.

Any more info or if you see something you want to know about just ask.

Gerry