Things to see and do

Local Information

Castle Douglas is built next to Carlingwark Loch in which traces of prehistoric crannogs can be found, evidence of early inhabitation of the area. A small collection of cottages were developed by the shores of Carlingwark, which was a source of marl. These cottages can still be seen on the Western approach to Castle Douglas and are known as the Buchan.
There's been a settlement here for many centuries, known as Carlingwark until it became Castle Douglas in 1792 after Sir William Douglas, a wealthy descendant of the Douglas Family, laid out a new village on the site of the old. Today's street plan has changed little over the past two centuries. It is rectilinear in form, comprising three long parallel streets, King Street, Queen Street and Cotton Street, linked by cross streets.
There is a  Mausoleum located near Kelton whish was built around 1830 to house the remains of Sir William Douglas who died nearly 200 years ago, and 24 members of the Douglas family.

The town's layout is based upon the grid plan pattern of streets as used in Edinburgh's New Town, built around the same time. Sir William Douglas also created a number of industries in Castle Douglas, including hand-woven cotton factories from which Cotton Street derives its name and Castle Douglas was then established as a centre for the hand spinning of cotton. For a time the plan succeeded, but in the long term there was no way Castle Douglas could compete with industrialised cotton spinning in huge water-powered mills like those at New Lanark, established seven years before Castle Douglas itself.
But if the town did not succeed as a centre for cotton spinning, it certainly did in other ways. The many hotels and pubs which derived from coach stops are an indication of the town's importance as a stopping place for travellers in the coaching days of the early 1800s.
The railway came to Castle Douglas in 1859, only to disappear along with many other rural lines in 1965. But throughout the period Castle Douglas's role grew as the largest market town for a considerable distance in any direction. Evidence of this can be seen from the Auction Mart towards the east end of the town. The typical hexagonal market building built in 1900 is accompanied by extensive stock yards indicating the scale of activity here.

Castle Douglas today still has a focus on fresh produce, and is now known as Dumfries & Galloway’s Food Town. There's a choice of superb delicatessens, 4 quality butchers, a greengrocers, 2 local bakers as well as specialist sweet shops along the main high street - King Street, where you will find most of the activity in this pleasant market town. Castle Douglas also has an abundance of independent shops including many traditional shops no longer found on many town high streets offering an array of gifts, arts and crafts, jewellery and clothing giving rise to hours of browsing and a ‘unique shopping experience’.
Parking in the town is free. There is a large car park on the Market Hill at the top of the town next to the Tourist Information Centre. There is also free parking on many of the side streets that lead away from the town centre.

King Street is also home to an antique restorer and a clockmaker as well as the local Sulwath Brewery whose real ales are brewed traditionally and is open to the public for tours. Sulwath Ales are also served here in the Douglas Arms Hotel.
Other towns in Dumfries & Galloway are also worth a visit for their unique attractions, Eg Wigtown for its books and Kirkcudbright, known as the Artists Town. Take a look at the F.A.B website (Food, Art, Books) for more information.

History of the Douglas Arms

Situated at the corner of King Street and St Andrew’s Street opposite the Clock Tower, the Douglas Arms is over 200 years old and is a former coaching inn. Built into the wall is a stone often put on a lintel and bearing the name of the man and his wife who built the house. In this case the initials are W.C and M.G with the date 1772 or 1779. The town’s founder, William Douglas most probably stayed here before he built his residence at Kelton, as letters are said to have been sent to William Douglas care of Mrs. Douglas, Douglas Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas!
Mrs Douglas, who was the landlady at the time was reputed to be a ‘popular and charming hostess’.
On the King Street wall of the hotel is a mile-stone inn tablet form, rescued from a ditch by a former provost, Dr T. M Donald, which shows mileages to a few destinations such as Dumfries, Carlisle, London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It was cast in Dumfries in 1827.

Threave Gardens, Castle Douglas

A big pull in the Castle Douglas area is Threave Gardens, one of the best in Dumfries & Galloway. Sixty four acres of gardens are waiting to be explored, crammed with water features, a walled garden and glasshouse plus woodland and heather gardens. In Spring the masses of Rhododendrons at Threave are not to be missed!
A Scottish Baronial House, marked trails, bird hides and a wild fowl sanctuary are all on-site, plus a visitor centre, gift shop, plant centre and exhibition room. The house within the Threave Garden estate dates from 1872 and was built by the Gordon family.

Threave Castle, Castle Douglas

Threave Castle (5 miles west of Castle Douglas off the A75) sits just a mile north of Threave Gardens (an easy walk) and is unusually set on a small island on the River Dee. You can reach this Scottish castle via a boat. You'll need to go down some steep steps to the riverbank which are unsuitable for wheelchair users.
The distinctive Threave Castle tower dates from the 14th Century and was built by Archibald the Grim (nice name) - one of the Black Douglases and Lord of Galloway. The structure of revolutionary in its time, with its unique rectangular tower.
Once across the river the castle reveals a storage area, a prison in the basement area and a flat roof, designed that way to deal with stone throwing weapons. The jutting out balcony also aided throwing hot oil and the like onto attackers below. A fascinating structure, and well worth a visit, Threave Castle later fell into English hands and effectively disabled. The rectangular tower however survives almost intact.

Walks

A short walk around the park beside Carlingwark Loch makes a very pleasant stroll. As a continuation there is the walk known as Lover's Walk, which goes out along the south shore of the loch to an area of marsh and a bird hide, from where further trails lead back to the town or on to Kelton Hill and Threave Gardens. There is now also a walk leading from the town to Threave Castle, and there is a network of trails around the National Trust for Scotland property at Threave Gardens. Threave Castle and Threave Gardens are both to the west of the town and about 2km apart.

Loch Ken Watersports, Water Ski, Windsurfing, Sailing & Canoeing

Just to the north of Castle Douglas the long narrow Loch Ken (9 miles in length) is a hub for watersports including water skiing, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing - click here for more information.

Birdwatching

An exciting new birdwatching opportunity to view spectacular red kites in lovely scenery is now attracting the attention of walkers, cyclists, wildlife lovers and birdwatchers in Dumfries and Galloway and from much further afield. The 'Galloway Kite Trail' around beautiful Loch Ken promotes the population of kites, recently re-established in Kirkcudbrightshire, as a source of nature-based tourism to benefit local communities in the area.
Developed by RSPB Scotland, the trail includes various facilities around the loch such as footpaths, viewpoints, information points, CCTV (in summer),
A feeding station with a hide has been established at Bellymack Hill Farm near Laurieston, and over 30 kites have often been seen together over winter months. The site also offers good views of raven and buzzard.  Large numbers of kites are best seen in late afternoon in the winter but there are generally a few kites around during the day at any time of year.
The Douglas Arms Hotel is also a partner in the kite trail project and we display a unique information board on various aspects of the kites’ history and biology.  We also provide up-to-date information on the kites. Several RSPB and other birding groups have already enjoyed visits to the Hotel and trail and it is likely that more birdwatchers will take the opportunity to come and see kites in this fantastic setting.

Lochside Theatre

Lochside Theatre in Castle Douglas, converted from an old church in 1996 and seats 200 in its auditorium. It is professionally equipped and managed and staffed entirely by part-time volunteers, providing a varied programme of events throughout the year.
A licensed bar is open on performance evenings.

Cycling

Dumfries and Galloway offers stunning landscapes and coastline, and is famed for its cycling - the ideal way to explore, with lots of off-road trails and miles and miles of quiet country roads. You'll even find the only museum in Scotland devoted to the history of cycling: Drumlanrig Castle. See the magnificent collection of bikes, dating from the c19th to the present day.
For an Off road challenge, then make sure you take time to visit 5 of the 7stanes! Located at Ae, Mabie, Dalbeattie, Kirroughtree and Glentrool forests, these cycling centres are sure to make you come back for more. To find out more visit www.7 stanes.gov.uk.

For organized Cycling Holidays visit www.gallowaycycling.co.uk an associate of The Douglas Arms Hotel, Robin Hogg can put together some tour suggestions incorporating a stay at the Hotel.