Thinking of doing the North Coast 500? Think again. There are less travelled natural Scottish marvels out there which will take a lot less driving to get to. Well at least if you are visiting from England.
Looking for a place to visit this summer which doesn’t cost the earth? Why not take a road trip to Scotland? Here at Five Minutes Spare we have travel guides of Scottish towns and cities which are ripe for adventure. One step better than that, we have friends north of the border who can shed light on the best awe-inspiring sites to visit while you visit Southern Scotland.
Off the Beaten Track Sites to Visit in the Scottish Lowlands
Let’s start with locations in the lowlands. Not all of Scotland is in the Highlands and, let’s face it as soon as you hit the A9 northbound the prices double. Avoid the long drive and the price hike by staying in the south.
Attraction 1: Dumfries
When you leave Carlisle, head north up into our southernmost city. Dumfries has a hidden garden you can hunt down, a golf course, a farmer’s market, a mansion, medieval strongholds – and loads of museums. For now, let’s emerge from Dumfries and head north.
Scottish Site #2: The Devil’s Beef Tub
Image: GarethTandy/Shutterstock.com
Driving north from England? Follow the M74 north out of Carlisle and get off at Moffat. Not only is there a lovely little town with tasty toffee for sale, but there is also a gorge big enough to rival any valley, anywhere in the country. It is known as the Devil’s Beef Tub.
How did a misty valley north of Moffat get a name like that? The Scots used to steal cattle from our southern neighbours (sorry about that). This misty valley was large enough to store and hide those stolen animals, should the raiders come looking. The Devil hid the stolen beef. There is a memorial here to a man who was killed during the Covenanters era.
Pro tip: The mist gets thick up here.
Scottish Road Trip Favourite #3: The Mennock Pass
Image: Mariusz Olszak/Shutterstock.com
After you leave the Beef Tub and head north, you will eventually see signs for Abington, then for Leadhills, and then for Wanlockhead. Wanlockhead is a favourite place for gold panners and plays host to the Gold Panning Association’s annual competition. Drive through the beautiful Mennock Pass carefully because there are sheep on the road. This is a favourite spot for campers. Remember to take your rubbish home, nobody collects it for you.
Pro tip: The fields are open and the animals are everywhere.
Top Scottish Attractions #4: Wanlockhead
Wanlockhead is the highest village in Scotland (1531 feet above sea level) and it is in the Lowlands! It’s home to the Lead Mining Museum, where you can buy gold panning equipment and local crystals and minerals. You can shop for Scottish minerals through the Lead Mining Museum website, but we found you can find a bigger selection shopping online with the Scottish Rockhounds at The Stone Circle for more.
Pro tip: this area is near Thornhill. The Thornhill Basin is spectacular. You can even day trip to Drumlanrig Castle.
#5: Drive the A75…
Take a trip along the A75: Scotland’s most haunted road. Travellers here have reported ghostly carriages led by ghoulish horses. There are tales of body snatching here, of wandering ladies and lost souls. Part of the history of this road is its connection between the city and the coast. The A75 is the road the starving Irish emigrants would walk during the famine. Arriving at the port in Stranraer, the only option was to continue on to the city by foot… or by carriage.
Don’t believe in ghosts? Drive it at night.
Scottish Lowlands Attractions #6 The Ayr Coastal Route
Nowadays, what was once a haunting route to walk for salvation has become a beautiful run northwards along the coastline. From Stranraer, you will head ever north, round the nose of the land and past The Maidens. This area has a beautiful beach and always has caravans for hire, should you wish for a good place to see the sites from.
Continuing North
Once you clear the nub of the land, you will be on your way to the next big town of Ayr. Before you get there, you will pass through three attractions that you should visit.
Attraction #7: The Electric Brae
There is a part of the road between The Maidens and the town of Dunure where the road plays a trick on you. This area is called the Electric Brae. If you switch off the engine and allow the car to roll, it will seem to roll uphill. This is an optical illusion caused by the lay of the land. It’s also a dangerous corner because people always stop to get their picture taken.
Pro tip: Drive slowly around the coast to enjoy the view and avoid an accident.
Attraction #8: Dunure Castle
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Between the Maidens and the Heads of Ayr, you come through the little town of Fishtown. Turn downhill towards Dunure. There is a lovely beach here and a tiny maze. However, Dunure Castle is a gorgeous landmark. The views are fantastic. There is a kids’ play park and even a beach. Bliss.
The Castle is now largely in ruin, however, as you can see it still makes a stunning backdrop, especially in the right light.
Attraction #9: The Heads of Ayr
Before you reach the town of Ayr, you will reach the Heads of Ayr. Turn off towards the seafront and find a free car park. You cannot park at Greenan Shore overnight, but you can pull up for a walk along the beach. You will notice a marvellous castle, perched precariously on the edge of a cliff. This is all that remains of Greenan Castle. Take a walk along underneath it if you dare but keep an eye on tide times. You can even climb up to the castle, should you get stuck.
Attraction 10 in the South of Scotland: Ayr
Next on the Ayr Coastal Route, you will hit the town of Ayr itself. Passing through Alloway and visiting the Burns Cottage is nice. You can also see the Oliver Cromwell statue, buy locally-made fudge and ice cream, or retrace the steps of William Wallace himself.
So you can see there is plenty to see on your journey from Dumfries to Ayr and the good news is that it is just as enjoyable on the way back down.
You can learn more about Edinburgh, Penicuik, Glasgow, and any other lowland towns you care to visit through our exceptionally good travel guides, right here at Five Minutes Spare.
