Thornhill Dumfries & Galloway
I would imagine the majority of people reading this were not aware that the lovely village of Thornhill exists, and given its resident population is well under 2000, perhaps it’s not too surprising. However, if you are looking for a quiet and friendly location for a relaxing weekend or a base to explore the wonders of the Mid Nithsdale region of Dumfries & Galloway, it has a lot to offer. It’s not all about tranquillity though as it has things to do & visitor attractions within easy reach and the scenery is just amazing.
Anyway here is our quick guide:
The Quick Overview
The Picturesque village of Thornhill straddles the A76, one of the main trunk roads in South West Scotland, linking Dumfries with Kilmarnock. It is the perfect base for a walking holiday and golfers will also be pleased to hear there is a very playable course. Drumlanrig Castle, one of Scotland’s grandest renaissance buildings is only a few miles up the road and although home to the current Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, it is open to the public.
The Castle ground is also the home of Rik’s Bike Shed if you fancy taking to two wheels. The village itself has a surprisingly good selection of shops and places to eat and there is plenty of accommodation including a 3* hotel if you are looking for a sleepover.
A Brief Thornhill History
No guide is complete without the obligatory history lesson so here goes…
Thornhill may have been inhabited since the Bronze age and certainly, since Roman times pre the wall, they built a road through Nithsdale and there are archaeological excavations a short distance north at Carronbridge.
It was pretty well established by the mid-1600s and by the early 1700s it was a key stopover on the new road from Dumfries to Glasgow with a ferry across the Nith and an inn with glass windows; which was sufficiently rare that it justified documenting.
The ferry all but disappeared in 1777 when following a fatal accident a few years earlier the old lost 13th-century wooden bridge was replaced with a stone one.
Postal Services
The rise of the postal service in the 1800s further increased its significance and it soon had several coaching inns and with this being Scotland dozens of pubs. It also had a local brewery and pumped water was added in 1834 (well you need something to mix with your whiskey!)
1850 saw the first rail link with a station being added on the Carlisle to Glasgow line. The station would last until the Beeching cuts and was finally closed in 1965 although trains still operate on the line. In 1893 it got its own then 9-hole golf course, which was extended into an 18-holer in 1979.
By Blaeu – image National Library of Scotland, Public Domain
Thornhill Today
The Modern Thornhill remains rather quaint and although most of the pubs have gone the old buildings remain, including the Thornhill Inn which is as close as you are likely to get to experiencing a coaching inn. Fortunately, it does have all the 21st-century mod cons. A fair proportion of the housing stock is Victorian including some quite impressive looking villas, while the centre of the village where there is a roundabout is adorned with the Mercat Cross monument topped with the winged horse emblem of the Dukes of Queensberry.
Famous Locals
WW1 war hero Samuel Wallace was born in Thornhill on 7th March 1892. He was one of only 627 people awarded The Victoria Cross in that war. His VC is on display at the Royal Artillery Museum.
Author Joseph Laing Waugh also hailed from Thornhill being born there in 1868. He wrote eight books, all humorous biographies of Dumfries & Galloway locals, of which Robert Burns is probably the only one anyone will have heard of.
Places to visit
Drumlanrig Castle
Image: Jule_Berlin/Shutterstock.com
With 120 rooms, 17 turrets, four towers, and set in acres of landscaped gardens, the word ostentatious obviously springs to mind, however, this Grade A listed building, which once housed Bonnie Prince Charlie is open to the public and really is a must-visit. Art lovers will be pleased to hear that works by Rembrandt and Leonardo Da Vinci are on display.
The garden parklands are very impressive and there are several trails to explore either on foot or by hiring a mountain bike from Rik’s Bike Shed. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on the leash or under close control.
The Gardens are quite spectacular
Image: Claudine Van Massenhove/Shutterstock.com
Morton Castle
Now sadly in ruins, this 15th-century castle once formed a key part of the town’s defences. Nowadays it is still worth a visit and film buffs will enjoy knowing that it was one of the locations in the 1978 version of The Thirty-Nine Steps including the scene where Powell and Miles Anderson swap clothes.
Thornhill Golf Club
This 6,102 yards 18-hole course is a mix of park and heathland and being fairly flat is a great choice for those who are less fit or have limits on their walking ability. Further given its magnificent panoramic views a non-golfing spouse or friend might want to tag along and caddy to take them in.
Of course, there is a bar to enjoy afterwards and the food here is pretty good too. Unusually you can even stay on the course as they have a “stay & play” option via a self-catering bungalow next to the clubhouse. This houses up to 9 people and can be hired for as little as one night. Last time we checked it was only available from Thursday to Sunday though.
Things to do
Walking, cycling and sightseeing are the big outdoor attractions here, however, there is also some great fishing and even game shooting.
If fishing is your thing then you can salmon fish on the River Nith, or try your hand at one of the many Lochs. These are mainly stocked with Rainbow Trout, however, some also contain wild Brown Trout. If coarse fishing is more of interest then you are catered for too with some being well stocked with Carp & Tench.
Game shooting (in season) is available at Drumlanrig Castle which offers Pheasant, Partridge & Grouse Shooting.
Getting To Thornhill
Air Links
If you are travelling from outside the mainland UK (or from the Southeast of England) the nearest airports would be Glasgow or Carlisle.
Train Services
Thornhill Station was closed down as part of the Beeching purge in 1965. The good news is there is talk of its re-opening, which would make sense, given the train line still operates through it. In Meantime, you can get a train to Sanquhar from the North or Dumfries from the south either of which is a short taxi ride away. It is also on the bus route from both.
Public Transport
There are regional bus services that run from Ayr to Dumfries passing through several locations including Thornhill.
Where to stay?
There are three main accommodation options:
Buccleuch & Queensberry Hotel
The Thornhill Inn – once the George Hotel which we mentioned above.
Gillbank House (Guest House) is situated in a rather attractive late 19th-century townhouse located on a corner site in the centre of Thornhill.
There are also several holiday cottage options, which are great if you are planning on bringing the family on a longer stay.
Thinking of Moving To Thornhill
Thornhill as you have read a lovely place to visit and an equally desirable place to live. As such houses in the village don’t come up for sale that often and when they do they are not particularly cheap. The average house price is well above that for the Scottish Borders as a whole, however, this may be reflected in the fact that much of the housing stock is high quality.
Anyway, a quick look at a couple of estate agencies indicated that in early 2020 terraced houses could be picked up for below £100k. While at the top end large Bungaloes were in the £200-300K range and the popular Victorian Villa properties usually started from £250K+.
This is below the 2019 average for a terraced house in Dumfries & Galloway but the detached ones are a bit above the average. Anyway, you can check out the data here.
Renting
We tried several of the larger property site looking for rentals but couldn’t find any, however, there were a few offerings on Airbnb.
So there we have it, our quick overview of this rather attractive destination, where the houses are still affordable and the scenery makes up for the unpredictable weather. Before you go why not check out our business directory for the town if you are not already a member of our site don’t forget to register and join us at Five Minutes Spare.
