The Maxwell Stuarts have lived in Traquair House since 1491, making it the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. The whitewashed facade is strikingly handsome, with narrow windows and trim turrets surrounding the tiniest of front doors – in other words it’s a welcome change from other grandiose stately homes. Inside, you can see original vaulted cellars, where locals once hid their cattle from raiders; the twisting main staircase as well as the earlier medieval version, later a secret escape route for persecuted Catholics; a carefully camouflaged priest’s hole; and even a priest’s room where a string of resident chaplains lived in hiding. In the museum room there is a wealth of treasures, including a fine example of a Jacobite Amen glass, a rosary and crucifix owned by Mary, Queen of Scots, and the cloak worn by the Earl of Nithsdale during his dramatic escape from the Tower of London. AD: Construction of Hadrian’s wall and outlying forts (including Newstead) by elements of the II Augusta, VI Victrix and XX Valeria Victrix legions and detachments from the fleet (Classis Britannica). Including several revisions to the construction work and by moving forts onto the line of the running barrier from the old Stanegate line, building work is considered to have ceased only on Hadrian’s death in 138 AD. Clearly, there had been some dissent on Hadrians many “showy” policies and a revision to his policy regarding southern Scotland would dramatically change everything. The Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is more than a pleasant surprise. From the road and the car park you can only see layers of green hills, but when you walk closer, you see that they actually cover a narrow valley and a waterfall that drops 60 m from top to bottom.

From the bird colonies and nature reserves on the east coast to the coastal walks and lighthouses of the west, the remote hills and mountains of the Southern Uplands to the lush banks of the River Tweed. The landscapes in the south of Scotland are incredibly diverse and so are the activities you can do there. Which brings me to… 3. The South has Something for Everyone Most people who arrive at one of the international airports in Glasgow or Edinburgh can only think about one thing: going north. They have been dreaming of the Scottish Highlands, the mountains and the valleys that they have seen all over blogs, in TV shows and on billboards.Abbotsford House, the former home of Sir Walter Scott – a significant figure of the historical fiction genre and best-selling author way beyond Scotland – might just be one of the most impressive homes in all of Scotland. It looks nothing like the farmhouse Scott bought here in 1812, but more like a fairy tale castle. AD: Maintained in his appointment as governor, Agricola consolidates his hold in central lowland Scotland and pushes forward in campaigns in southwest Scotland. This is difficult territory that had been bypassed in his drive north along the east side of Scotland in previous seasons. Contemplation is given to an invasion of Ireland from the Ayr shoreline. A naval reconnaissance is made of the western seaboard. AD: Aulus Plautius invades southern England and smashes the southern tribes at a series of encounters at river crossings. Claudius arrives to receive the southern tribes formal submission at modern Colchester then leaves with instructions to Plautius to conquer “the rest”. The Galloway Forest Park is a beautiful recreational area for hikers and cyclists and has many scenic picnic areas too. It is recognised as Dark Sky Park and if you are keen to learn more about the night skies above, I can highly recommend a detour to the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory near Dalmellington. They also host educational stargazing evenings which you can book online for any of the nights you spend in Dumfries & Galloway. There are 16 book shops in Wigtown – that’s one for every 62 inhabitants of this small bustling town. Most of them are located on Main Street and sell second-hand books – although each has a range of new releases too. We went to almost all of them and among my favourites were the giant Old Bank Bookshop, Well-Read Books, Byre Booksand ReadingLasses, which focuses on books by women.

The final stop of the day is Stranraer, a coastal town on the shores of Loch Ryan. You can walk along the refurbished pier and glimpse views of Arran and Ailsa Craig. But in recent times, the town has become increasingly well-known for its focus on music. The Rhins of Galloway are no exception and there is no place more beautifully displaying the benefits of this mild climate than Logan Botanic Garden. It is known to be Scotland’s most exotic garden, supporting plants fromAustralia, New Zealand, South and Central America and Southern Africa. You will wander among palm trees and tree ferns, or take shelter underneath Eucalyptus trees and giant Gunnera. There is a walled garden with a beautiful flower display and a Victorian glasshouse with exotic plants from South Africa.The landscape along the River Tweet is what made Sir Walter Scott buy the estate of Abbotsford House and make this area his home. One of his favourite viewpoints in the area is now known as Scott’s View and offers a magnificent vista of the River Tweed valley and the Eildon Hills near Melrose in the distance. Visit this restored Georgian house and garden and discover how it inspired one of the most treasured children’s stories. Drive toward Dumfries, and stop after 40 minutes in colorful Kirkcudbright (ask a local how to pronounce it!) on the coast for sea air and views of the 16th-century MacLellan’s Castle. After 45 more minutes on the road, you’ll arrive in Dumfries, following in the footsteps of Scotland’s most famous wordsmith and national bard, Robert Burns. Visit the Burns House (where he spent his final years), have lunch at the Globe Inn (the master’s favorite watering hole) and look out for his statue in the town square. We had to make our way to the airport at a good pace and chose the most direct path north through the Galloway Forest Park. That way, the road was our sightseeing and we only stopped for a few photos of mountain and forest views in the area. In terms of water bodies, Scotland boasts numerous lochs, or lakes, that contribute to its picturesque landscapes. The most famous of these is Loch Ness, which is not only one of the largest freshwater lakes in the British Isles but also the reputed home of the mythical Loch Ness Monster. Another significant loch is Loch Lomond, the largest freshwater lake in Britain by surface area, situated in the Trossachs National Park.