Local Castles, Historic Sites & Heritage Attractions

For anyone with a thirst for Scottish history and folklore, the list of unique places to visit and heritage to discover is a long one. The area is of particular interest to those who love castles and museums, not to mention significant locations in the life and times of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.
Besides the local highlights listed on our local area section, here are some further places of interest that are well worth visiting:

Castles and Historic Sites to Visit

Caerlaverock Castle
A classic medieval fortress and moat, this site is always popular with visitors and is around 40 minutes drive from Cavens. The estate is also a recognised site for wildlife, walking and cycling. See the official Caerlaverock Estate website for further information.

Culzean Castle
Set in 600 acres Culzean Castle is situated 12 miles south of Ayr and 4 miles from Maybole. Part of the National Trust for Scotland it is open from March until August. It is likely that there was a building of some sort earlier but a Tower House at Culzean dates was first refered to in the 1400’s. Then, it was known as ‘Coif Castle’, or the ‘House of Cove’, taking it’s name from the caves below. This name was altered to ‘Cullean Castle’ in the 1600’s and the present spelling of Culzean assumed at some point in the 18th century.

We often have guests at Cavens who enjoy the trip to Culzean, though you will need to allow a good day for a leisurely visit. The drive is 82 miles – a couple of hours.

Drumlanrig Castle and Country Park
Drumlanrig Castle and Country Parkis setamidst the magnificent Queensberry Estate which extends to around 120,000 acres of land. Attractions include an adventure playground, tearoom, shop, craft workshops, visitor centre and ranger-led activities. Drumlanrig is about 30 miles from Cavens.
www.drumlanrig.com

Threave Garden and Estate
Threave Garden and Estate near Dumfries has extensive grounds full of beautiful trees, shrubs and plants. It is also home to a walled garden and several glasshouses. Other facilities include a countryside centre, visitor centre, restaurant and shop – open 1 April to 31 October daily from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm.

Robert Burns House
The simple sandstone house in which Burns spent the last years of his life. Click here to read more.

Robert Burns Centre
Award winning visitor centre telling a story of the connections between Burns and the town of Dumfries.Click here to read more.

Museums and Visitor Centres

John Paul Jones Cottage
The traditional cottage where John Paul Jones – ‘The Father of the American Navy’ – was born in 1747. Facilities include a museum, shop, exhibits and attractive grounds with picnic areas.
www.jpj.demon.co.uk

Dumfries Museum
Dumfries Museum depicts the history of the land and people of the region. The Camera Obscura provides fascinating panoramic views of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.
www.dumgal.gov.uk