Car holiday in part of the UK boasts Europe’s largest expanses of dark skies

The south of Scotland is home to a multitude of woodlands, hills, wildlife, clifftop walks, sandy beaches and historical locations making it a must-see destination on staycation bucket lists.

Located an hour-and-a-half from Glasgow is Galloway Forest Park — Scotland’s first Dark Sky Park and one of the best places to stargaze in Europe. With so much to do, exploring south Scotland by car offers a great alternative to flying abroad.

Things to do

South Scotland covers a wide area and consequently offers a multitude of attractions and things to do. Despite the big cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow not falling within the south, there are still towns, beaches, attractions and more to make an entire holiday out of exploring.

One prominent location is Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate, set in the 120,000-acre Queensberry Estate. Visitors can enjoy a range of attractions, including a country park for nature walks, Victorian gardens, Renaissance buildings and of course, the castle itself. If with children, make sure they keep an eye out for otters, red squirrels and birds of prey.

South Scotland is also home to the oldest museum in the Scottish Borders. Hawick Museum is an 18th-century mansion that became a museum in 1910. The museum boasts an impressive collection of objects and fine works of art from across the world.

Within driving distance of Hawick Museum is Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum. For lovers of history and the criminal justice system, Jedburgh Castle is a must as it gives visitors an insight into what life was like in 1820s prisons. Tourists can walk through the original cell blocks, learn about the conditions inmates had to endure, and read some of the stories from inmates.

Another grand attraction is Paxton House located near the Scottish coast. Overlooking the River Tweed, Paxton House is set within around 80 acres of riverside, woodland, parkland and gardens. Originating from the 18th century, this country house owns a fine collection of over 100 pieces of Chippendale furniture, regency furniture by William Trotter and a collection of 18th-century costumes.

If wanting to stay close by to the feeling of royalty from Paxton House, the site has two holiday lets and 30 pitches for caravans.

Less history-focused attractions include Robert Smail’s Printing Works, the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, St Abbs Lighthouse, Siccar Point and Bierhopes Alpaca farm.

For adults only, Scotland is home to some of the best distilleries in the UK with many offering tours and tastings. In fact, the south of Scotland is home to 19 breweries and distilleries.

One of those distilleries is Dark Art Distillery. Creating award-winning premium gin, Dark Art Distillery is located close to Galloway Forrest Park, which in 2009 became the first internationally accredited dark sky park in western Europe. Their Sky Garden Gin takes its inspiration from the nearby Galloway Forest Park — the UK’s largest forest park with over 300 square miles of forest, lochs and rugged terrain.