Barrasgate House - Things to Do

There is lots to do in Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria. Whether it’s out-door pursuits, history and heritage, or just relaxing, that you are after, there’s lots on offer. Here are some suggestions…


Many people who come to this area do so to get married. In fact, Gretna Green, which is only a few minutes drive away from Barrasgate,could claim to be the most famous marriage destination in the world. Even for those who do not want to tie the knot just at the moment there is lots to do in Gretna Green. A visit to the World Famous Old Blacksmith’s shop, which has recently been awarded a prestigious tourism prize, is recommended. More details about Gretna Green can be found at http://www.gretna-area.co.uk/ or http://www.gretnagreen.com/


Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway are famous for their fishing .The River Esk, which is only a few minutes drive away, well known for its salmon fishing. For fishing in Cumbria visit http://www.where-to-fish.com/ . Also try New Mills trout farm: Tel 016977 41115
For boating/fishing on nearby Talkin Tarn: Tel 016977 41050

The Solway Firth is of national importance for its bird life and other wildlife. The flats and marshes of the Upper Solway Firth form one of the largest continuous areas of intertidal habitat in Britain. The coastline is a site of national and international importance for wintering wildfowl and wading birds.
Some of the birds to be seen include Barnacle geese, Pink-footed Geese, Curlew, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Peregrine Falcon, Wigeon, Pintail, Scaup, Whooper Swan, Oystercatcher, Knot, and Bar-tailed Godwit. It also has important colonies of Natterjack Toad, Great Crested Newt, invertebrates and rare plants. Dumfries and Galloway also supports a large proportion of the UK population of Red Squirrel. There is also plenty of wildlife inland. You could try out these walks http://www.birdinguk.co.uk/walk7.php/ along the Eden river, or http://www.birdinguk.co.uk/walk82.php/ around nearby Talkin Tarn, to spot some of this.

We are close to the National Cycle network . For more information on this try www.diklou.co.uk/eden_rangers and http://www.sustrans.co.uk/ . For cycle hire try Pedalpushers: tel 016977 42387

The Border reivers were notorious cattle thieves and outlaws, who robbed both the English and the Scots. The Grahams (our ancestors) were one of the most infamous of the families. You can find out more about the reivers, and visit their impressive fortresses, known as Pele Towers, on the Border Reivers Trail. Find out more at www.visitcumbria.com/reivers.htm

Should auld acquaintance be forgot… Robert Burns is Scotland’s best known poet and he lived in Dumfries and Galloway. There are more details about him and places to visit relating to him at http://www.robertburns.org/

The course of Hadrian’s Wall , the Roman Empire’s northernmost frontier, runs nearby. It is now a World Heritage Site. It passes through some of the most spectacular countryside in Britain, and there are several forts, museums, and even a Mithraic temple which attract thousands of visitors each year. See http://www.hadrians-wall.org/ and http://www.vindolanda.com/ for lots of information.

The Lake District National Park is possibly one of the most beautiful areas of countryside in the world. It has inspired many poets and painters, Wordsworth and J M W Turner, for example, to some of there finest work. It has some fine hill walking and climbing terrain, a wealth of villages and towns to explore and much more besides. Try www.lake-district.gov.uk as a place to start. A tourist attraction that has only recently opened is the Reghed discovery centre, you can visit its site at http://www.rheged.com/ . Rheged was the ancient Celtic name for Cumbria. You can find out more about the Celts at www.zensurweb.com/darkage/cumbria.htm .

Carlisle, known as The Great Border City, is the principal city of Cumbria. There is a lot for the visitor to do here. There is shopping of courde, with all the famous high street names, but also lots more small independent shops than you might find in many other cities. Its Castle was built by William Rufus in the eleventh century AD. For the next 600 years is was fought over by the English and the Scots almost continually. You can see the Licking Stone where some unfortunate prisoners were locked up without food or drink and wore a stone in their cell smooth licking at the trickle of water that ran down it. More on its history and other castles in the area is at www.cumbria1st.com/History/carlcas.htm . The city also has a beautiful Cathedral which is well worth a visit. Its official website is www.carlislecathedral.org.uk. The largest museum in the city is Tullie House. It deals with Cumbria’s history from Prehistory onwards, including the Romans, the English Civil War, and also Cumbria’s Natural History. Its website is http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/ . http://www.historic-carlisle.org.uk/ gives a lot of information about what is on in the area.