Dumfries factfile

How to get to Dumfries
Dumfries is in the county of Dumfries and Galloway, in south-west Scotland. It's approximately 40 km (25 mi) from the English border and 124 km (77 mi) south of Glasgow. The nearest airports are Glasgow Prestwick and Glasgow International. From Northern Ireland, ferries dock at Stranraer, 115 km (72 mi) from Dumfries on the A75 and A712.

Dumfries through the ages
Dumfries was made a Royal Burgh in 1186 by William the Lion. In 1306, Robert the Bruce murdered his rival, John III Comyn, for the Scottish crown in the Church of the Grey Friars, Dumfries.

By the late 1300s, Dumfries had become a booming market town, exporting wool and cloth. But the town was burned by the English several times between 1300 and 1570.

In 1659, nine women were burned to death for practising witchcraft in Dumfries, while in 1868 the last public hanging in Scotland took place in the town.

By the 20th century, although the once-busy port had begun to decline, the population was on the rise. Today, Dumfries has a population of 35,000.

Famous people from Dumfries
Dumfries is most famously known for being home to poet Robert Burns, from 1791 to his death in 1796. Robert Burns most famous works include Auld Lang Syne and Ae Fond Kiss.

Burns often frequented The Globe Inn, which is still open on Market Street. He is buried in a mausoleum in St Michael's churchyard.

Other famous people from Dumfries include sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, former Formula 1 racing driver Allan McNish, television broadcaster Kirsty Wark, and architect George Corson.

J M Barrie, author of Peter Pan, was educated at Dumfries Academy. Rock band Genesis got together in Dumfries.

Famous landmarks in Dumfries
Robert Burns' house can be found at 24 Burns Street, south of the High Street.

Near to the Robert Burns Centre is Dumfries Museum and the Camera Obscura Observatory, both located in an 18th-century windmill tower. The Camera Obscura, installed in 1836, has a table-top screen giving panoramic views of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.

Greyfriars Church was built in 1868 on Castle Street, overlooking the site of the original Church of the Grey Friars. Devorgilla Bridge, Scotland's oldest bridge, was first built in 1431.

Arts and culture in Dumfries
Gracefield Arts Centre is home to permanent art collections by various Scottish artists. Just out of town, Glenkiln Reservoir is the setting for works by famous sculptors Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin and Jacob Epstein.

Eating and drinking in Dumfries
There's no shortage of historic pubs and inns to explore in Dumfries. For eating out, there are pizza restaurants, kebab houses, Italian, Thai, Chinese and Indian restaurants, and old inns serving traditional food.