Tailor-made, friendly, and exclusive guided touring service in South West Scotland

Dumfries Tours in South West Scotland

+44 (0)7732 224 011

mark@dumfriestours.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Mark & Joyce, your tour guides
Mark & partner Joyce, your tour guides

Who are you? - Your tour guides are Mark and Joyce. Dumfries born and bred. Mark did work away from home in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester for a number of years. He often brought friends to the region and showed them round. They were amazed by the stunning scenery and the rich history of the Dumfries & Galloway area. Mark moved back to Dumfries a couple of years ago to reconnect more fully with nature, history, and the varied landscape of Dumfries and Galloway. I guess the pandemic made a few us re-evaluate what was important to us. We hope to share our passion for this region with you on one of our tours.

Should we contact you pre-arrival to discuss our options? – Absolutely. Please contact us before booking so we can discuss your interests, requirements, and expectations. We can adapt your tour as required. Contact can be made by emailing Mark@dumfriestours.co.uk or by calling or messaging  +44 (0)7732224011. 

How long have you been operating the business? - We took over the business in 2022 from our friend Robin who ran it successfully as Galloway Holidays for over 12 years. We have re-branded the business and given each of the tours a specific theme. However, Robin still acts as a consultant to ensure we provide a premium service.  

Where are you based and how do we get there? - We are based in Dumfries which is about 14 miles west of Lockerbie. It's only an hour to Lockerbie by train from either Glasgow or Edinburgh, two hours from Manchester, and just over four hours from London. You can also travel direct to Dumfries by train from Glasgow or from Carlisle. Dumfries also has frequent bus services from major cities. We can pick you up from Lockerbie or Dumfries and transfer you to your first night's accommodation. We can also arrange pick up from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Ayrshire (including airports) if required. 

On what day do the tours start? - Depending on our availability, your tour can start and end on any day of the week.

How long do the tours last? - They are full days. We usually start at 9am and aim to get you back to your accommodation by 5.30pm each day. We recommend three day tours (or more) so you can fully immerse yourself in the history, culture, and scenery of the Galloway region. However, if available, can also offer one day tours. 

How much does the tour cost? - We offer 1 day to 7 day tours. Our guided tours are each tailor-made to match your interests and requirements. After you make contact, we will draw up an itinerary and quote you a price.

What’s included? – Pickup from and return to Lockerbie or Dumfries railway or bus stations. If you need picked up from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Ayrshire, we will incorporate this in our price quote. You will have the exclusive services of your very own an expert local tour guide and driver throughout your holiday, with transport between all locations. These are exclusive guided holiday tours; no sharing with any other parties. Ideal for couples and/or friends. We can accommodate up to 4 people from the same booking party. 

What's not included? – Does not include accommodation, meals or entry to visitor sights and attractions. 

What about accommodation? – We can recommend the best, well located, family-run guesthouses, hotels, self-catering lodges, and country houses in the region. We can even recommend rooms in a local castle. If you have already arranged your own place to stay, we can pick you up from your lodgings and begin, and end, your tour from there. 

What about food and drink? – We know the best tea rooms, coffee shops, farmhouse cafes, restaurants and bars in the area. With this local knowledge, we make appropriate stops on route to ensure you are suitably refreshed throughout the day while enjoying fine home-made, and locally sourced, produce.   

- Mark Donald