Wheelchair Accessible Attractions

near Kirkennan self catering cottages, Dumfries and Galloway

This page highlights accessible attractions within an hour or so drive from Kirkennan self catering cottages, Dumfries and Galloway. It is not exhaustive, and we welcome input to improve it. Don't forget that much of Kirkennan's own gardens are accessible and guests at Kirkennan can borrow our mobility scooter to enjoy them! As commented by a visitor in March 2016 'For anyone who falls into the category of having limited mobility and owning a dog, it is difficult to imagine they could find anywhere better suited'.
Find out more about our accessible self catering holiday cottage Woodsedge

• Aldouran Wetland Garden (1 hour 25 min drive)
• Bladnoch River Walk: This is a linear riverside walk, the first section of which is wheelchair accessible. (55 min drive) UPDATE Feb 2020 - when we visited Bladnoch Distillery we found this walk is no longer open. The Distillery itself is wheelchair accessible for much but not all of the tour.
• Caerlaverock Castle: According to disabled holiday info 'access to the castle for wheelchair users is good, but assistance will be needed to negotiate a steep ramp down into the interior of the castle'. (40 min drive)
• Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre: Access throughout the site is via paths that may be muddy and uneven in places. The Peter Scott Observatory is within wheeling distance of the car park. To access the other hides blue badge holders should ask permission to drive to them where there is turning space and room to park. (40 min drive)
• Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre: A recent visitor to Kirkennan commented 'The visitor centre cafe is accessible. There are disabled loos and a nice picnic area by the river. No accessible trails though.' [Note The cafe is currently closed - Sept 2019 but reported to be opening again soon) (50 min drive). I have been told that the mile long trail from the cafe to Bruce's Stone is accessible: 'Firm gravel surface throughout with some loose stones. Includes short moderate slopes'
• Claymoddie Garden and Plant Nursery: ‘Most of the garden is accessible to wheelchairs’. Open March to September on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 2-5pm or by appointment. (1 hr 20 min drive)
• Cream O'Galloway is a visitor centre on a working organic dairy farm. They have a teashop with excellent ice-cream. There are various children's activities and equipment though access for children with reduced mobility is limited. There is a nature trail with 2 wheelchair accessible routes and an accessible bird hide with views over Megan's Lochen. (30 min drive)
• Creetown Gem Rock Museum 'All one one level except for cafe'. (40 min drive)
• Dalbeattie Forest Easy Access Trail - I have been told that other paths in the forest are also accessible: 'Dalbeattie Forest is good, wee bit bumpy and muddy but you can get round lots'. The car park is just outside Dalbeattie just off the coastl (Kippford ) road. (10 min drive)
• Dundrennan Abbey (15 min drive)
• Drumlanrig Castle: The Cycle museum and the Stableyard shopping area are all accessible for wheelchair users with access to the upper floor in the castle via a lift. The gardens are down a steep slope and have gravelled paths so to explore these, manual wheelchair users would need the assistance of a very able pusher. Landrover tours of the estate can be arranged for those who can transfer. (50 min drive)
• Dumfries Museum: Generally accessible with the exception of the camera obscura (reached by spiral staircase). (30 min drive)
• Eskrigg Nature Reserve, Lockerbie: 'has a reasonable path and off road parking , gates are easy to negotiate' (50 min drive)
• Galloway Activity Centre - a multi-activity centre on the banks of Loch Ken (30 min drive)
• Glenluce Abbey (1 hr 10 min drive). The Cock Inn near Glenluce is accessible to wheelchairs and is the second oldest pub/restaurant in Scotland
• Glenwhan Gardens at Dunragit near Stranraer (1 hr 10 min drive). This is about an hour and a quarter drive away but has been recommended by a visitor who comments 'These gardens were absolutely stunning. Good access around the lake pathways. Not all the gardens are wheelchair accessible, but since anyone in a wheelchair gets in free it is well worth a visit just to enjoy sitting around the lake. Access into cafe up a sloped ramp and there is an accessible toilet'.
• Kippford - a nearby village that has a very quiet road that runs along the edge of the Estuary which is very pretty (15 min drive). The lower path in The Kipp - the new nature reserve is fully accessible. Parking is currently 2 min away down the hill but in the future it is planned to have some parking for those with limited mobility right by the entrance.
• Kirkcudbright Galleries and The Tolbooth Arts Centre in the 'artist's town' of Kirkcudbright are both wheelchair accessible and both have cafes (25 min drive).
• Kirroughtree Visitor Centre in Galloway Forest Park. A recent visitor comments 'There is a wheelchair accessible trail through part of the park and forest - not very long but the bird/animal hide is accessible too en-route. The whole centre is very geared up for all disabilities. The disabled toilet has to be seen to be believed! It must be the best one in the whole of the UK - shower and every gadget imaginable. Worth a visit just to see the loo!'.' (50 min drive)
• Logan Botanic Gardens ( 1 1/2 hour drive)
• Lochmaben has an accessible trail alongside the Loch, a small parking area by the castle ruins with views over the loch and an accessible fishing pier (40 min drive).
• Mabie Forest has an all ability trail with nearby designated parking. However the trail has several steep inclines that manual wheelchair users may find challenging (25 min drive).
• MacLellan's Castle, Kirkcudbright - partly accessible (25 min drive).
• Mark Williams Foraging tuition: Mark can provide wheelchair accessible foraging sessions designed to your needs.
• Mersehead RSPB has an accessible wetlands trail with two bird hides with low level viewing (30 min drive).
• The Mull Of Galloway lighthouse exhibition (drive upto the foot of the lighthouse) (1 hr 45 min drive). The nearby Gallie Craig cafe is also wheelchair accessible. As is the studio/gallery of the nearby Linda Irving Felt Artist - where visitors with disabilities are invited to park on the drive.
• Penninghame Pond, Newton Stewart (50 min drive).
• Portpatrick near Stranraer. A recent visitor to Kirkennan commented 'A lovely harbour town. Good pathways round the harbour. Worth a visit.' (1 hr 25 min drive).
• Rockcliffe: 'I found Rockcliffe beach to be disabled friendly and enjoyed our picnics there followed by scrummy ice-cream' (Sep 15). See also this review on Euan's Guide (15 min drive).
• Sweetheart Abbey has level grass access but would be hard work when the ground is wet. There is a accessible radar key operated toilet in the car park. Further access information from Euan's Guide. Abbey Cottage Tearoom just by the car park has flat access to garden and tearoom with table service. (25 min drive).
• Threave Castle Trail has an all ability access path to one riverside hide from the Threave Castle car park (the blue trail on the map). There are eight wooden gates along the path all with ‘easy latch’ opening systems. The toilets by the carpark include an adapted toilet. (20 min drive). At Threave House and Gardens the house tour has lift access to all but the top floor. The paths throughout the gardens are said to be generally good however there are several long inclines and it is suggested that manual wheelchair users might find it advisable to either book Threave's mobility scooter or borrow the one from Kirkennan. A recent visitor to Kirkennan commented 'there is really good access round the majority of the gardens- and they are definately worth visiting, absolutely beautiful... Excellent access to cafe, shop and wheelchair accessible toilet. Parts of the gardens have some steep to moderate slopes so it's an advantage if you do have an electric chair/scooter'. (15 min drive).
• The Mill on the Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet was built in 1788 as a cotton spinning mill and is now restored as a visitor centre with an exhibition about the local area and a gift shop and tea room. It is reported that access in the 3 floors is good but the lift has inner folding doors which might not allow access for larger wheelchairs and mobility scooters. (30 min drive).
• The Usual Place Community Cafe in Dumfries has a Changing Places Toilet and is fully accessible. It sometimes has exhibitions on. Open 9am - 4pm Mon - Friday. (30 min drive).

Get a free ticket in exchange for writing a review - Euan's Guide have teamed up with Historic Environment Scotland to offer free tickets to the following local attractions in exchange for writing a review for Euan's Guide: Caerlaverock Castle, Cardoness Castle, Dundrennon Abbey, Glenluce Abbey, MacLellan's Castle, New Abbey Corn Mill, Sweetheart Abbey.

Please do inform us if any of this information is out of date or if we have missed interesting information out. We will endeavour to update it on a regular basis.