About Kirkcudbright, The Artists' Town and the surrounding area of Dumfries & Galloway

The Buckland Burn at Cannee. Image: Crosbie Smith

MacLellan's Castle. Image: Sandy Gemmill

Castle Bank. Image: Johnny Durnan

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The Dairy House is just a few minutes' walk from the picturesque town of Kirkcudbright with its castle, bustling harbour and scallop fleet.  Famous for very many years as being home to various fashionable and celebrated artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town is still the centre of contemporary art for the area and is referred to as the Artists' Town. 

The Harbour Cottage Gallery holds for-sale exhibitions of locally produced paintings and craftwork nearly all year round while The High Street Gallery and the Tolbooth Arts Centre regularly exhibit contemporary works for sale.

Kirkcudbright has wide streets with ample free parking and has a variety of family run shops where most things can be bought. There is also a good selection of places to eat. For more information, please visit our local website.  

During the summer months, a great range of free entertainment is provided in the town by the Summer Festivities Committee. The Kirkcudbright Pipe Band can be heard playing most weeks in the Harbour Square. 

Classic car event. Image: Sarah Charlesworth

Broughton House. Image: Duncan David McColl

Kirkcudbight. Image: LeCardinal

Stunning coastal scenery. Image: Dave Durie

The Artists' Town Frame Artwork. Image: cisko66

Caesar, Kirkcudbright's town cat. Image: David Clark

Summer Festivities Event. Image: Sarah Charlesworth

At MacLellan's Castle. Image: G J Thomson

Kirkcudbright Bridge. Image: Andrya Prescott

Other nearby attractions

Galloway has a wealth of attractions to suit all tastes, from those simply wanting to have a relaxing, quiet break to those seeking more adrenaline-fuelled activities including mountain biking on the world-class 7Stanes bike trails at Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart or in the Dalbeattie Forest.

There's also a chance to enjoy zorbing, zip wiring and other exciting activities at the Laggan Outdoor Centre and, for children, there is the Cocoa Bean Chocolate Factory at Twynholm with its indoor and outdoor play areas and chocolate-making, or the Cream o' Galloway Centre with its outdoor activity area and ice-cream making.

If you prefer more relaxing pursuits, Galloway has its RSPB Nature Reserves and the Galloway Forest Park, not to mention miles of unspoilt coastline to enjoy.

We also have excellent fishing rivers and golf courses and, in nearby Dumfries, an aviation museum, the Robert Burns House and Mausoleum, the Camera Obscura and many other interesting places to visit.

There is also Castle Douglas, just 9 miles from The Dairy House at Cannee, Dumfries and Galloway's Food Town.