The largest of the communities on the Rhins of Galloway is Portpatrick, a harbour town just 22 miles over the water from Ireland. It became established as the main port for traffic across the channel, and was reached along a military road from Dumfries built in 1765. Today, it’s a sleepy, charming destination for holidaymakers and anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits the Gulf Stream brings to the local climate.

When the Castle of St John was built behind the broad beach here in 1511, it was the beginnings of what became the market town of Stranraer. But although the first harbour was constructed in the mid 1700s, it wasn’t until the arrival of the railway from Dumfries in 1861 that the port became the major connection to Ireland.

The centre of Wigtown is a triangle rather than a square, with a Mercat Cross dating back to 1783. The area is dominated by the recently renovated County Buildings and Town Hall. Built in 1863, it was once the administrative centre for Wigtownshire, but when Scotland’s Regions were created in the 1970s the seat of power was moved east to Dumfries. It’s fitting that this magnificent building is now the library for Scotland’s Book Town.

Threave Castle, set on an island in the River Dee, was home to the Black Douglases, and was built in 1369 by the third Earl, Archibald the Grim. As a castle, it wasn’t the most successful of designs. It was occupied by the James II in 1455, and has lain in ruins since 1640 when the Covenanters captured it following a three week siege.

Dumfries was founded in the 12th century at the lowest crossing point of the River Nith. The land to the west would not fully become a part of Scotland for another fifty years, but despite its frontier nature, Dumfries quickly developed as a port and a market town. The original bridge over the river, named after the mother of King John Balliol, was constructed in 1432 and survives as one of Scotland’s oldest to this day.