New guide highlights delights of south west Scotland to electric car drivers
The South West Coastal 300 reveals everything from untamed coastlines and timeless forests to storybook castles and quaint small towns.
A new guide aims to highlight the delights of south west Scotland to electric car drivers.
The South West Coastal 300 loops through Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire, showing off the area's natural beauty and heritage from untamed coastlines and timeless forests to storybook castles and quaint small towns
And VisitScotland has now created a new guide to the scenic drive with electric vehicle drivers in mind, covering everything from accessible charging points, eco-friendly stays and relaxed daily drivers.
The guide, which can be found here, offers the perfect way to enjoy the popular SWC300 route with a low-emission road trip covering three days.
Day one will take drivers from Dumfries to the Galloway Forest. Stopping off points include Caerlaverock Castle, Castle Douglas – including a trip to Threave Gardens and Kirroughtree in the Galloway Forest before stopping for the night in Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town.
Day two journeys from the Machars to the Ayrshire coast. First up is a drive to the Mull of Galloway - the southernmost tip of Scotland which features a lighthouse and a nature reserve. The picturesque seaside village of Portpatrick is next, offering the perfect place to enjoy some stunning views.
Following that, drivers head north through Girvan – enjoying views of the Ailsa Craig – to Culzean Castle and Country Park, finishing for the night at Crosshill.
The final day sees a return to Dumfries via a trip to Scotland's highest village at Wanlockhead. Heading through the Ayrshire hills and skirting the edge of the Galloway Forest Park, drivers will arrive at Wanlockhead where they can enjoy a visit to the Museum of Lead Mining.
Next on the itinerary is a trip through the Mennock Pass to Drumlanrig Castle and then on to nearby Thornhill.
The final leg heads down the A76 to Ellisland Farm – former home of Robert Burns – before the return to Dumfries.
Anyone following the route is advised to book accomodation and activities in advance, especially during peak travel sessions, and check EV charger locations before travelling.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's hottest town features historic castle and a WW2 bear memorial statue
The border town's mercury once reached over 30C After a cooler start to June, temperatures are finally set to rise this week, bringing some much anticipated humid weather. While scattered showers may persist, meteorologists predict more settled and dry conditions will begin to arrive next week, signalling the true start of summer. With school holidays just around the corner, opportunities for enjoyable days out are on the horizon, and one small Scottish town well worth a visit can lay claim to being the hottest spot in the country, Scottish Daily Express reports. That town is Duns, nestled in the Scottish Borders, a few miles from the RAF airfield at Charterhall, where a scorching 34.8C (94.6F) was once recorded. According to VisitScotland, Duns still retains an "air of an old Scottish burgh with its spacious market square." Given its close proximity to the English border, it is hardly surprising that Duns has a turbulent past. The town was even razed to the ground during the 'rough wooing' of 1545. Duns Castle, with its origins dating back to the 1300s, was built on lands granted by Robert the Bruce to Randolph, Earl of Moray. Transformed into a Gothic castle in 1820, it now enjoys a much more peaceful existence. Nearby, Greenknowe Tower stands in beautiful surroundings, while the small kirk at Ellemford holds historical significance as the meeting place for James IV and his commanders before the calamitous Battle of Flodden in 1513. The castle grounds, home to two man made lakes, are now a protected nature reserve. The town also proudly hosts the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, a tribute to the two time world champion whose family farm was located nearby. Duns is surrounded by several grand mansions. Manderston House, open to the public, offers a "fascinating insight into 'upstairs, downstairs' life," according to VisitScotland. Further south, the Scottish Baronial Kimmerghame House serves as the seat of Major General Sir John Swinton, the Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire, and father of the acclaimed Hollywood actress, Tilda Swinton. Duns holds a poignant connection to the past, with a Polish war memorial commemorating the First and Second Armoured Regiments of the Polish Army who were stationed in the Borders region during the Second World War. Uniquely, there is even a memorial dedicated to Wojtek, a brown bear famously adopted by the Polish Army. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A visit to Duns Law reveals the original site of the settlement, complete with the remains of an Iron Age hillfort. The surrounding hills, reaching 700 feet above sea level, provide spectacular panoramic views of the Borders' rolling countryside. The town also boasts intellectual renown as the likely birthplace of John Duns Scotus, the influential medieval philosopher who taught at the University of Paris in the 14th century. A bronze statue of Duns Scotus stands as a testament to his legacy in the public park. Duns is conveniently located, approximately a 70 minute drive from Edinburgh and just 15 miles from Berwick upon Tweed on the English side of the border, making it an accessible and intriguing destination for a summer day out.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The unusual new holiday trend sweeping Scotland – and foodies will love it
TOURISTS heading for Scotland have a growing appetite for luxury dining, according to new data. VisitScotland has revealed that online searches for 'Michelin star Scotland' have rocketed 58 per cent in the last three years. 2 Tourists are heading for upmarket eateries, like the Glenturret
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
'Scotland's Hawaii' gets more sunlight than London with crystal-clear turquoise beaches
Tiny but stunning, the island offers endless sea-to-sky views, with just waves and birdsong breaking the silence When travel magazines show off vivid turquoise waters lapping against sugar-white sands, it's natural to think of the Caribbean. But tucked away in Scotland's Inner Hebrides lies a remote island where the light dazzles, the beaches stretch for miles, and the skies are as big as the ocean itself. The Isle of Tiree, often dubbed 'Scotland's Hawaii of the north', might be only 12 miles long and 3 miles wide, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in sheer natural splendour. With no forests and just three modest hills interrupting the flat landscape, views sweep uninterrupted from sea to sky. All around, the only sounds are the crash of Atlantic waves and the calls of birds wheeling overhead. The island owes much of its unique character to the Gulf Stream, which carries warm currents from the Caribbean across the Atlantic and washes them along Scotland's west coast. Thanks to this oceanic gift, Tiree enjoys some of the mildest weather in the country, and an annual sunshine tally of around 1,500 hours, more than London. In fact, long before modern tourism, one visitor had already spotted its potential. Writing in 1883, George, the eighth Duke of Argyll, praised the island's exceptional climate: "Far better than that of the mainland. There is much less rain, the rainfall scarcely exceeding the average of from 35 to 40 inches. I fully expect that far on in summers I shall not see, the island of Tiree will be a great resort of health." He was equally struck by its natural offerings: "Its strong yet soft sea-air, its comparative dryness, its fragrant turf full of wild thyme and clover, its miles of pure white sandy bays equally pleasant for riding, driving, or walking, or for sea-bathing, and last not least, its unrivalled expanses for the game of golf." More than a century on, the island continues to offer the same unspoilt charm. It is a haven for walkers, birdwatchers, windsurfers and anyone looking to slow down and breathe. With wide beaches perfect for paddling, sandcastle-building or simply sitting still, Tiree is as peaceful as it is photogenic. According to VisitScotland: "Tiree is also known as a windy place, with the strongest winter gales normally occurring in December and January. The advantage, however, is that midges are almost non-existent in summer." That breeze helps power the island's most famous sporting event, the Tiree Wave Classic. Held each October, it's the longest running windsurfing competition in the UK and draws adrenaline seekers from around the world. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. But adventure is only one side of the story. Tiree's past is quietly preserved in a scattering of ancient ruins and two dedicated heritage centres. Crannogs, brochs and relics from past generations hint at island life through the ages, while Scarinish and Hynish offer tales, poems, maps and stories from local history. Getting there is part of the experience. Caledonian MacBrayne runs regular ferries from Oban, with vehicle places in high demand during the summer months. Loganair offers daily flights from Glasgow, taking just 45 minutes and offering sweeping views over Scotland's western isles. Hebridean Air Services also runs flights from Oban on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
