From St Fillans, at the head of Loch Earn, it is south now, past Stirling and Glasgow, to Dunfries & Galloway and the Irish Sea coast. The least said about Castle Douglas the better. Further on is the town of Kirkcudbright, on the banks of the River Dee, about 4 miles from the sea.

From a spot on the estuary, there is a wonderful view down to the open sea, with the dim silhouette of the Isle of Man in the far distance. The Dee is instrumental in creating wealth for the town as it is the only settlement on the Solway Coast with a working harbour.

Kirkcudbright (pronounced by the Scotts: kir-KOO-bree!!!) is renowned for the number of galleries and arty/craftyshops. It is an attractive place with a blend of medieval, Georgian & Victorian buildings. It became a magnet for Scottish artists in the late 19th century and is now known as The Artist’s Town attracting both practitioners and promoters.