Discover Dumfries & The Scottish Borders 2027

Duration

6 Days

Departure Dates

8th July 2027

Prices from

£1,175 Per person

Similar tours are available in the following categories:

Discover Dumfries on this relaxing tour to picturesque Scotland staying in the elegant Cairndale Hotel & Spa. Journey through the scenic forests of Dumfries and Galloway, explore the charming seaside town of Ayr, and indulge in a whisky tasting at an award-winning distillery plus visits to the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle and the historic Globe Inn.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Helpful Links

Dumfries ©Shutterstock

6 DAYS FROM £1,175

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Book by 31st August 2026 using code EARLYBIRD100

to save £100 per person!

DEPARTS

Thursday 8 July 2027

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Tour the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle and Estate
Stroll through the beautiful gardens and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea
Visit the historic Globe Inn, Robert Burns’ "favourite howff"
Journey through the picturesque forests of Dumfries and Galloway
Discover the history of Henry Duncan at the Savings Museum
Indulge in a tour and tasting at the Annandale Distillery
Enjoy free time to explore the seaside town of Ayr

Also included in your Tour Fare:

5 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 lunch and 1 afternoon tea
Services of experienced Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Dumfries and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Cairndale Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

Today, we travel to the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle and Estate, one of Scotland's finest examples of 17th century Renaissance architecture and affectionately known as the 'Pink Palace' thanks to its beautiful red sandstone. Here, we will explore the history of the castle, its grand reception rooms, stunning staircases, and ornate features on a guided tour with free time to explore the formal gardens and grounds before enjoying a delicious afternoon tea. This afternoon, we return to Dumfries with time to refresh ahead of our evening meal together.

B, LR, D

DAY 3

After breakfast this morning, we visit the historic Globe Inn for a tour of Robert Burns' 'favourite howff' learning of his legacy and exploring the rooms where he lived, loved, and held court before continuing our day at the Henry Duncan Savings Museum, the home of modern banking. Afterwards, we transfer to the Annandale Distillery where we enjoy our lunch in the café followed by a fascinating distillery tour and tasting. This evening, we return to the hotel and enjoy our evening meal together.

B, L, D

DAY 4

Today, we enjoy a day at leisure to relax in the hotel and make use of the hotel's fantastic spa facilities (additional charges apply) or head out and explore the charms of Dumfries from its engaging museums to the walking trails and parks that showcase the town's historic character. If you fancy a little rail adventure, why not hop aboard a local train for the short and scenic journey to Gretna Green where you can visit the world-famous Gretna Blacksmiths Museum, steeped in the romantic history that made this village legendary. After a relaxing day, we will reconvene at the hotel in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After a relaxed breakfast, we join a scenic rail journey through Dumfries and Galloway travelling alongside the Forest of Ae, one of the largest woods in Scotland, and passing dramatic castles and forts before arriving at Ayr. Here, we enjoy free time to explore this seaside town, enjoy lunch, or stroll along the charming sea front before returning to Dumfries in time for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 6

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Dumfries and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries

Ideally located in the centre of Dumfries and Galloway, the Cairndale Hotel offers a stylish restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, a relaxing lounge, and fantastic spa facilities including a thermal pool, steam room, and sauna (additional charges apply). The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Euston	£1,629	£1,415
Greater London	£1,649	£1,429
South of England	£1,705	£1,449
East Anglia	£1,705	£1,465
South West	£1,625	£1,425
Heart of England	£1,519	£1,359
Midlands	£1,475	£1,325
Yorkshire	£1,415	£1,315
North East	£1,365	£1,289
North West	£1,415	£1,299
South Wales	£1,535	£1,359
North Wales	£1,439	£1,305
Scotland	£1,339	£1,279
Join & Leave at Hotel	£1,190
Single Traveller Supplement	£395
Deposit	£120
£15 discount for National Railcard Holders

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

5 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 lunch and 1 afternoon tea

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
8th July 2027	£1,175 Per person	Book Now	Callback

Can't see a date that suits you? Please register your interest for additional departures on this tour.

Register interest

Enter your details to receive updates on upcoming departure dates for the Discover Dumfries & The Scottish Borders 2027 rail tour.

Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries

Drumlanrig Castle

The Globe Inn

Henry Duncan Savings Museum

Annadale Distillery

Visit Dumfries & Galloway

Visit Ayr

Drumlanrig Castle ©Shutterstock

Drumlanrig Castle ©AdobeStock

The Globe Inn ©Globe Inn

Annandale Distillery ©Annandale Distillery

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

View Dates and Book

Why Book with Railtrail

Railtrail Tours is a family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years – Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

Unique Experiences

Our tours are unique to us, created by our team of rail travel experts who each have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in the rail holiday industry

Financial Protection

Railtrail Tours are members of ABTOT and ATOL, meaning you can relax knowing that you are fully protected when booking any holiday with us.

Loyalty Rewards

For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings.

Award Winning Team

We were proudly awarded Silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays’ in 2024.

More about us

Destinations

Tour Types