Dumfries and Galloway Is on National Geographic’s Best of the World 2027 List

We knew it already, and now National Geographic agrees

On 20 October, National Geographic put Dumfries and Galloway on its Best of the World 2027 list, calling our corner of Scotland one of the most breathtaking places on Earth. Did we know that already? Of course we did. But it is lovely to see it confirmed.

The article picks out stargazing, Wigtown Book Town, coastal walking and cycling. What it can’t tell you is how close all of it is to our front door. Westview Cottage sits right on the seafront in Port William, on the shore of Luce Bay, which makes it a very handy base. Here is how long everything takes from the cottage.

Stargazing from our living room window

In 2027 the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory gets a new home in Galloway Forest Park, beside Clatteringshaws Loch, and the park is only 31 minutes from the cottage. National Geographic says the skies are at their best in autumn and winter, and there is a Dark Sky Festival every October.

But you don’t even need to leave the cottage. We keep a stargazing book and binoculars in the living room, and the window opens fully so you can sit on the ledge, wrapped up warm, and look out over Luce Bay at the night sky. Then come back in, light the wood-burning stove and warm your toes.

Wigtown Book Town is 17 minutes away

Wigtown is Scotland’s National Book Town, and we love it. It has lots of bookshops, including the largest secondhand bookshop in Scotland, plus plenty of cafes and restaurants, and a great Saturday market in spring and summer.

The Wigtown Book Festival usually runs from late September to early October, and it is an amazing event. The cottage is a perfect place to stay for it, so you can head back after a day of talks and browsing to a cosy evening by the stove. For a pint and a proper meal, The Ploughman is a lovely community pub in Wigtown.

Beaches and coast on our doorstep

Our favourite beach is Second Sands, just a five minute walk from the front door. It is where we go for a quiet stroll first thing or to clear our heads at the end of a busy day.

For a bigger beach day, head along the coast to Monreith Bay, a sweeping arc of sand that is lovely for long walks and a paddle. Do check the tide times before you go, especially if you fancy a swim.

National Geographic also highlights the new 83-mile Rhins of Galloway Coast Path, which runs from Portpatrick to the lighthouse at the Mull of Galloway, the most southerly point in Scotland. The lighthouse is about an hour’s drive from us, so it makes for a great day out (there is also a great cafe there!). And in summer, the article says, the Gulf Stream makes the days milder here than anywhere else in Scotland.

Cycling on quiet roads, with some big routes nearby

The Kirkpatrick C2C is a 250 mile coast to coast route from Stranraer to Eyemouth. It starts in our part of the world, passing through Glenluce, Wigtown and Newton Stewart, and the section from Newton Stewart to Stranraer follows the signed National Cycle Route 73.

Closer to home, the Machars has three signed cycle routes on very quiet roads, which are lovely for an easy day out.

The new Gallovidian Gravel route is a 206 mile gravel adventure that starts in Dumfries and takes in Kirkcudbright and Galloway Forest Park, with shorter loops for anyone who doesn’t fancy the full thing. It is mostly further north and east, so for us it is a day trip rather than a ride from the door.

The Tour de France Grand Depart on Friday 2 July 2027 will only touch the far south east corner of Dumfries and Galloway, a long way from Port William. But it is putting this part of Scotland firmly on the cycling map.

Sunsets, and why this is our happy place

Ask our guests what they remember most, and they all say the same thing: the sunsets and the sea views. Mesmerising is the word we hear again and again. The cottage is reverse-level, so the open-plan living space is upstairs, and the whole sweep of Luce Bay is right in front of you. Open the windows, listen to the waves and watch the sun go down.

For us it is personal. We bought the derelict Westview Cottage in 2021 and renovated it with a lot of love. Between our businesses, work and the kids, life is non-stop, and the cottage is the only place where Dean and I feel totally relaxed. Everything slows down, and we are truly present. We hope you feel that too.

Looking for more to do while you’re here?

If you’d like to know what’s on locally, have a read of our blog on the Wigtown Book Festival for a real highlight of the autumn and our guide to the Stranraer Oyster Festival for a great day out if you love your food. Both fit nicely into a stay with us, so you can plan your trip around them.

Come and stay with us.

Westview Cottage sleeps six, with sea views across Luce Bay, a wood-burning stove, Simba mattresses and an enclosed garden. Check availability and book on our website and come and see why National Geographic is so excited about this corner of Scotland.

We would love to welcome you.

Annabelle and Dean

Useful links

• National Geographic: Best of the World 2027, Dumfries and Galloway
• Kirkpatrick C2C, Scotland Starts Here
• Gallovidian Gravel, Cycling UK