Local Attractions

Places to visit and things to do when you visit The Mill Forge and Gretna Green

When visiting the Gretna Green area there are many local attractions to interest the whole family. Whether you would like to visit castles and museums, shop til you drop, go paint-balling, quad biking and go-carting or explore the local countryside, there is something for all ages. With many local golf courses suitable for all levels of golfer along with rivers for fishermen and local courses for adventure mountain biking.

Shopping

Nearby Caledonia Park has many high street names such as Marks & Spencer, Austin Reed, Cadburys Factory Shop, Jeff Banks, Thorntons and lots more.

The World Famous Old Blacksmiths Shop has the food hall, a whisky tasting centre and the tartan shop. Also on site there is a museum showing the history of Gretna Green weddings.

Castles & Museums

Carlisle Castle was built during the reign of William the Second (son of William the Conqueror) and has its foundations on Hadrian’s Wall. The nearby Tullie House Museum is always worth as visit and there are places where Hadrian’s Wall can still be accessed.

Nearby Dumfries is the birthplace of poet Robbie Burns and the Burns Centre details his life and work. Slightly further on from Dumfries is the Shambellie House Costume Museum and the ruined Sweetheart Abbey.

Activities

Golfers can enjoy a round or two at one of the local clubs with Powfoot and Southerness both being excellent links and parkland courses. Fishers can rest by the banks of the Esk, Annan or Nith when seasons permit or there are local fisheries to try their hand.

With the Southern Uplands only a half hours drive away the scenic market town of Moffat offers some excellent walks for hillwalkers and for mountain bikers there are two of the Seven Stanes mountain biking courses within forty-five minutes reach.

Scenery

The Solway Coast is a place of local spectacular beauty and you can be in the Lake District after a short drive south. Alternatively you could travel east and take a tour of the Border’s textile towns such as Hawick, Jedburgh, Selkirk & Kelso. Heading west takes in beautiful coastal scenery and leads to the port town of Stranraer, where onward travel to Ireland is a popular choice.

There are many other places to visit near Gretna Green which we have not mentioned here but are well worth taking the time to visit.