01 Jul Caerlaverock, Dumfries
The ruins of Caerlaverock Castle, by Glencaple on a beautiful stretch of the Solway coast, are among the loveliest in Britain. Surrounded by a moat, lawns and stands of trees, the unusual pink-stoned triangular castle looks impregnable – in fact, it fell several times. The current castle dates from the late 13th century.
Inside, there’s an extraordinary Scottish Renaissance façade to apartments that were built in 1634. With nooks and crannies to explore, passageways and remnants of fireplaces, this castle is great for the whole family.
It’s worth combining a visit to the castle with one to the Caerlaverock Wildlife & Wetlands Centre to the east. It protects 546 hectares of salt marsh and mud flats, the habitat for numerous bird, including barnacle geese. There are daily wildlife safaris with experienced rangers to enjoy on your tours of Scotland.