Kirkcudbright shines

Off to check out Kirkcudbright in this amazing summer sunshine.

Kirkcudbright is a town on the Solway coast that is popular with artists and has a ruined castle.

Kirkcudbright (pronounced kir-coo-bree) sits on the banks of the River Dee and is the only town on the Solway coast with a working harbour. It’s an attractive town with a colourful blend of medieval, Georgian and Victorian buildings. Kirkcudbright became a magnet for Scottish artists in the late 19th century.

MacLellan's Castle is a ruined 16th century tower house by the harbourside and nearby is Broughton House, a smart Georgian townhouse which was once the home of the artist Edward Hornel. The house has some impressive Japanese gardens.

Other town attractions include the Tolbooth Art Centre and Harbour Cottage Gallery.

The harbour is also lovely, with fishing boats landing lovely scallops and other locally caught fish including monkfish, which I had for lunch and the local excellent chippy.

The town also has some literary and cinematic connections. The whodunit Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers involves the artistic community of Kirkcudbright. In 1975, the book was made into a film shot in the town, with Ian Carmichael playing the lead role of Lord Peter Wimsey.

The town also provided locations for the cult 1973 horror film The Wicker Man. Several parts of the town can be easily recognised in the film.

All in all, a wonderful little town in the beautiful south west of Scotland, and well worth a visit.

Check out KryptoMart's blip from Gatehouse of Fleet, another Solway gem.

It's the weekend, enjoy!