Powfoot Village
Powfoot is a peaceful coastal village with a recently revamped hotel and restaurant, a golf club and a caravan park which has a small shop - all open to non residents.Next to Solway Terrace is a pretty public park area, crossed by the Pow Burn, with a beautifully preserved Victorian pavilion and free bowls and putting.
The village's main attraction is, of course, the shore. The dynamic Solway tides mean the scenery is always changing and is endlessly attractive, even when the tide is out!
7 Solway Terrace and its neighbouring sandstone terraces were built around 1900 when a developer and the local landowner decided Powfoot would be a perfect Victorian seaside resort, perhaps a Blackpool for southern Scotland. But, the story goes, a dispute with local fishermen meant the ambitious project ground to a halt and the village has, to this day, remained relatively unspoilt.
This makes it the perfect place to escape to for peace and quiet, wonderful walks and wildife - including the rare Natterjack Toad and a wealth of wading birds.
Nearby
Less than four miles from Powfoot is the market town of Annan which has two supermarkets and a host of independent shops, Annandale Distillery, a museum, cinema, swimming pool, bars and restaurants.The region's capital, Dumfries is 15 miles from Powfoot. It has a busy High Street with well known chain stores and cafes, as well as independent outlets, a great range of restaurants and bars, art galleries, a museum and camera obscura.
The area is well known for its Robert Burns heritage. The Brow Well (where the poet bathed in the Solway in an ill-advised effort to cure himself from the illness which killed him shortly afterwards) is just a few miles from Powfoot, while Dumfries is where Burns lived, composed some of his greatest works, and died. Burns House, the Robert Burns Centre, his favourite drinking hole (howff) the Globe Inn, his Mausoleum and Ellisland Farm are all well worth a visit.
Lockerbie (13 miles) will be forever known for the tragedy which befell the town when a bombed Pan Am jumbo jet crashed there in December 1988 but, as well as the memorials dotted around the town and the Garden Of Remembrance at Dryfesdale Cemetery, the friendly town has a number of interesting shops and hotels and an icerink (open October to April).
The spa town of Moffat (31 miles) , attracts visitors from far and wide for its famous toffee, woollen mill, boat pond and attractive independent shops.
Gretna Green (13 miles) is Britain's wedding capital, thanks to its history as the destination for young runaway couples from England who eloped over the border to be married over the anvil by the resident blacksmith. Today, its visitor centre and shops are one of Scotland's biggest tourist magnets. Neighbouring Gretna is home to the hugely popular Gretna Gateway Centre outlet village where shoppers revel in bargain hunting among the dazzling array of designer and High Street stores.
Just into England is the 'great border city' of Carlisle (25 miles) where visitors can explore the castle, museums, galleries, shops, restaurants and leisure centres.
Further Afield
Scotland's capital Edinburgh is easily accessible by train from Lockerbie (one hour) or by car (a scenic 90 mile drive). Glasgow is a ninety minute drive north on the M74 or is approximately two hours by train from Annan or Dumfries.The legendary Lake District is an easy day trip by car from Powfoot, accessed by heading south on the M6 to Penrith (50 minutes' drive).
The delights of Galloway can be explored within an hour or two's drive from Powfoot. The region's Food Town of Castle Douglas, the Artists' Town of Kirkcudbright, Scotland's national book town Wigtown and the country's most southerly point, the Mull Of Galloway are just some of the region's attractions, not to mention the stunning coastline and wild upland landscapes to enjoy.