Dumfries & Galloway

From Edinburgh

Stagecoach service 101A from Edinburgh Bus Station will take you to Dumfries via Biggar and Moffat.

From Glasgow

Start your journey to Dumfries & Galloway in the South of Scotland by catching Stagecoach service X74 to Dumfries via Moffat from Buchanan Bus Station, then switch to local services.

From Carlisle

Take Borders Buses service number X95 to Edinburgh via Langholm, Galashiels and Stow.

If you’re travelling from north Scotland, take the M80 towards Glasgow, then onto the M74. Follow the motorway south along the River Clyde, through South Lanarkshire and into Dumfries & Galloway in the South of Scotland as the M74 becomes the A74. To reach Dumfries & Galloway, you can also continue west along the M77, then head south through Ayrshire, travelling along the coast and country roads.

From Carlisle, simply follow along the M6 to reach the border town of Gretna. You can then explore Dumfries & Galloway further, following the A75 or A74.

Plan your trip with Traveline

There are two ferry connections between the South of Scotland and Northern Ireland: Stena Line offers regular services between Belfast and Cairnryan in Dumfries & Galloway, while P&O Ferries operates a connection between Larne and Cairnryan. Further ferry connections to destinations across Scotland arrive into Greenock near Glasgow, which is also the main port for cruise ships.

Fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow airports from across the UK and Europe, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin and Amsterdam.

Dumfries & Galloway can be easily reached from Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Edinburgh International Airport to the north, and Carlisle Lake District Airport to the south-west. You can connect to local public transport options or hire a car at each of the airports for a smooth onwards journey.

Most of the region's villages and towns are accessible by bus, with timetables published online by local council providers.

See bus timetables & routes for Dumfries & Galloway

The Southern Upland Way is a major long distance routes linking the Dumfries & Galloway coast in the west to the Berwickshire coast in the eastern Scottish Borders.

There are several main roads running right through Dumfries & Galloway, so it’s easy to get around by car. Additionally, a variety of scenic routes quickly take you off the beaten track right into the heart of this destination.

Find out more about driving routes

If you are looking to hire a car or campervan during your trip, you will find car hire companies located conveniently close to the major routes into the areas – in and around Glasgow, in Edinburgh and just off the Edinburgh City Bypass, and around the border at Carlisle. You will also find opportunities to hire a car when you’re here: Dumfries has an Enterprise Car Rental, and those looking for something different can even hire a classic car or campervan.