History

South West Scotland can be seen as the natural meeting point of four different peoples, the Scots, Gaels, Vikings and Britons. This has created a melting pot of place names, customs, languages and cultures. Rich in history, the contrasting events that have taken place are quite staggering.

St Ninian
St Ninian, born in Galloway and educated in Rome, established the first Christian settlement north of Hadrian’s Wall in 397AD. He built a stone church named Candida Casa (The White House) which would have been pronounced Whithorn as it is still known today.

He used this area as a base from which to spread the Catholic faith amongst the Picts and Britons, and the foundations he built here allowed the church to grow and spread throughout the rest of Scotland. As well as his church, there is also a cave at Physgill Glen, where he would retreat to reflect and pray. An annual pilgrimage still takes place to this cave, and it is possible to see ancient carvings on the walls and roof.

The Reformation
South West Scotland was for a long time the home of ‘Bluidy Clavers’. Officially known as John Graham of Claverhouse, he was made Sheriff of Wigtown soon after winning an important victory at the Battle of Bothwell Brig. He spent his time rooting out Covenanters and many monuments can be found throughout the region commemorating skirmishes that took place during this time.

One of the most infamous incidents was that of the Wigtown Martyrs. In May 1685, two local Covenanter women were tied to stakes and drowned for their refusal to take oaths demanded by the Test Act. Margaret McLachlan, who was in her 60's, and a teenager, Margaret Wilson, were tied to stakes on the merse below Wigtown. As the tide came in it would drown them both and act as a warning to other like minded people. It was hoped that the younger girl could be persuaded to change her mind so Margaret McLachlan was staked further out in the bay so she would drown first.

This ploy failed to persuade Margaret Wilson to change her mind and she too was drowned, although a soldier held her head above the water to give her further time. Major Windram performed this barbaric execution which was overseen by Sir Robert Grierson of Lag. He had been given the King's Commission to suppress the rebels in South West Scotland. The women had already spent a month in prison after being betrayed by an informer, but this execution was the most famous of many brutal incidents that took place during this difficult time.

Famous Scots
Two of Scotland’s most famous “Roberts” have strong links to the South West of Scotland.

It was from this area, now Galloway Forest Park that Robert the Bruce really launched his campaign for independence in 1307. Having been pursued through the hills and forests of Galloway, he was eventually able to launch an ambush in Glentrool against a much larger English force led by the Earl of Pembroke. The varying degrees of success of this ambush have been disputed over many years, the most common verdict being a decisive victory for the rebel Scots. To commemorate this victory a stone was unveiled in 1929, the 600th anniversary of Bruce’s death, overlooking the battlefield.
Glentrool is one of the most picturesque in Scotland and it is possible to visit Bruce’s Stone and then complete one of the many walks in the area. There is a real sense of history around this place and you will never tire of visiting.

Robert Burns arrived in Dumfries and Galloway at the age of 29. Probably Scotland’s most famous son, he took up the position of excise officer in the town of Dumfries in 1789. No amount of information given here can do justice to ‘The Bard’, but all over South West Scotland, and in particular in Dumfries, there are connections to the man and his poems.
There are a great many Burns clubs throughout the region and, on or about January 25th each year, there are numerous Burns suppers commemorating his birthday. Each event is different, some very formal where recitals of Burns work take centre stage, others are more social affairs where the main subject studied is another of Burns favourites………..whisky!