Wigtown, Scotland's Book Town, is becoming increasingly popular with visitors as a centre to tour the South West of Scotland and as an opportunity to peruse the many books shops (14 at the last count) within the boundaries of Wigtown and Bladnoch.
 The town, developed at the site due to the Castle of Wigtown and a Dominican Priory (long disappeared), was a lively Medieval market town and was the site of the drowning of the Wigtown Martyrs in 1685.
It is also on the route of pilgrimage to the Christian centre at Whithorn, the earliest Christian settlement in mainland Britain since the fifth century.
Undergoing a quiet revolution since being chosen as Scotland's Book Town, it is set in an area abounding in natural beauty lending itself to walking, biking, golfing, fishing and a plethora of stone circles, standing stones, cup and ring marked stones.
The climate, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, lends itself to cultivars not seen in other parts of the country and there are several good and well known gardens open to the public in the area.
THINGS TO DO
Whisky Distillery
Bladnoch Distillery - Scotland's most southerly whisky distillery - www.bladnoch.co.uk
History
Whithorn - First in Scotland's Past - www.whithorn.com
Cardoness Castle (pictured above) - Gatehouse of Fleet
Walking
The Southern Upland Way
Galloway Forest Park - 01671 402420
Several local coastal walks.
Off Road Driving
Tank Driving - www.gallowaytanks.co.uk - 01988 600639
Wildlife
Wigtown Bay Ospreys - www.wigtownbayospreys.co.uk
River Bladoch & River Cree
Galloway Angling Centre - 01671 401333
Galloway Guns and Tackle - 01671 403404
Newton Stewart Angling Association (pictured) - 01671 401127
 River Minnoch
Glentrool Estates Ltd. - 01671 840275
Forrestry Commission Fishings - 01671 402420
Golfing
Wigtown - 01988 403354
Monreith - 01988 700358
Wigtownshire
County Golf Club - 01581 300420
Newton Stewart - 01671 402172
Gatehouse of Fleet - 01557 814766
 New Galloway - 01644 420737
Brighouse - 01557 870409
Stranraer Golf Club - 01776
870245
Portpatrick Golf Club (pictured)
- 01776 810273
Gardens
Logan
Botanic Garden - 01776 860231
Galloway House Gardens - 01988
600680
Woodfall Gardens (Whithorn) - 01988 500692
Castle Kennedy Gardens
Aldouran Wetland Garden - Leswalt
Sailing
Galloway Sailing Centre (Loch Ken) - 01644 420626
Wigtown Bay Sailing Club - Isle of Whithorn
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