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Castle Douglas

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Castle Douglas town is situated in Dumfries & Galloway southwest Scotland, 54 miles east of Stranraer, 18 miles southwest of Dumfries.

Castle Douglas attracts visitors for its shops with local produce, hotels with bar diners, golf, Threave Gardens and Threave Castle. The town is known as the Food Town.

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Castle Douglas Road Map

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of the Visitor Centre at the top of King Street at a large grassland with car parking. This area also has the large Wallets Marts cattle market and a number of Hotels and Inns for bar meals.

The image second top is looking down King Street from the Visitor Centre. This is a busy street with a good selection of local shops.

The Imperial Hotel is situated at the top of King Street by the Visitor Centre.

The lower side of King Street is dominated by the clock tower.

The Kings Arms Hotel sits on the corner of St Andrew Street and Queen Street.

The Town Clock Tower was built in 1935 of local granite from the neighbouring town of Dalbeattie, and hard red sandstone from the Dumfries area. These are the two types of stone that were quarried in Dumfries and Galloway to be sold for the construction of expensive buildings all over the UK and beyond.

The Town Hall is situated on St Andrew Street by the Clock Tower, built in 1863. The red sandstone on this building shows why it was so sought after, 150 yeas later and it is like the day it was built. Red sandstone from many other areas was known to be soft and prone to erosion. The hall is used for many events throughout the year.

St John the Evangelist Church was built in 1868, by the Town Hall. This is one of 5 churches in the town, with the St Andrews Church converted to the Fullarton Theatre in 1992. The theatre website lists films and events.

The Fullarton Theatre is situated on the south side of the town by the scenic Carlingwark Park & Loch, with a popular walk around the loch.

The Castle Douglas Golf Club is situated right next to the north side of the town. This a a tree lined 9 hole parks course that welcomes visitors.

Threave House and Gardens are situated 1 and a half miles southwest of Castle Douglas. The gardens are real popular with cafes, gift shop, and there are tours of the house available.

Threave Castle is situated about 2 miles southwest of Castle Douglas. This is a popular attraction with a half mile walk out to the castle, then a boat trip to cross a river.

There are a number of birds of prey nesting in the castle, and in the trees by the castle.

Castle Douglas History

70 AD - the first Roman fort is built to the north of Castle Douglas by the Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola as he set about trying to take control of Scotland.

142 - the Roman fort at Castle Douglas was rebuilt as the Romans tried a second time to take control of Scotland.

162 - the Romans withdrew from Scotland behind Hadrian's Wall along the north of England.

1370s - Threave Castle is built for Archibald the Grim, 3rd Earl of Douglas.

1745 - General Wade built a military road through Galloway after the Jacobite rising of that year, allowing more trade in the area.

The road ran from northern England to the port towns of Portpatrick and Stranraer on the west coast, leading to a trade route with Ireland.

1792 - the American trader William Douglas began the building of Castle Douglas town at the north end of Carlingwark Loch.

Douglas ran a number of industries in the town such as hand-woven cotton factories, with a street in the town named Cotton Street.

1800s - a number of coaching inns were built for the trade passing through the town. These are now hotels.

1943 to 1944 - the town was the base for a Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment that was training for the invasion of Europe.

1965 - the railway closed.

Today - Castle Douglas is a popular base for visitors touring the vast number of attractions in the area.

1859 - the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway was completed allowing greater trade.

1900 - the large cattle market is built in the town, the largest cattle market in Dumfries and Galloway.

1935 - the clock tower was built as the towns main feature.

1940s - the town was used to hold many children from Glasgow during World War Two.

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