Solway Tours

Solway Tours Five star, bespoke guided historic and ancestral tours of Dumfries and Galloway and across Scotland. DandG Life Tourism Champion Winner and Thistle Award Winner

We aim to provide unforgettable experiences through our extensive knowledge and insight into the History of Scotland which will create memories and smiles that last a lifetime. We seek to provide our customers with positive travel experiences delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, pride and a passion for promoting Dumfries and Galloway as a high quality tourist destination. We are very co

nfident that you will thoroughly enjoy all aspects of our guided tours and be in awe of the majestic countryside and impact which South West Scotland has had on shaping our global community. We are more than happy to create a flexible itinerary to suit your areas of interest. Our website gives more suggested areas to visit and we will arrange a bespoke and personalised tour for each party. We also offer guided tours of other areas of Scotland including city tours of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. Our tours offer an individually tailored and unique insight into the historical and cultural delights of South West Scotland and beyond. We provide a personalised, chauffeur-driven, high quality service which will allow you to experience the most majestic countryside whilst visiting some of the most important historical and cultural sites in the country. Lesley and Mark, your Solway Tours guides, offer a range of flexible, tailor-made tours for families or small groups to experience the charms that Dumfries and Galloway has to
offer. We are both experienced historians with specialist backgrounds in secondary education at a senior managerial level and will delight and regale you about the historic and cultural importance of Dumfries and Galloway and beyond. Your tour experience will be enhanced further by being chauffeur driven in our comfortable and stylish seven seater Renault Grand Scenic. Suggested Themed Tours

Castles and Kids
We will take you to a number of agreed historic sites within the Region and allow time to visit one of the excellent local attractions for children. Wars of Independence
Dumfries and Galloway is renowned for its pivotal role in Scotland's fight for independence. We will guide you through the crucial role played by the Bruce family during this war torn period. Robert Burns
Follow in the footsteps of the National Bard from Ellisland Farm to the “Sanghoose” and from The Brow Well to Burns Mausoleum. Dumfries offers an incredible insight into the life of Scotland’s favourite son. Cradle of Christianity
St Ninian landed in Galloway at the end of the 4th Century and changed the religious map of the Nation. This tour will look at how Dumfries and Galloway played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity. D&G Heroes and Heroines
J M Barrie, Kirkpatrick McMillan, Thomas Carlyle and Jane Haining are just some of the people raised locally who have impacted so much on the world. Their tales will inspire you!! For full details and prices for all of our tailor made tours please check our website or contact us by email or phone.

Mark had a great final day with his guests from Colorado. We started the day in Gatehouse of Fleet and ended it at Glasg...
02/07/2025

Mark had a great final day with his guests from Colorado.

We started the day in Gatehouse of Fleet and ended it at Glasgow Airport

We spent the day in and around DandG with visits to Kirkcudbright, Threave Castle, Sweetheart Abbey, Caerlaverock Caatle and the Devils Beeftub

We had a delicious lunch as always at the Tearoom in New
Abbey.

Mark wishes Vic and Debbie a safe journey home tomorrow

Mark has had a great  day 4 today with Vic and Debbie from Colorado. He went back home to the Machars and highlighted th...
01/07/2025

Mark has had a great day 4 today with Vic and Debbie from Colorado. He went back home to the Machars and highlighted the delights of Galloway to his guests.

Out first stop of the day was at Cairn Holy Neolithic Site. The burial chambers here are over 5000 years old and offer a great insight into the importance of death and celebrating it in Stone Age Galloway.

We then moved down the Wigtown Bay coastline with stops at Wigtown, Garlieston, Whithorn and the Isle of Whithorn.

We spent time exploring the bookshops in the county town, the Martyrs Stake, the Mulberry Harbour site at Garlieston, the Cairn at the Isle and the site of Whithorn Priory.

We also managed a lunch at the cafe at the Isle of Whithorn before walking along the beach to St Ninian’s Cave on Luce Bay.

In the late afternoon we drove up to Bruce’s Stone at Glentrool to reflect on the first significant victory for our greatest king in 1307 after his return from Ireland.

A great day in a magical part of Scotland.

Our Wigtownshire Dumfries & Galloway Life South Machars Community Centre - Whithorn Wigtown Book Festival Historic Environment ScotlandVisitScotlandDiscover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here

On the 1st July 1916 at 7:30am the British begun a major attack along a large sector of the Western Front. After a week ...
01/07/2025

On the 1st July 1916 at 7:30am the British begun a major attack along a large sector of the Western Front. After a week long bombardment of the German Trenches the troops went over the top and advanced towards the German front line. While some gains were made especially near the Schwaben Redoubt troops struggled to overcome the German defences most of which had survived the Briitish artillery bombardment. By the end of the first day, some 57,000 Commonwealth and 2,000 French soldiers had become casualties with more than 19,000 of them dead.

Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men who died on the Somme and have no known grave. Over 90% of those comemorated there died between July and November of 1916. At the foot of the Thiepval memorial there is also a small cemetery containing equal numbers of French and British troops buried in recognition of the joint nature of the offensive.

Nine years ago we were honored to take part in a very special commemoration service at the Thiepval Memorial.

We were humbled to represent our area at such a prestigious event and today we remember all those who lost their life on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Well for much of Day 3 we were in Northumberland. Vic and Debbie were keen to see different aspects of the 1900 year old...
30/06/2025

Well for much of Day 3 we were in Northumberland.

Vic and Debbie were keen to see different aspects of the 1900 year old Roman wall ordered to be built by the Emperor Hadrian from AD 122 to 128.

We visited Walltown Crags and the Roman Army Museum before heading down to the magical The Vindolanda Trust site.

In the late afternoon we visited KirkpatrickIrongray Church and burial ground.

Another tremendous day!

Mark has had a great day 2 with Vic and Debbie Young from Colorado.  We started the day in Jedburgh and have ended it in...
29/06/2025

Mark has had a great day 2 with Vic and Debbie Young from Colorado. We started the day in Jedburgh and have ended it in Dumfries.

We began by visiting the site where the old Young Clan ancestral Castle stood during the time of the Border Reivers. Ruecastle in Bedrule Parish was the site of Vic’s ancestral castle which was destroyed in 1545.

We then spent time in and around Melrose with visits to Scott’s View, Leaderfoot Viaduct and The William Wallace Statue.

We then travelled South West into Dumfries and Galloway with great stops at Gretna Green, Gretna, and Lockerbie Remembrance Garden before visiting a few historic sites in the biggest town in the Region

Another wonderful sunny Scottish day!

VisitScotlandHistoric Environment ScotlandDiscover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop The Devil's Porridge Dumfries & Galloway Life

29/06/2025

A fine display yesterday from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders exiting their base at Stirling Castle

The march included motorbike outriders, cadets and veterans as well as some of the present battalion within the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

VisitScotlandHistoric Environment Scotland

Mark has had a great first day today with  Debbie and Vic from Colorado. They are Young’s and we finished the day in Jed...
28/06/2025

Mark has had a great first day today with Debbie and Vic from Colorado. They are Young’s and we finished the day in Jedburgh at the heart of the Middle Marches where the Young Clan prospered in the late medieval period alongside the Kerrs and the Elliots.

We started the day in Glasgow before heading up to a must see place for the couple - Stirling Castle. We were lucky enough to be there when the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were holding a parade and display in the Castle which was once their HQ.

We made a quick stop at Stirling Brig before heading South to stop at the Harburn Estate which was built for the Young family.

We had a delicious lunch at Jacks in Melrose before spending time at both Melrose and Dryburgh Abbeys.

We have spent some time in Jedburgh tonight and will explore more of the Young Clan/Family lands tomorrow morning before heading to Dumfries and Galloway.

VisitScotlandHistoric Environment ScotlandDiscover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here Stirling Castle
Melrose Abbey

Lesley had another brilliant day today with Jeff and Laurie from Alberta.  Our first stop this morning was to Bewcastle ...
28/06/2025

Lesley had another brilliant day today with Jeff and Laurie from Alberta.

Our first stop this morning was to Bewcastle Church in Northern England where after a couple of hours researching and using the fantastic records kept in the church we were able to locate a number of Jeff’s direct ancestors headstones. This fascinating churchyard also contains the Bewcastle Cross, an Anglo-Saxon cross dating back to the 7th or 8th Century and a museum.

We then made our way to Greenhead where we had a delicious lunch at the Greenhead Tearoom and then it was time to go and explore part of Hadrians Wall at Walltown Crags.

Our last two stops of the day were to Tuille House Museum to see the Border Reiver exhibition , we went to visit the Cursing Stone and we stopped at Gretna Green on our way back to Dumfries.

It’s been a great two days helping a lovely couple to see some sites connected to their Armstrong ancestors .

27/06/2025

Unlock Amazing Summer Savings!

Exciting news! We have launched the new Tri-Site Ticket – your passport to exploring THREE incredible local attractions for one great price!
Save up to 20% compared to individual tickets!

For just £35 per adult (and £15 for children 12-17), you get one visit to each of these fantastic sites before December 31st, 2025:

1️⃣ Annandale Distillery: Discover the art of whisky making with a fascinating tour and tastings.
2️⃣ The Globe Inn, Dumfries: Step into history at Robert Burns's favourite haunt, see his chair and poetry etched in glass.
3️⃣ Henry Duncan Savings Banks Museum: Uncover the inspiring story of the man who revolutionised banking for everyone.

It's the perfect way to explore Dumfries & Galloway this summer and beyond!

Today Lesley started a 2 day tour with Laurie and Jeff from Canada and although it rained all day that didn’t dampen the...
27/06/2025

Today Lesley started a 2 day tour with Laurie and Jeff from Canada and although it rained all day that didn’t dampen the spirits of these two Armstrong’s!

We started in Dumfries this morning and made our way to the mighty Maxwell Stronghold , Caerlaverock Castle and then on to see the magnificent Ruthwell Cross at Ruthwell Church.

We then made our way across to Langholm where we were lucky enough to have a visit to the Creation Mill where Emma showed us around and some purchases of local yarn was made. We then had a delicious lunch at the Eskdake Hotel and then we were off to explore a few sites connected to the Armstrong’s.

Our first site was Mangerton Tower , the seat of the chiefs of the Armstrong Clan and then we had a fantastic guided tour of Gilnockie Tower. As always we received a friendly welcome from Ian and the team at Gilnockie Tower and Jeff and Laurie thoroughly enjoyed their tour.

A great day with a lovely couple and we look forward to more exploring tomorrow.

Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here Gilnockie Tower - Historic Home of Clan Armstrong Eskdale Hotel Creation Mill CIC, Langholm

Another lovely review outlining the type of high quality ancestral tours that we provide!
25/06/2025

Another lovely review outlining the type of high quality ancestral tours that we provide!

Solway Tours: Best Trip Ever - See 141 traveller reviews, 221 candid photos, and great deals for Dumfries, UK, at Tripadvisor.

Address

18 Barnhill Place
Dumfries
DG29HP

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 11pm
Tuesday 7am - 11pm
Wednesday 7am - 11pm
Thursday 7am - 11pm
Friday 7am - 11pm
Saturday 7am - 11pm
Sunday 7am - 11pm

Telephone

+447789794142

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