A large number of artists and craft makers live and work in Dumfries & Galloway from painters and potters to jewellery designers, ceramicists, basket makers, weavers, spinners, photographers, furniture makers, glass artists and much, much more.

At the annual Spring Fling event at the end of May / beginning of June, over 80 artists around the region open their studios and workshops to the public, providing visitors with an opportunity to watch craft makers and artists at work – as well as the chance to purchase a unique piece of art work.

The picturesque town of Kirkcudbright, known as the ‘artists’ town’ from when a colony of artists including E A Hornel, Charles Oppenheimer, Jessie M King and her husband E A Taylor were first attracted to the area, hosts a four day art and crafts trail in the summer. Many private studios are open to the public. The town of Dalbeattie is following suit with its own art and craft trail organised by Dalbutha artists’ co-operative.

Outwith these times, many of these craft maker and artists welcome visitors to their studios, workshops and galleries.

At Galloway Holidays we use our knowledge of these places and others to design a holiday to suit your arts and crafts interests or combine with other activities during your break.

 

Itineraries

(Outline info only)

Arts and Crafts Trail - 2 days self-guided tour - Ref. AC1

- Cost - from £125 p.p.

Includes - 2 nights 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); welcome meeting with tour info pack provided; and advice contact no.

Itinerary

The route we provide allows you to take your own car and visit some of the jewels in the crown of Dumfries and Galloway's arts and crafts scene. Kirkcudbright artsists' town, Wigtown 'book town' and the Catstrand arts and craft centre are just some of the places we point you to. Flexibility is built into your break.

As well as art galleries, the region has numerous artists with studios working in various disciplines e.g. paintings, ceramics, print making, furniture, jewellery, textiles and others.

   Plan your visit to co-incide with the region's Spring Fling weekend open studios event in May or at Kirkcudbright's Arts and Crafts Trail at the end of July. also having a similar event at the end of July. 

 Accommodation not provided after the tour today but can be arranged at extra cost.

 

Spring Fling Arts and Crafts Weekend - 2 days Guided tour - Ref. SF1

- Cost - £195 p.p.(£175 for Friends of Spring Fling members).

Includes - 2 nights 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); lunch on Saturday; welcome meeting on Friday evening.

Itinerary

The long weekend break is designed to visitors to take advantage of the popular annual Spring Fling Open Studios event taking place over the weekend of 2nd / 3rd June 2012.

You arrive on Friday at your arranged accommodation in and around Castle Douglas 'food town'. We meet you and provide a pre-tour briefing with Spring Fling info and other local info about Dumfries and Galloway.  

We will have already ascertained the particular art and crafts interests of those on the tour and designed the tour route as far as possible accordingly.

On the Saturday morning we pick you up at your accommodation where possible and using our local knowledge of the most scenic routes continue with the tour of Spring Fling studios with stops accordingly throughout the day. Lunch is provided.  

On the Sunday, we make leisurely start and take a route to visit some studios on the way to 'The Scottish Riviera', a National Scenic Area by the Solway Coast.

We have a 7 miles guided walk on easy terrain along tracks, roads and paths planned at 1pm which visits three studios in the area and 4 villages. You can join this walk or continue on the tour of studios in this area.

For flexibility reasons, we do not provide lunch today due to the 1pm walk start. We know lunch and tea room stop options so with consultation with those on the group on Saturday, we will work out the best options to suit the group.

After the walk, we take you to a scenic route back to Castle Douglas or your accommodation.  

We can arrange an extra night's B&B stay at £40 p.p. or indeed extend your break for another day or two during the Event, to be tailor made as far as possible with those involved. 

Please contact us as soon as possible if you would like to go on this tour as accommodation in the area will be at a premium.

 

Arts and Crafts Trail - 2 days Guided tour - Ref. AC2

- Cost - from £195 p.p.

Includes - 2 nights 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); lunch each day; welcome meeting with tour info pack provided.

Itinerary

From your accommodation we travel beside Loch Ken to visit some photgraphy galleries and the Catstrand, one of the leading arts venues in South West Scotland with an unusual coffee stop option in Scotland's smallest Royal Burgh.

In the afternoon we arrive in Kirkcudbright, themed as an artists town, with several art galleries and studios to explore at your leisure. We have a private visit to a studio with artist. On return to Castle Douglas, a visit to Sulwath brewery or nearby tea room ends your day.

The next day we head along the Solway Coast to 'The Scottish Riviera' and National Scenic Area where we again visit some galleries and a visit to a pottery studio. After lunch in New Abbey beside Sweetheart Abbey and visit option to a costume museum, we continue to Dumfries and Gracefield Art Centre with a flexible option to end the day and tour.

 

Arts and Crafts Trail - 2 days Tailor Made Guided Tour - Ref. AC3

- Cost - from £225 p.p.

Includes - 2 nights 4 star B&B (assuming 2 sharing a double / twin room); lunch each day; welcome meeting with tour info pack provided.

Itinerary

From the wealth of arts and crafts venues in Dumfries and Galloway, we are able to research and design a guided tour to suit your specific interests.

There are well over 100 galleries and studios in the region covering many artistic disciplines. Just let us know what you are most interested in and with consultation if necessary, we will provide a 2-day or longer itinerary for your consideration which can be part or fully guided.

You may wish to coincide your visit with annual Spring Fling event at the end of May or Kirkcudbright Arts and Crafts Trail weekend at the end of July.

Just contact us to discuss this tour.