Southern Scotland

The half of Scotland most visitors drive straight through, which is the reason to stop. The Borders have abbey ruins, Walter Scott's Abbotsford and mill towns on the Tweed; Ayrshire is Robert Burns country with links golf along the coast; and Dumfries & Galloway has forests, the Galloway Dark Sky Park and a coastline that faces Ireland.

Best time: May–Sep; Oct–Feb for dark skies

• The Border abbeys — Melrose, Jedburgh, Dryburgh, Kelso
• Abbotsford, Walter Scott's home
• Robert Burns country and the Burns Birthplace Museum
• Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park
• Links golf at Turnberry and Royal Troon