The quiet village of New Abbey is dominated by the peak of Criffel, which at 570 metres, offers excellent walking and superb views over south western Scotland and the Lake District. The history of the village is represented in Sweetheart Abbey, a Cistercian abbey dating from 1273. A watermill makes an attractive backdrop for the village which has a shop, a coffee shop and two hotels. The River Nith runs nearby and offers excellent fishing. Dumfries lies 8 miles to the north. A market town and former royal burgh, Dumfries, nicknamed Queen of the South, dates from Roman times and is split into two by the River Nith running into the Solway Firth. With its many restaurants, bars, cafes and museums, as well as walking, biking and fishing in the nearby Galloway Hills and forests, there is something for everyone in this beautiful area of south west Scotland.
