In his nomination, our expert Dixe Wills described Dumfries and Galloway as “an overlooked corner whose time has come”. And how right he was.
Readers voted resoundingly for Dumfries and Galloway as winner of Holiday Destination of the Year due to its plentiful charms – tranquil forests, astonishing wildlife, wonderful beaches, lochs and streams, plus the UK’s original Dark Sky Park.
It’s not utterly isolated from human enterprise either – Kirkcudbright pulses with artistic life, Castle Douglas brims with foodie delights and Wigtown rivals Hay on Wye as a book-lover’s haven. Not to mention musical Moniave, aka Britain’s coolest village.
Dixe says of the result: “Congratulations, Dumfries and Galloway. I’m sure the good people of D&G will enjoy sharing its many delights with the lucky visitors who discover the region for the first time this year.”
Visit: www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/dumfries-galloway/
Runner up: Snowdonia
Photo: iStock
Vast mountains and action-packed offerings, from canoeing and kayaking to zip-lining (Europe’s longest) and now inland surfing, see Snowdonia in solid second place.
The national park covers 823 square miles (2,130km) and attracts over six million visitors annually, drawn to its craggy beauty, coastal charms and quirky historic sites, such as the Italianate village of Portmeirion.
Visit: www.visitsnowdonia.info/