1-Bedroom Hot Tub Cottage in St Anns

Caerlaverock is a moated castle on the southern coast of Scotland, about seven miles south of Dumfries. Its triangular shape is unique among British castles, and it has a wide moat, a twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements. First built in the 13th century, it was the stronghold of the Maxwell family and was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Tip: Head up to the South range for the best views over the moat, then follow the short nature trail to the older castle's foundations.

Annandale Distillery in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, makes single malt Scotch whisky and describes itself as Scotland's only single cask single malt distillery. Every cask is bottled on its own, never vatted. The distillery was founded in 1836, closed in 1924 and was restored after 2007, and it now sits beside a visitor centre.

Tip: Finish your visit with a stop at the Maltings Coffee Shop.

Carlisle Castle guarded the western end of the Anglo-Scottish border for hundreds of years and survived seven sieges by the Scots between 1174 and 1461. It was later adapted for artillery, and in 1568 it held Mary Queen of Scots prisoner. It stayed in military use well into the 20th century.

Tip: Booking advance tickets online saves 15%, and arriving by bus, train or bike gets you 20% off entry at the site on the day.

Sweetheart Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1273 in the village of New Abbey, about 8 miles south of Dumfries. Dervorguilla of Galloway founded it in memory of her husband, John de Balliol. She kept his embalmed heart in an ivory and silver casket for the rest of her life, and it was buried alongside her. She named the abbey Dulce Cor, Latin for Sweet Heart.

Drumlanrig Castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, set on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. Built between 1679 and 1689 from distinctive pink sandstone, the "Pink Palace" overlooks the Nith Valley and has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers. Inside is part of the Buccleuch art collection, including Rembrandt's An Old Woman Reading, along with tapestries and other objects of art.

Hermitage Castle is a semi-ruined stronghold in the remote valley of the Hermitage Water, in Scotland's wild border country. It was targeted for 400 years because of its role in controlling the Scottish Middle March, and it has a name as one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland.

Tip: In the summer season (1 April to 31 October) it is covered by the Historic Environment Scotland Explorer Pass, but not in winter, so check before you go.

Threave Castle stands on an island in the River Dee, about 2.5 kilometres west of Castle Douglas. Archibald the Grim built it in the 1370s, and it was a stronghold of the Black Douglases, Earls of Douglas and Lords of Galloway, until their fall in 1455.

Traquair House, near Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders, is claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland. Built in the style of a fortified mansion, it has 50 rooms, including the King's Room where Mary, Queen of Scots stayed in 1566, a Museum Room with a 1530 mural, and an 18th-century library. A Roman Catholic chapel was added in 1829.

Tip: Follow the brown signs from Innerleithen to the main entrance gate, as some sat navs direct you to the exit gate.