I firstly have to apologise for the radio silence this past week. I’ve tried to take a step away from social media and blogging while dealing with a family issue, so I’ve not been getting out much either, so here’s something a bit different.
I have, over the past few years, spent a lot of time in Dumfries. The hubby was placed there for work three years ago and I moved down and tried to see what foodie fun was available in the wider area. As it turns out, there was a lot more on offer than I was expecting, so here’s my low-down on some of the best foodie things to do in Dumfries!
STOCK UP AT KILNFORD FARM SHOP
Kilnford is, by far, my favourite thing about Dumfries. This farm shop raises their own sheep, cattle and pigs, and their butcher counter is filled with beautiful cuts of meat and is very reasonably priced. They do great deals on their food, with three for £10 on items like lamb rack, burgers, sausages, marinated chicken, mince and more. Every time I’ve bought something from them it’s been delicious! Outside of butchery, they have an incredible larder, from local eggs and vegetables to spices, oils, wines – all the lovely stuff you expect to find in a farm shop. They also have a restaurant attached to the shop which does an incredible breakfast. It is definitely worth a visit!
EAT OUT AT HOME
That sounds weird, doesn’t it? It’s because the restaurant itself is called ‘Home’ and serves up the finest dishes in Dumfries. It’s tiny, and you need to book way in advance to get in, but the restaurant is managed and run by an incredible chef and his wife. Their menu is quite varied and there is something to suit everyone on it, but you really want to look at their specials board, which uses the finest local produce to create stunning dishes. It’s by far the finest eating establishment in the area and the staff are so incredibly warm and friendly, it really is like being at home.
TASTE HISTORY AT ANNANDALE DISTILLERY
This small distillery re-opened in 2014 after a MAJOR refurbishment, and I mean major. After almost 100 years of sitting empty, the distillery has been reborn and just last week they bottled their first single malt whisky at the distillery in 99 years! You can do a tour of the distillery for just £8, where you get to taste their new make malt spirit – at 60% proof it is not for the faint hearted – and there is a lovely, warming, dog friendly coffee shop where you can crab a coffee and a cake afterwards.
SHOP LOCAL AT THE FARMERS MARKET
On the first Sunday of every month, there is a small farmer’s market held in the car park of Tarff Town and Country. It’s a pretty small market, with around 15-20 stalls, but each one of them is filled with local produce that is unique and delicious. Grab yourself some smoked brie, locally made cider and liqueurs, or, if you have a sweet tooth like me, buy yourself some cake pops from the lovely Jade at Treats, Darling? Flavours change regularly but have included delights like red velvet, prosecco, biscoff and bounty!
GO FORAGING IN THE WILDERNESS
This is something I would really have loved to do but never got around to it. Mark Williams of Galloway Wild Foods runs a number of foraging events throughout the year across Dumfries and Galloway and they make a great day out. For between £35-55 you get a two- or three-hour foraging walk, with foraged treats throughout and a wilderness cooking experience where you get to cook the food that you’ve foraged! It’s a great way to see the area as well as learning skills that you can use wherever you live and eating food fresh from the source in the heart of the countryside.
I’m not sure living in Dumfries is for me, I much prefer the hustle and bustle of Glasgow, but it’s a great place to get away for a weekend. From eating out to stocking up your fridge, there is plenty to see and do in Dumfries for a foodie like me!
This is great information, especially about the farm shop. My husband and I are likely going to stay in that area next year when we travel back to Scotland. We’re foodies as well who love to cook (and eat at really nice places). One of our worries about some of the smaller towns was whether or not we would have access to quality vegetables, meats, etc. Are farmer’s markets prevalent in the Dumfries and Galloway region?
There are lots of farmer’s markets across the region, the Dumfries one is on the 1st Sunday of the month, but there are others in Moffat, Kircudbright and more I think. There’s also a great little shop in Dumfries called Parry Farm Produce which sells lovely fresh, seasonal veg!
That’s great to know. When we were in Fife a couple years ago, we shopped every few days at the Ardross Farm Shop. They had everything you could possibly need, farm-raised meats, seafood, locally grown vegetables, dry goods, even wine and gin. It was a fun place to go.