Dumfries and Galloway Created in 1975 following the merging of the counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire.

Covering an area of 2,510 square miles and with a population of 150,000 its administrative centre is the town of Dumfries.

The main products from the county are horses and cattle (for which Galloway is particularly famed), sheep and timber.

The physical features of the region include Solway Firth, the Galloway Hills, Glen Trool National Forest Park and Ruthwell Cross, a runic cross dated from about AD 800 at the village of Ruthwell. The southern coastline on the Solway Firth, is known as the Scottish Riviera because of its mild climate.

The port of Stranraer provides the shortest sea route between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.

The most famous son of this region is Robert Burns, the national poet.