The best museums Southwest

Moat Brae is the birthplace of Peter Pan... We'd like to write that all is said and done! Opened in 2019, it is the national centre for children's literature and children's stories: a place where imagination is the queen of virtues, where creativity and play are at the heart of everything. The place celebrates Peter Pan and his creator, J.M. Barrie. You will explore Neverland's garden with its pirate ship and Mermaid Lagoon, see the Tinkerbell fairy who inspired the fairy tale. Animations and exhibitions are regularly organised.

Kirkcudbright Galleries opened in 2018 in the fully renovated former town hall. This brand new Scottish art gallery celebrates Scotland's heritage particularly through the prism of Kirkcudbright, a town - and beyond that, a region - that has inspired many artists and creators. The temporary exhibitions focus on national and international art movements, and all are recognized for their quality. The site also hosts participatory cultural and artistic workshops and lectures.

As its name suggests, this small museum specializes in aviation. It is located on the former Royal Air Force base: RAF Dumfries. In addition to the control tower which exhibits uniforms and objects related to the air force, several real models of planes and engines from different periods can be seen. It has in its collections some impressive aircraft specimens, but also airmen's uniforms from the two world wars and various objects that will make their effect.

Opened in the summer of 2015, it is the museum of a whole region, in the Clyde Valley. Its diverse collections explore 14,000 years of history in rural areas and small villages in the surrounding area, from prehistory to the mid-20th century. The first men of Scotland, the Neolithic farmers, the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Romans, the Middle Ages, the Victorian era, the World Wars are covered here, through period objects and reconstructions.

In operation from 1839 to 1973 - among the first to open and the last to close - this coal gas plant in Scotland is presented in this attraction that looks back at Biggar's industrial past. Unchanged since its closure, we discover a capital activity of the Victorian era, to light the streets and dwellings. The shovels and wheelbarrows have not moved, and you can also see the machines, some of which are in operation, learning about production techniques and breathing in that particular smell that you no longer know.

A few kilometres after Newbridge, you will find Ellislan Farm where Robert Burns lived. A small museum consists of original poems (one of them was written on a window with the kitten of his ring). Burns, then farmer, was respected by other farmers for his scientific methods and his sense of trade.

The Dumfries Museum tells the story of Dumfries & Galloway from prehistoric times to not so long ago! Fossils, utensils from the early inhabitants, stones carved by Christians, life on a Victorian farm: the visit is a journey into the area's past. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. On the top floor of the museum you will have access to the Camera Obscura (fee: £3.40/adult, £1.70/child), an optical instrument that offers a panoramic view of the town and surrounding countryside.

The Dick Institute's exhibition program is very diverse. The main gallery hosts travelling exhibitions provided by national institutions, as well as regular shows. The other galleries are semi-permanent and showcase East Ayrshire's social and natural heritage. In 2023, the museum celebrates the 10th anniversary of the spring exhibition. On this occasion, it will showcase the work of regional artists, allowing visitors to get a glimpse of contemporary practices through the finest works.

This place is a must for those who are interested in the country's heritage or for budding genealogists. It has many resources on the history of the region, with newspapers, maps, photographs, books, official and unofficial archives. If you need to do genealogical research, you've come to the right place. At its heart is the statue of Robert Burns, the centerpiece of the original monument erected in 1879. It is the only place in Scotland to have archives dating back over 500 years. For £15, you can even do genealogical research.

Sanquhar is known worldwide for its knitting and the traditions that go with it. That's what you will discover in this museum, and much more. Dedicated to the local life of Upper Nithsdale in the 18th century, it describes the traditions and history of the town. You will be immersed in the life of the miners of the past, when they worked in the surrounding mines. You will also see that it was not enviable to be a prisoner in the city jail