Our Communities

The Council area is bounded by the beautiful Solway Firth coastline to the south and small, but rugged, forested hills to the north.

The A710 main road from Dumfries to Dalbeattie traverses the area.

Much of Colvend & Southwick Community falls within the East Stewartry Coast National Scenic Area, and the Nith Estuary and Fleet Valley National Scenic Areas are not far away.

The principal centres within the community are:

Barnbarroch

Where the road from Kippford joins the A710 lies the hamlet of Barnbarroch. Barnbarroch just consists of a few houses but here you will find Barnbarroch Pottery…

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Caulkerbush (Southwick)

Southwick is the name of the parish and where the B793 from Dalbeattie meets the A710 is the hamlet of Caulkerbush thus the road sign…

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COLVEND

Colvend is the centre of the Community area. It has a Church, a shop, a cafe, a school and a Public Hall, Parish Hall and a tourist information centre.

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KIPPFORD

Kippford is attractively positioned on the eastern bank of the River Urr, near where it runs into the Solway Firth, and has extensive views across the river towards the…

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MAINSRIDDLE

Mainsriddle is five and a half miles east of Colvend on the main road to Dumfries. It is little more than an attractive row of houses but once had two churches and a police…

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PORTLING

The hamlet of Portling overlooks the Solway and incorporates a stony beach at Port O’ Warren. The local coastguard base is in Portling.

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ROCKCLIFFE

The village is at the head of a sheltered bay on the shores of The Solway Firth. The village has an attractive sandy beach, interspersed by rocky outcrops and is a popular…

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SANDYHILLS

Sandyhills has a large sandy beach which gently slopes so the water is always shallow. It is a great favourite with families. The Sandyhills Bay Caravan park has a shop open…

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