Auchencairn is a traditional Scottish village consisting mainly of stone houses dating from the early 17th century. It is located on the heritage coastline of the Solway Estuary, an area of unspoiled hills, cliffs, islands, bays and beaches known locally as the Scottish Riviera.
Click highlighted area for Dumfries and Galloway map
Often overlooked by visitors to Scotland in favour of the Highlands and Islands, the area has been described as 'Scotland in miniature' and has a great deal to offer walkers, cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts or those who just want to relax on a beach.
Auchencairn enjoys a particularly mild climate due to its coastal position and there is a lively and welcoming community that takes pride in the appearance and history of the village. Several craft and specialist businesses operate successfully here although it is predominantly a farming community.
First mentioned by name in 1305, as part of the lands of Dundrennan Abbey there is evidence that the area has been occupied for many millennia. A detailed account of the History of The Village has been included on this website. The village attained notoriety for the scale of smuggling in the days of Robert Burns, but is now more law abiding and offers a wide range of excellent accommodation and facilities for visitors together with a very warm welcome.
We'd love you to sign our guestbook and let us know what you thought of our village, website or Scotland in general.
Following the Community Council meeting held in the Murray Hall on Tuesday 7th February 2012, the Community Council has now prepared its response to the proposals outlined in the Dumfries & Galloway Council's Local Developement Plan.
Hestan Island is a prominent feature that impacts on the landscape over a wide area, yet little is known about it. Here is a link to a newly discovered website that has a great deal of information about "our" island - www.hestan.co.uk
Auchencairn receives many visitors during the Summer, many of whom are children. Here is a list and description of the beaches within the general area of Auchencairn that should prove very popular with our young visitors.
There are several walks in the Auchencairn area that are not documented or are not readily available in book form.
Here you will find a collection of such walks that are all within a close proximity of Auchencairn and of an easy to moderate nature that can be enjoyed by anyone of a reasonable fitness. They can be downloaded, printed, and taken with you as a guide to some wonderful scenery that remains undiscovered for many walkers. Please note: new walks will be added as and when they have been written up.
"Cask ale or cask-conditioned beer is the term for unfiltered and unpasteurised beer which is conditioned (including secondary fermentation) and served from a cask without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. Cask ale may also be referred to as real ale, a term coined by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)."
Derek has already been presenting some pleasent alternatives to the usual "keg" beers and lagers (Fraoch and Innis & Gunn)and is now pleased to be able to serve hand-pulled cask ale to the discerning drinker.There are 2 taps, one selling Belhaven brews and the other changing regularly from a range of Scottish, English and Welsh breweries.
More info. together with all the services provided at Auchencairn's "local" can be found at www.solwaysmugglers.co.uk
Actually, it's every alternate Monday that The Old Smugglers Inn hosts a general knowledge quiz. The next quiz is on Monday 28th May starting at 9pm. Teams of 4 and entry @ £1 per person. Come along and join in!
Auchencairn History Society website is now online - you can visit it here
The History Society now has its own website that will provide a direct link to its extensive archive of material relating the Auchencairn and the surrounding area.
The fortnightly informal get together will now be held in The Old Smugglers Inn, between 10.30 and 11.30 am. Why not come along and have a blether with old and perhaps some new friends. There are no meetings, no memberships and no commitments, Just come when you like. The pub is donating £1 per person attending to the Community Car Scheme - a very well appreciated gesture.
The Auchencairn Initiative webcam is live. The new camera features better resolution and the ability for the viewer to move the camera to view 180 degrees from Torr Point to Maryport via Hestan Island
Users can also select their language from a choice of English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese!
Another benefit of the new camera is that it works with any web browser (not just Internet Explorer) and even mobile phones!
Dear Visitor
If you would like to make a donation to any of the charitable projects undertaken by the Auchencairn Initiative, please click the button below. Thank you.
Auchencairn is a traditional Scottish village consisting mainly of stone houses dating from the early 17th century. It is located on the heritage coastline of the Solway Estuary, an area of unspoiled hills, cliffs, islands, bays and beaches known locally as the Scottish Riviera.
