Where are the best places to buy a property in Dumfries?

Homeowners interested in the market town of Dumfries in the Scottish Lowlands County of Dumfries and Galloway will be pleased to hear that the town is officially one of the happiest places to live in Scotland. Indeed, the town even appeared at the top of the list in Rightmove’s comprehensive Happy at Home Index in recent years.

Locals will be unsurprised to hear this of course, since they already know that Dumfries has something for everyone, including plentiful woodland acres, beautiful countryside, charming seaside villages and sandy beaches on the doorstep.

Indeed, the stunning Galloway Forest Park and impressive 90,000-acre Drumlanrig Castle estate are both nearby and in the town itself Dumfries locals have Mill Green Park, Castledykes Park and the Riverside Dock Park and playground.

There are also great local amenities such as the Theatre Royal, Scotland’s oldest theatre still in operation, the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre, the Loreburne Shopping Centre and the DG1 Leisure Centre, plus various swimming, rowing, squash and horse-rising clubs to name but a few. The town’s residents, known as ‘Doonhamers’ are also a friendly bunch with plenty of social events on the calendar including the family-friendly Doonhame Music Festival, the Dumfries Market Festival and the Dumfries Agricultural Show.

For parents of school aged children and beyond, there are a number of highly rated primary schools locally and four secondary school options within the local catchment area, plus the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Dumfries & Galloway College and the University of Glasgow for further and higher education.

Dumfries is also only 30 minutes’ drive northwest of the English and Scottish border and offers great transport links via the M74 and M6 to the rest of the county, Scotland and the rest of the UK. Carlise is less than an hour’s drive and Glasgow and Kilmarnock less than an hour and a half each. Dumfries train station also offers regular connections to Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Ayr and Carlisle in 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 minutes and 40 minutes respectively and other destinations besides.

So, Dumfries might be ticking all of the boxes, but where are the best places to buy a property within the town?

According to Yopa, the south and west parts of the town are particularly sought after with homebuyers. If you are after a traditional period property complete with gables, turrets and red sandstone then the city centre is your best bet, particularly to the south near Pleasance Avenue. Central Castle Street is also popular and Edinburgh Road, Lovers Walk and Lockerbie Road provide a great selection of Victoria villas and semi-detached properties with traditional stone terrace homes on Brooms Road.

Suburban Kingholm Quay and Glencaple, which is around 7 miles south of Dumfries, offer a quieter setting on the River Nith with a mixture of traditional stone and more modern homes and are popular with families thanks to amenities like the Castledykes Park and Unity Skate Park. They are also an ideal spot for anyone studying or working at the nearby university.

The quiet village of Lochmaben which is 10 miles east of Dumfries also attracts families thanks to its easy transport access via the M74, great leisure facilities like a sailing club, tennis courts and golf course and a highly rated primary school.
For more contemporary homes, head to the suburbs on the edge of Dumfries like Lochside and Summerhill. Indeed, it is possible to snap up a large 4 bed detached property (modern or period) for less than £350,000. Making the town a tempting proposition indeed!

When it comes to property prices, homes in Dumfries had a very competitive average price of £139,004 over the last year. This is significantly more affordable than the Lowlands region at £182,118 and Dumfries and Galloway (£164,582) overall, especially pricey hotspots Kippford (£344,923) Moffat (£210,873) and Gatehouse of Fleet (£210,377).

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Industry Response to the Resignation of Angela Rayner

Lawrence Turner, Director of Boyer said: “Angela Rayner’s planning reforms rightly acknowledged the scale of the Housing Crisis and the urgent need for bold, decisive action. Her resignation must not become an excuse for delay. The new Secretary of State now bears the responsibility to continue to unlock delivery and work to win the support…
Read More
Breaking News

Halifax figures show third consecutive month of growth – Thoughts from the Industry

The latest Halifax House Price Index for August shows that: –   On a monthly basis, house prices increased by 0/3% in August. This was the third consecutive monthly increase seen. House prices were also up 2.2% on an annual basis although this annual rate of growth had cooled from the 2.5% seen in July.…
Read More
Breaking News

House prices continue to rise at a steady pace

• House prices increased by +0.3% in August, marking a third consecutive monthly rise • Average property price now £299,331, edging up to a new record high • Annual rate of growth eases slightly to +2.2% (down from +2.5% in July) • Average price paid by first-time buyers falls slightly as affordability improves • Northern…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

From offer to ownership: The risk of celebrating your mortgage too soon

Securing a mortgage is a major milestone, but celebrating too soon can lead to costly mistakes. Louise Ainley, a qualified conveyancer at licensed conveyancer course provider Access Law Online, explains the important steps to take after your mortgage is approved for new homeowners to avoid delays, protect their investment, and for a smooth transition to…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

New record rent across Great Britain as landlords brace for Renters’ Rights Bill and potential tax changes

The average advertised rent across Great Britain has risen to a new record in August of £1,577 per calendar month Average advertised rents are now 3% higher than at this time last year, in line with Rightmove’s prediction for the year, with constrained supply contributing to rising rents: The number of available homes to rent…
Read More
Software & Tech

Top Technical SEO Mistakes Dubai Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)

Dubai’s digital marketplace is one of the most competitive in the world. Businesses are investing heavily in design, ads, and content—but many overlook the foundation of online success: technical SEO. Without it, even the best marketing campaigns can fail to deliver results. That’s why forward-thinking companies turn to solutions like data-driven SEO Service in Dubai…
Read More