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Bringing Brave to life

heading over by boat to the 14th century tower house, Threave Castle

Threave Castle

two walkers spotting red kites at the Bennan Viewpoint on the Galloway Red Kite Trail

Bennan Viewpoint on the Galloway Red Kite Trail

looking across the reflections on Loch Trool, Galloway Forest Park

Loch Trool, Galloway Forest Park

A scene from Brave by Disney•Pixar

Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife proved so inspirational to the creators of Disney•Pixar’s Brave. Explore Dumfries & Galloway and discover historic castles, forest parks, 200 miles of coastline and wildlife just like in the movie.

Dumfries & Galloway is well worth exploring for its historic castles, forest parks, 200 miles of coastline and perfect habitat, where an abundance of fascinating wildlife flourishes.

Scotland’s rich history of clan identity plays its part, and Dumfries & Galloway is the historic home of Clan Douglas. The Threave Castle fortress is a former stronghold of the Black Douglases, while Drumlanrig Castle was built by William Douglas, first Duke of Queensberry, in the 17th century.

This rich history is also evident at abbeys such as Dundrennan and Glenluce, which each have ties to Mary Queen of Scots, and along the Robert the Bruce Trail, which includes fascinating sites from Whithorn and Lochmaben, to Dumfries itself.

You can also see several stone circles, such as the Twelve Apostles, believed to be one of the largest stone circles on mainland Britain, and the Cairn Holy Chambered Cairns, which form part of the Solway Coast Heritage Trail.

The region is home to Galloway Forest Park, the largest of its kind in Britain and the UK's first Dark Sky Park, where visitors will discover a rich variety of wildlife.

One of the most beautiful birds of prey, once almost extinct in Scotland, can be spotted here along the Galloway Red Kite Trail and look out for the wild goat park and majestic stags in the red deer range.

Further afield, spot guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes at the Mull of Galloway RSPB nature reserve, and pied flycatchers at Wood of Cree, the largest ancient woodland in the south of Scotland. Look out for the hides and observation towers at WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre and the migrating geese and ospreys at Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve.

Visit the dedicated Brave site for more information.