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The peaceful Scots village with ‘cosy pub’ named among ‘most welcoming’ in world

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5 months ago

June 26, 2024

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The peaceful Scots village with ‘cosy pub’ named among ‘most welcoming’ in world

June is almost over, and the peak of summer is just around the corner.

If you haven’t already, take that as a sign to get out for a Scottish day trip or staycation before the season comes and goes. If you have no idea where to head, perhaps the Daily Record’s latest Village of the Week might inspire you.

After a few weeks covering some of Scotland’s most picturesque seaside destinations, this time we are journeying to the peaceful village of Drymen in Stirling. Sitting amidst the idyllic hills at the western end of the Campsie Fells, the village overlooks the Endrick Water as it approaches Loch Lomond.

Given its picturesque location, the scenery is unsurprisingly the star of the show in Drymen. Surrounded by peaceful walks and breathtaking beauty spots, it makes for the perfect quiet getaway destination.

The village is also known for its friendly locals, and was even named among the “most welcoming” UK destinations earlier this year. Drymen placed at number seven on a list of the friendliest locations across the nation by holiday specialists Booking.com, and the third highest in Scotland behind Auchterarder in Perthshire and Anstruther in Fife.

As if that wasn’t enough, Drymen is also home to a cosy little inn that has earned rave reviews from visitors. The Clachan Inn has been praised for its “welcoming” service and “fabulous food”.

Read on for a selection of photographs that reveal more information about Drymen. Meanwhile, you can find some of the Daily Record’s previous towns and villages of the week here:

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Drymen is centred around a picturesque village green, which is the perfect first stop when arriving. There are also a range of independent shops dotted around, selling everything from baked goodies to clothes and crafts.

(Image: Drymen by Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Easily among the most interesting and historic buildings in Drymen is its church, which is a Category B building of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. It stands on a site that has been a centre of Christian worship for many hundreds of years — possibly going all the way back to the 11th century — and it is well worth venturing inside to see its beautiful three-light stained glass window.

(Image: alanfin / Getty Images)

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As mentioned, there is no shortage of stunning walks and unique beauty spots near Drymen. Definitely among the most spectacular is the ruined Buchanan Castle, which dates back to 1852 and remains the seat of the Clan Graham to this day. While it is not safe to go inside, the exterior is absolutely gorgeous — having an almost haunting atmosphere thanks to the overgrown plants covering the walls.

(Image: prill / Getty Images)

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Slightly further out of Drymen, but without a doubt worth the one-hour hike, is the spooky Devil’s Pulpit — a strange rock formation at the bottom of Finnich Glen. According to legend, the devil himself would materialise near the rock and speak to his servants as the blood-red water of the river rushed past his feet.

(Image: Empato / Getty Images)

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To cap off your day in Drymen, there is nowhere better to head for a well-earned meal than the Clachan Inn. The pub and restaurant, located at the Village Square, serves up locally sourced food and a huge range of Scottish whiskies, gins, and beers. On Tripadvisor, where the inn has an average rating of 4.5 out of five based on 1,148 reviews, recent customers have praised it as “wonderful” and “cosy” — singling out the “lovely log fire”.

(Image: Colin Garvie/Reach)