THIS weekend (May 28 to 30) sees the annual Spring Fling visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway. Accompanying the open studios is Rural Mural, for which local, national and – for the first time – international artists will be collaborating. It is an ideal chance to explore this often forgotten South West region, with its beaches, historic sites and picturesque towns. Homes, when they come onto the market, offer exceptional value for money and a desirable lifestyle.

Kirkcudbright

Renovated and improved by its present owners in 2012, Number 52 High Street is a handsome Georgian townhouse occupying a prominent position within a historic conservation area in the picturesque harbour town of Kirkcudbright, also known as Scotland’s Artists Town – which is particularly apt given this property’s fascinating links with the past. Originally an inn, and frequented by the poet Robert Burns (there is a signed verse on the wall of a room named in his honour), the property later became the home of artist William Robson. The house is set in landscaped gardens that include fruit and vegetable beds and a rotating Edwardian summerhouse. The three-storey home includes a utility and cloakroom, fitted dining kitchen (with an Aga) and three reception rooms. There are five double bedrooms (master with en-suite dressing room and shower) and two bathrooms.

The home carefully merges contemporary and period features throughout and is for sale with CKD Galbraith’s Castle Douglas office at a guide price of £540,000.

Dumfries

The Herald:

A BUDGET of around £400,000 in sought after city suburbs these days only buys a fairly modest family home – but in a prestigious area of Dumfries it could stretch to Westwood, a red sandstone Arts and Crafts mansion dating from 1914 with crow-stepped gables, turret, outbuildings, manicured gardens and well preserved interior features.

As well as six bedrooms, it has a grand 23ft entrance hall, a drawing room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace, a bay-windowed dining room with statement fireplace, a spacious open-plan kitchen/breakfast room and cloakroom within the turret. Offers over £395,000 are invited by Savills’ Glasgow office.

Kirkcudbright

The Herald:

THE Byre is a pretty country cottage situated on Cannee Hill on the outskirts of Kirkcudbright overlooking the Dee Estuary that has been carefully converted to complement its neighbour, a traditional former cider tower.

Beautifully presented with wood flooring throughout, the cottage layout comprises hall, large living room partially open-plan to a spacious kitchen. Completing the ground floor is a double bedroom with full-height windows to make the most of the views, and an adjoining bathroom.

A sizeable mezzanine level – currently the master bedroom – is a flexible additional space with built-in storage and two Velux windows. Outside, the cottage has a patio with plant borders and off-road parking. Only a mile from the town’s harbour and a variety of sporting and leisure attractions, The Byre could be an idyllic retreat or holiday let – for sale at a guide price of £160,000 with local solicitor/estate agent Williamson & Henry.