Drumlanrig in the Queensberry Estate is situated astride the valley of the River Nith, its focal point being Drumlanrig Castle. Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, King Robert Bruce's right hand man, was the founder of what later grew into the Queensberry Estate as it is today.

The present Castle was built of local sandstone from 1679 - 1691 on the site of an old Douglas stronghold. It is built round an open courtyard with a circular staircase tower in each corner. Drumlanrig is one of the first and most important Renaissance buildings in the grand manner in Scottish domestic architecture.

120 000 acres of the Queensberry Estate surround Drumlanrig Castle - "the Douglas properties". Most of the Estate is tenanted farms. Many of these are hill farms producing lambs and beef cattle. The 3000 acres of in hand farms concentrate mainly on dairy farming althought there are some sheep, beef cattle and arable crops, including potatoes. The high rainfall in this area favours livestock and milk rather than cereals.

The high rainfall also benefits tree growth. Soils and conditions make for the production of good quality softwood timber from conifers, which probably grow faster here than anywhere else in Europe. There are 10 000 acres of forestry of a mixed range of age and species.

The game department provides income through shooting, stalking and fishing.

The Castle and Grounds are open each year from May - August. During this period somewhere in the region of 35 000 visitors make their way to Drumlanrig. The gardens are especially noteworthy and much restoration of plans of 1747 and later is taking place. An adventure woodland play area is descreetly placed in adjacent woodland.