Dumfries

Declared a Royal Burgh in the Middle Ages, Dumfries was a major trading center because of its closeness to both the English border and the sea. Downtown still has historical relevance, and you'll find a huge number of independent shops here as well as a traditional market that takes place every week. Halfway down the High Street, your attention is drawn by an unusual building with a tower in the middle. This is neither a church or a town hall, but is known as Midsteeple.

But there is something missing that you'd expect to find in any Scottish Royal Burgh, and that's the market cross. It seems that there was one once, but it was destroyed after being badly damaged and the Midsteeple was constructed in its place.