St John's Town of Dalry is a very pretty town, built on the side of a hill overlooking the river Ken, on the edge of the beautiful Galloway Forest Park.

The town itself was once the ancient capital of the Glenkens, and is steeped in history.

Most of what you see today dates back to the development of a village planned by the Earl of Galloway in the 1700's When the new development was laid over the existing settlement the result was wide attractive streets of largely white harled cottages.

From the time the Knights Templar owned the land and pilgrims made it their resting place on the way to St Ninians, to today when, as part of the Southern Upland route, walkers stop to enjoy its amenities, Dalry has played an important role for the traveller. For its resident population, including those travellers who stayed, it has a lot to offer.

The population is now about 400 who, partly due to its history, are very well provided for. The famous free Grammar School was established in 1668 with a legacy of £2,500 and Dalry currently supports a primary and secondary school both of which enjoy a good reputation. Further amenities include: a parish church; 2 grocery stores; post office; bank; library; 2 hotels; town hall; community centre; garage; bowling green and a garden centre. In addition there are also a number of small businesses in the area.

Employment opportunities within the area include Tourism, Forestry, Farming and several other businesses including the design of Wind Farms and alternative sources of energy supply.