Escape to the Galloway countryside and make yourself at home in this cosy cottage on a working farm. Sleeping six across three bedrooms, this pet-friendly retreat has plenty of room to spend time together or spread out into the conservatory or enclosed garden. When you’re ready to explore, Dalbeattie’s mountain biking trails are just 2 miles away, and woods and castle ruins to discover on your doorstep.
Pull up at the end of the winding farm lane and make yourselves at home over tea in the conservatory, with countryside views to admire while everyone settles in. Share the cooking in the kitchen/diner, then gather around the table for a buffet and a good blether. Afterwards, film fans can get comfortable in the lounge beside the wood burner-effect electric heater, while anyone after a quiet read has the conservatory to retreat to. Upstairs, children can make the full-size bunk room their own while the rest of your party choose between the double and twin bedrooms. A tumble dryer in the building shared with the owner helps get damp walking clothes ready for tomorrow, and the freezer provides extra space for those family-sized food shops. On sunny evenings, take the cooking outside: there’s a BBQ for supper on the furnished patio, with fields beyond the garden’s seasonal borders.
Bring your bikes with you to Dalbeattie Forest (2 miles) for the 7stanes trails, or take things on a gentler route with a woodland walk and picnic. History enthusiasts can follow the Jubilee Path between Kippford (5.5 miles) and Rockcliffe (8 miles), passing ancient hill forts along the way. Sandyhills Beach (6.5 miles) invites an afternoon on the sand, although its dramatic tidal changes call for checking tide times. Stop for food and a browse at either Dalbeattie town or the foodie favourite of Castle Douglas (8 miles).