Pet Friendly Holidays Dumfries and Galloway

This spacious, detached cottage sits within 3 acres of gardens and is located 3 miles from the village of Portpatrick, with restaurants, shops and picturesque fishing harbour. Stranraer is also just a short drive away and is a bustling town with fantastic amenities. The Old Schoolhouse is an old, rural family home and has some quirks that add to the charm, and is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

This beautiful location offers a stunning coastline, sandy beaches, rocky coves and windswept cliffs. The area is a walker’s paradise with everything from gentle walks to challenging hikes on offer, amidst picturesque landscapes.

Wildlife is abundant here, with many unusual species including pine martens, golden eagles, ospreys, red deer, red squirrels and the natterjack toad all to be spotted. The RSPB Mull of Galloway Visitor Centre is home to thousands of nesting birds dotted along the cliffs and is well worth a visit.

Sea fishing from Portpatrick and both trout and salmon fishing can be enjoyed close by. Other country pursuits are available including shooting and horse riding, and golf is available with the Dunskey and Lagganmore courses both close by. Beach 4½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

River Cottage is a typical Galloway terraced cottage and stands across from the lovely River Bladnoch, with a children’s play area 110 yards away. It offers a cosy interior and a lovely enclosed garden with views over open farmland beyond. Whilst retaining the outward appearance of a Galloway cottage, the interior has been completely updated making it a comfortable holiday retreat. A lovely wood burning stove in the lounge is particularly attractive. The garden is a delight for both dogs and children being completely enclosed and there are facilities to wash bikes outside.
Set in a quiet location in a row of houses, the cottage is a short stroll from the country pub and restaurant, and within a few minutes’ drive of Wigtown, the Book Town, and close to Newton Stewart where there are many excellent shops and places to eat. With the Galloway Forest and Dark Skies Park close by, the cottage is ideally placed to explore the beauty of south west Scotland. Perfect for walkers, golfers and cyclists, with Glentrool, Kirroughtree and the 7Stanes mountain bike trails nearby, as well as a great choice of golf courses. There is an abundance of fishing, bird watching, beautiful and exotic gardens, many rocky coves, sandy beaches and quaint villages to explore along the Machars Peninsula.

Enjoying a wonderful setting with views over the picturesque town, harbour and out to sea, this spacious detached house offers an ideal holiday base from which to explore the surrounding area. Enjoy the challenging uplands of the Galloway Hills, or gentle seaside trails, rolling moors and dramatic cliff-top walks. The Southern Upland Way passing close by is ideal for enjoying the many and varied shorter walks. The dramatic scenery is home to a rich company of flora and fauna, with many unusual species including pine martens, golden eagle, ospreys, red deer, red squirrels and the natterjack toad. The area has many renowned gardens to visit including the Botanic Gardens in Port Logan. Wigtown, Scotland’s official book town, is also home to a charming gallery and excellent cafés, and is located only a few miles from Bladnoch Distillery, where visitors can sample the local malt whisky. For fishermen, the area offers a wide variety of opportunities including sea fishing from Portpatrick and trout and salmon fishing are close by. Other country pursuits include shooting and riding. Golf courses within a 20 minute drive at Stranraer, Portpatrick and Lagganmore. Turnberry, with its world famous course is only 45 minutes away and offers a spa, off road driving, quad biking and restaurant. For the more active, there are numerous cycle routes set out in stunning forestry commission surroundings and cycle hire is available at these centres. Sailing is available via the local marina, and slightly further afield there is the Galloway Sailing Centre where visitors can try windsurfing, canoeing and power boating. From Stranraer, 15 miles, there is the ferry service to Ireland for a day trip. Shops, pubs and restaurants 300 yards.

Airyhemming Farm is a detached two storey house situated in peaceful countryside with open views over farmland to the rolling Galloway Hills. There is ample space for families with particularly attractive features such as the farmhouse kitchen with Aga and the delightful sun room to the front offering glorious views. The property also boasts its own stretch of water for brown trout fishing. If fishing is not for you then why not relax in the hot tub! The charming village of Glenluce has local shops and pubs. This area of Dumfries and Galloway boasts rugged coastlines and secluded sandy beaches which benefit from the warmth of the passing Gulf stream and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, offering an ideal base from which to explore the Machars Peninsula and the Galloway hills. There are many beautiful gardens to explore, including the world renowned Logan Botanical Gardens. The area boasts many pretty little ports like Sandhead, Portpatrick and the RSPB Scotland Mull of Galloway nature reserve where thousands of seabirds nest in the cliff face during the spring and summer. Walking is a delight, whether clifftop, beaches, hills or forests and the Southern Upland Way passes close by. Also a cyclist’s paradise with the world famous 7Stanes within easy reach. If you prefer shooting or golf then there are many facilities nearby including the County course just two miles away. The town of Stranraer which is only 10 miles away offers a wider range of shops, pubs and restaurants. Nearby Cairnryan is home to the Stena Line ferry making a day trip to Ireland a great day out. Beach 2 miles. Shop and pub 2 miles, restaurant 3 miles.
Airyhemming Farm can be booked together with Airyhemming Dairy (UK5201) and Kelbrook (UK5737) to accommodate up to 22 guests.

This spacious detached house, with large enclosed gardens, is situated in the popular traditional market town of Castle Douglas, known as Scotland’s Food Town, only a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. This unspoilt area of south west Scotland offers magnificent scenery, some of the finest beaches and golf courses in Scotland, riding, fishing and water sports.
An excellent area for walkers and cyclists with Dalbeattie 7Stanes a mere 10 minutes away. The Galloway Forest Park offers fantastic scenery and wildlife and the Galloway Hills are within easy reach. For those with young children there are also a number of great days out on the doorstep including Cream o’ Galloway, an amusement park on a working dairy farm, 15 miles, and The Cocobean Company, with childrens play area and chocolate workshop, 9 miles away.
If arts and culture are a passion, a quick glance at the surroundings will see exactly why the region has inspired so many artists, writers and craftsmen, from the artist’s town of Kirkcudbright, the region’s infamous Spring Fling, Eden Festival, Electric Fields Festival and Knockengorroch Festival are amongst many other events that take place all year round. The Solway coast has many extensive sandy beaches and rocky coves to explore, with many traditional fishing villages and harbour ports. Kirkcudbright, the artists’ town, has art galleries, antique shops, museums and shops while Castle Douglas has many artisan food shops, galleries and independent shops. Beach 12 miles. Shop 250 yards, pub and restaurant 400 yards.
Just when you think this property can’t get any better, it will undergo impressive renovation from January - March 2023, including a new fitted kitchen; new bifold doors from the kitchen, a raised patio area, a brand new WC room downstairs and the removal of the current sitting area to create a large open plan living space, perfect for all of your family and friends.

Situated only yards from the shoreline, this spacious, detached cottage has fantastic views over the sea to the Mull of Galloway and the Isle of Man. West Barr Cottage has a private garden and direct access to the beach. Known as the Machars of Galloway the area boasts a stunning coastline with amazing cliff top walks. These include Burrow Head, famed for being the location of the closing scene in the cult movie ‘The Wicker Man’, to the Isle of Whithorn, a walk well worth the effort. There are beaches galore to explore, everything from sandy to rugged rocky beaches. The Mull of Galloway is home to the RSPB Nature Reserve and is part of a much larger Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation for its seabirds, plants and coastal habitats. Here you can see many species of birdlife, the cliffs being home to guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, while ravens and peregrine falcons are regularly seen around the cliffs. Out to sea there are dolphins, porpoise and minke whale to spot and tours can also be taken from the lighthouse. There are many historical areas of interest to visit and the Whithorn Visitor Centre is a mine of information. The area is a walkers and cyclists paradise with the Southern Upland Way passing close by and offering everything from gentle walks to challenging hikes. The town of Stranraer is 20 miles and offers shops, restaurants and pubs and the town of Newton Stewart is also 20 miles away in the opposite direction. There are many coastal villages to explore, and sea fishing, golf and horse riding are all available locally. Day trips to Ireland can be taken from Cairnryan. Beach 30 yards. Shop and restaurant 2 miles, pub 5 miles.
West Barr Cottage can be booked together with West Barr Farmhouse (UK5766) to accommodate up to 12 guests.

This cosy semi-detached cottage is situated in the lovely village of Wigtown, known as Scotland’s ‘Book Town’. The town provides a variety of shops, galleries, tea rooms and a pub. Located in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway amidst some of the finest scenery in southern Scotland, and ideally located to explore Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, wilderness and romance. The breathtaking scenery runs from the Galloway Hills and the Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park, with their many hidden lochs, burns and waterfalls, to the beautiful Solway coastline with sandy beaches, rocky coves and picturesque villages to explore.
Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve is the largest local reserve in the UK. It has significant numbers of pink-footed geese, greylag geese, and several species of duck and wading birds that visit in the autumn and winter months. Spend time at the Interpretation Centre where you can watch via video camera the Galloway ospreys during their nesting season (April to August), or the local wetlands during the rest of the year. Take time to visit the distillery at Bladnoch which has a large visitor shop and offers guided tours, or meander around Wigtown browsing the gift shops, gallery, plant nursery, and the numerous book shops and many cafés.
This beautiful region boast an exceptional number of activities to try, from a quiet afternoon fishing on one of the excellent rivers, or trying one of the challenging 7 Stanes cycle tracks. You will find horse riding, golf, sailing, diving and numerous walks all in the area and with its famously mild climate and the balmy influence of the gulf stream, Dumfries and Galloway is home to some of the most beautiful and exotic gardens in Scotland. Beach 2 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 250 yards.

Sympathetically renovated, this 18th-century stone-built cottage has its own waterwheel and lies at the edge of the small hamlet of Glenmidge. Semi-detached, it lies next to the owner’s home by the Glenmidge Burn, where the odd glimpse of an otter can be seen. Surrounded by hills and forest, the area has abundant wildlife including roe deer, foxes, badgers, tawny and barn owls, buzzards and red kites. There are trail paths for walking, running and mountain biking on the doorstep, but there are also flat routes and quiet country roads along the valley (maps are available in the cottage).
Less than a mile away up the glen stands the remains of the Lag Tower, which was built by the wealthy Grierson family in the 15th century and was last occupied by Sir Robert Grierson towards the end of the 17th century. He was best remembered as a notorious persecutor of the covenanters, and his headstone is in a local graveyard.
Situated on the Kirkpatrick Macmillan Cycle Trail, the cottage is only 5 miles away from the old Courthill Smiddy at Keir, where Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the first pedal-driven bicycle in the world. A replica is in the museum 3 miles further on at the 17th-century Drumlanrig Castle at Thornhill. Open to the public, the castle has one hundred and twenty rooms, seventeen turrets and four towers, and is home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. As well as beautiful grounds and river walks, it boasts one of the 7stanes cycle centres, with the Ae Forest close by.
Dalswinton Loch is 4 miles away with lovely walks, and there is a replica of the first paddle-driven steam boat in the world which made its first journey on the loch. The famous poet, Robert Burns, was one of the first passengers on board; he lived and worked the farm at Ellisland, where he wrote Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter. Ellisland Farm is a museum and visitor centre, 3 miles away.
There are several golf courses to choose from in the area: Thornhill is 7 miles, and Dumfries is 9 miles, and both offer shops and plenty of restaurants and pubs. The highest golf course in Scotland is at Leadhills, near Wanlockhead, which is also the highest village in Scotland. Lying 17 miles away, it is famous for the mining of gold and lead, and you can visit the mining museum there. The River Nith and the River Cairn are both about 2 miles away in opposite directions, both being famous for salmon, sea trout and wild brown trout fishing. Day and season tickets are available to visitors. Each fisherman is permitted to keep two salmon per season. Loch fishing for trout and course fish are also available nearby. Beach 22 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.

This beautiful 19th century historic property, with spacious rooms, has been sympathetically renovated to retain many of its original features whilst providing a luxury holiday location whatever your needs. With an accessible kitchen with rise and fall counters x-y ceiling track hoists in two of the five large bedrooms and one wet room, electric profiling beds in three bedrooms, two large specialised wet rooms with level-access showers, low level basin and emergency pull chord alarm system, not to mention the lift, this house caters for everyone no matter what their everyday needs may be. The house and grounds were built on the moat bank of an 11th century Motte-and-bailey castle, the original seat of the ’De Brus’ family who were the ancestors of ’Robert the Bruce’ who was featured in the iconic film ’Braveheart’. The other side of the moat bank can still be seen from the peaceful sensory garden.

The Moat House is only a very short walk from the main street of Annan where you can enjoy a range of pubs and restaurants, or take in a film at the local cinema. There is plenty to do in the area with forests and coastal walks. There are lots of castles to explore in Dumfries and Galloway but Caerlaverock Castle is particularly interesting being a moated, triangular castle. In comparison though Drumlanrig Castle is a very impressive building with 120 rooms, 17 turrets and towers, and it is equally stunning inside, being filled with beautiful French furniture and an art collection which includes Rembrandt’s Old Woman Reading. Mabie Farm Park is always popular with families, from feeding farm animals, a ride on the ‘Choo Choo Express’, a gentle paddle around the boating lake to racing quad bikes, there is fun for kids of all sizes. Alternatively Gretna Gateway Outlet Village can provide hours of retail therapy. It was while living and working in nearby Dumfries that JM Barrie befriended a local family, and their adventures inspired him to write Peter Pan, hopefully your family will have equally fantastic adventures on your holidays. Within 5 miles there is coarse and trout fishing (at cost), river fishing (day ticket permit required) and sea fishing (free) all available (rod licence may be required). Beach 1½ miles. Shop and pub 200 yards, restaurant 400 yards.

Quietly situated on the edge of the pretty town of Moffat, this charming holiday cottage forms a wing of the owner’s home, and was once where the pony and trap were kept. It has now been transformed into a welcoming, cosy haven for two. The bright and spacious living room has a wood burner and French doors looking out to the garden and there is a small courtyard garden to the rear. Moffat has a thriving arts and music scene, a good range of local shops, pubs and restaurants and is ideal for hill walking being on the Southern Upland Way. Ideally placed for touring the area, Edinburgh and Glasgow are 50 miles, spectacular St Mary’s Loch, 30 miles, and the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is just 10 miles away, while Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill is within easy reach. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.