Dog-friendly Hotels Dumfries and Galloway

The Lodge on the Beach is a two bedroomed log cabin set in probably one of the most stunning and truly unique locations in South West Scotland. Nestled on the shores of Auchenmalg Bay on an eight acre plot and just yards from your door is the family friendly beach. With its magical location, The Lodge on the Beach offers you a wonderful relaxing escape for all the family. With the views, the beautiful sunrises, the sublime sunsets over the Mull of Galloway, the walks, and sound of the waves just yards away, you will be blown away by the scenery and the location.
The Lodge on the Beach is ideally placed to explore the wider and unspoilt area of South West Scotland if you can drag yourself away. A very short stroll along the beach takes you to a delightful country pub and restaurant if you don’t want to cook after your day out exploring. A few minutes away by car is Glenluce, where there is a local shop selling essentials and 20 minutes away Stranraer offers a greater range of shops including Supermarkets. This area of Dumfries and Galloway boasts rugged coastlines and secluded sandy beaches as well as inland forests and hills making walking a delight and for the cyclists the world famous 7Stanes mountain biking trails are close by at Kirroughtree. The Lodge on the Beach is an ideal base for a Golfing Holiday. With Wigtownshire County Club less than ten minutes from the Lodge, and South West Scotland boasts twenty three Golf courses. The icing on the cake is that just over an hour away there is Turnberry.
Along the coast is the lovely little village of Port William, known as the “Machars of Galloway” and of course you must go and find “The Man” and get a photograph with him. As well as Port William, you can also explore quaint villages such as Sandhead, Portpatrick and the Isle of Whithorn. A must is a visit to Wigtown, which is famous for being Scotland’s National Book Town, a book lovers haven. The Mull of Galloway, Scotland’s most southerly point and home to the RSPB nature reserve, where thousands of seabird’s nests on the cliff face during spring and summer is definitely worth a visit. Beach 1 mile.

Situated on a working farm, The Barn has been converted out of the old part of the farm steading and refurbished in 2018. Nestled in the Girthon Valley and surrounded by some of the best scenery in Galloway, with great walks, both woodland and coastal. Galloway has 200 miles of beautiful coastline, wild mountains and moorland, pretty towns and charming villages. The area also offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, be it visiting the local ice cream factory, Cream O’ Galloway at Sandgreen, CocoaBean Chocolate Factory at Twynholm or why not visit Laggan Outdoors, which has one of the longest zip wires in Europe. There are many exciting and beautiful cycle paths straight from your door or try the world famous 7Stanes challenge. There is an abundance of local lochs and rivers if fishing is preferred! There is something for everyone in this beautiful unspoilt corner of Scotland. The cottage is only a few minutes drive from the charming town of Gatehouse of Fleet which offers a wide range of places to eat and relax. There are many attractions in and around the town including the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre and Cardoness Castle. Beach 1½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
The Barn can be booked together with The Stable (CC537233), Valley View (CC537234), Middle Byre (CC537236) and The Bothy (UK5803) to accommodate up to 22 guests.

Situated on a working farm, Middle Byre originally housed the cattle on the farm and has been delightfully converted into a comfortable and spacious holiday property perfect for families. The property is nestled in the Girthon Valley and is surrounded by some of the best scenery in Galloway, with great walks, both woodland and coastal. Galloway has 200 miles of beautiful coastline, wild mountains and moorland, pretty towns and charming villages. The area also offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, be it visiting the local ice cream factory, Cream O’ Galloway at Sandgreen, CocoaBean Chocolate Factory at Twynholm or why not visit Laggan Outdoors, which has one of the longest zip wires in Europe. There are many exciting and beautiful cycle paths straight from your door or try the world famous 7Stanes challenge. There is an abundance of local lochs and rivers if fishing is preferred! There is something for everyone in this beautiful unspoilt corner of Scotland. The cottage is only a few minutes drive from the charming town of Gatehouse of Fleet which offers a wide range of places to eat and relax. There are many attractions in and around the town including the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre and Cardoness Castle. Beach 1½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
Middle Byre can be booked together with The Stable (CC537233), Valley View (CC537234), The Barn (CC537235) and The Bothy (UK5803) to accommodate up to 22 guests.

Situated in the seaside village of Southerness, this detached property is a mere 100 yards from the sandy beach and provides spacious accommodation from which to explore south west Scotland. Located on the spectacular Solway coast near Dumfries and close to the stunning Galloway Forest Park, Britain’s largest forest park, it is a popular area for walkers and cyclists with world class mountain biking at Dalbeattie 7 Stanes nearby. With unspoilt villages, dramatic coastlines, sandy beaches, rocky coves, magnificent gardens, castles and ancient monuments to explore. Wildlife is in abundance with the RSPB nature reserve just along the coast. Championship golf course 300 yards away and fishing, riding and sailing are all available. Sweetheart Abbey, Drumlanrig Castle and Gardens, and Mabie Farm Park are all within easy reach. Beach 100 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 200 yards.

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.

The Soup Kitchen has played an important role in village life and the local community of Borgue over the last 150 years or so. You won’t find soup served in The Soup Kitchen today but you will find a stunning holiday home to call yours for the week.
This upside down house sits on the edge of the village and enjoys superb views. One particular feature is the spacious living room with floor to ceiling windows and patio doors opening onto a covered veranda, which makes the most of the views and is perfect for sitting enjoying the morning sun over breakfast. From the living room there is a kitchen, again allowing you to enjoy the views and a lovely dining room which overlooks the village. Venture outside and you will not be disappointed, a hot tub is situated in a purpose built cabin so you can enjoy the bubbles in rain, sleet or snow.
Starting life as a house, then a Free Church and a school, it then became apparent that there was no need for two schools in such a small community so it became a store. On the 5th of December 1844 the idea came about to ensure every child in the community had the opportunity to have a hot meal during the months of October to March, hence the name “The Soup Kitchen”.
Borgue is a charming little village with a local pub serving food so no need to cook, allowing you to really relax and enjoy the area. The village is close to many beautiful beaches, coastal walks and stunning rolling countryside. A short drive away will take you to Kirkcudbright, a lovely town on the estuary which still has a bustling harbour. Stroll through the town and visit Broughton House, once home to the famed Scottish painter E. A. Hornel. Kirkcudbright is known as “the artists’ town”, having hosted generations of painters, craft-makers and artisans, a culture that is still thriving today. The town attracts visitors throughout the year, drawn in by the harbour, the historic high street and the diverse range of annual events and visitor attractions. The popular programme of summer festivities culminates with the spectacular Tattoo, an event not to be missed. The area has numerous walks available, from scenic coastal strolls to forest trails. With sailing, swimming, riding, fishing, golf, boat trips and water sports all close by there is sure to be something for everyone. Warmed by the gulf stream there are many beautiful gardens to visit, including National Trust Threave Gardens. Close to the Galloway Forest Park, the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, and central to 5 of the 7Stanes, it is a popular location for cyclists and mountain bikers. Beach 3 miles. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant 50 yards.

Maggie’s Den is a spacious terraced cottage with a lovely enclosed garden to the rear, ideal for children or your four legged friends! The cottage is welcoming and the kitchen/dining room to the rear overlooking the garden is the real hub, fantastic for cooking and generally socialising while the kids enjoy the garden. From the kitchen/dining room it opens up to the comfortable living room whilst the bedrooms are all on the first floor and a large games room on the second floor, perfect for that family holiday!

Maggie’s Den is in the heart of Gatehouse of Fleet, a delightful village in this beautiful part of South West Scotland. Gatehouse of Fleet now has a slower pace of life but it once had a thriving industry with cotton mills, shipbuilding, a brewery and its own port. Nowadays the rich past can only be seen in the street names and inside the former textile mill, The Mill on the Fleet.

There are many attractions in and around the town including the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre and Cardoness Castle. For a more laid back day there are delightful beaches within a few minutes’ drive, including Mossyard and Carrick. The area has numerous walks available, from scenic coastal walks to forest trails. With sailing, swimming, riding, fishing, golf, boat trips and watersports close by, there is something for everyone. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, there are many beautiful gardens to visit including Threave Gardens (National Trust). Close to the Galloway Forest Park, home to the first Dark Sky Park in Europe and central to 5 of the 7Stanes cycle route at Kirroughtree Forest and Dalbeattie Forest, it is a popular location for cyclists and mountain bikers. Only a short drive away is Kirkcudbright, known as ’the artists’ town’, which attracts visitors throughout the year drawn by the harbour, the historic high street and the diverse range of annual events and visitor attractions. The popular programme of summer festivities culminates with the spectacular Tattoo, an event not to be missed. Beach 2 miles. Shop and restaurant 200 yards, pub 400 yards.

Buckle House is set in the heart of the small thriving town of Gatehouse of Fleet, in this delightful and peaceful corner of Dumfries and Galloway. Buckle House gets its name from its past as it was once a shoe shop! This terraced house is warm and inviting from the moment you step through the door. From the cosy living room with comfortable sofas at the front of the house, to the snug where you can relax, heading into the lovely kitchen dining room with views over the garden. The bedrooms on the first floor are tranquil ensuring a good night sleep. The garden is just heaven for your four-legged friend, totally enclosed yet with direct access through a gate at the bottom onto Garries Park where you will find the paths that take you into Cally Woods as well as a bike shed to safely store your bikes.
There are many attractions in and around the town including the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre and Cardoness Castle. For a more laid back day there are delightful beaches within only a few minutes’ drive, including Mossyard and Carrick. The area has numerous walks available, from scenic coastal walks to forest trails. With sailing, swimming, horse riding, fishing, golf, boat trips and water sports close by, there is something for everyone.
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, there are many beautiful gardens to visit, including Threave Garden (National Trust). Close to the Galloway Forest Park, home to the first Dark Sky Park in Europe, and central to 5 of the 7Stanes at Kirroughtree Forest and Dalbeattie Forest, it is a popular location for cyclists and mountain bikers. Kirroughtree has some of the best technical singletrack mountain bike trails in Scotland. Only a short drive away, Kirkcudbright, known as ’the artists’ town’, attracts visitors throughout the year drawn by the harbour, the historic high street and the diverse range of annual events and visitor attractions. The popular programme of summer festivities culminates with the spectacular Tattoo, an event not to be missed. Beach 5¼ miles. Shop and restaurant 100 yards, pub 300 yards.
Buckle House can be booked together with No 7 (ref UK31891) to accommodate up to 9 guests.

Only a stroll from the beautiful sandy beach at Sandhead, stretching for 7 miles, the village also has a restaurant, pub and shop. The surrounding area boasts rugged coastlines and secluded sandy beaches, with challenging walks in the uplands of the Galloway Hills to gentle seaside trails, as well as rolling moors and dramatic cliff-top walks. Well worth a visit is The Mull of Galloway, with its grass topped visitor centre - Scotland’s most southerly point, with amazing views of Ireland, England, the Isle of Man and Scotland! Lucky visitors may spot seals and minke whales and will most certainly see a host of seabirds. Portpatrick is a short drive and the village lies at the start of the Southern Upland Way; one of Scotland’s most acclaimed long distance footpaths.
The bustling town of Stranraer, situated at the head of Loch Ryan, is the gateway to the Rhinns of Galloway. The town’s main attraction is the Castle of St. John, a ruined four-story tower house built around 1500, which sits on a green in the main street. There are several eye-catching artworks in the area surrounding the castle. Stranraer Museum can be found in the old town hall. Close by are Castle Kennedy Gardens, with the castle, two lochs, a giant lily pond and an avenue of monkey puzzle trees. Logan Botanic Garden sits 13 miles south of the town and is home to exotic ferns and palms and boasts a beautiful walled garden. Why not take the high speed ferry to Ireland for a spot of sightseeing or a shopping trip to Belfast perhaps? Within easy reach is The Galloway Forest Park, which has been awarded status as a ’Dark Sky Park’, with plentiful walking opportunities and wildlife to spot. Beach 1 mile. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
These properties can be booked to accommodate up to 18 guests

Holly Cottage is an attractive semi-detached cottage located on a quiet lane on the edge of Palnackie, a popular village with a shop, award winning café and pub/restaurant. Holly Cottage has been refurbished and is beautifully decorated throughout. The attractive living/dining room with has comfortable sofas and a cosy wood burner is the perfect place to relax after a day exploring. The bedrooms are just as inviting with sumptuous super kingsize zip and link beds guaranteeing a peaceful night’s sleep.
Palnackie sits on the Urr Estuary and was once a busy working harbour and probably most famous in recent years for the ’World Flounder Tramping’. Only 3 miles from Holly Cottage is the small town of Dalbeattie and the area surrounding is hugely popular with walkers and cyclists of all ages. The world famous 7Stanes mountain trails at Dalbeattie Forest offer some of the best mountain biking in the country and attracts riders from across the UK and beyond. With its dramatic clifftops, sandy beaches and forests, walking is a delight with many beautiful walks from the doorstep. A particularly lovely walk is the walk to Almorness Point and its lovely beach, well worth a visit.
This delightful corner of South West Scotland will tempt all ages to return time and again. Warmed by the gulf stream, there are many beautiful gardens to visit, including Threave Gardens National Trust. Enjoy a drive from Dalbeattie along the Solway Coast with its extensive sandy beaches, rocky coves, traditional fishing villages and harbour ports, such as Kippford and Rockcliffe. Castle Douglas is close by, where you will find larger supermarkets and some wonderful unique shops, and Kirkcudbright just a little further afield, also has a variety of delightful little shops as well as the harbour where you can see the fishing boats returning. The area is well recognised for its clear skies as one of the twelve best stargazing sites in the world and the first Dark Sky Park in the UK so return to Holly Cottage after a day exploring and sit in the garden on a clear night and enjoy the spectacle.