Dog-friendly Hotels Dumfries and Galloway

This detached barn conversion is set in a rural area with a games room and a private tennis court, which boasts stunning views over open countryside and is situated in an ideal location to explore South West Scotland. The holiday cottage is located close to the bustling town of Dumfries, which dates back 800 years and has connections with the poet Robert Burns, with many shops, eateries and pubs. The area is popular with cyclists and walkers, and the cottage is within easy reach of several of the seven Stanes mountain bike centres. Attractions include Drumlanrig Castle, the home of the Duke of Buccleuch, and Queensberry, with a superb art collection, beautiful gardens and extensive country park. Nearby is Thornhill with shops, Castle Douglas, a food and market town and Kirkcudbright, famous for art and a selection of quality golf courses. Within easy reach of the Solway Coast. Also nearby is Mabie Farm Park with quad bikes, trampolines and AstroTurf slides. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant 6 miles.

Burnfoot of Cluden is situated in a lovely spot overlooking the River Cairn at East Cluden. Rural in character, but less than ten minutes’ drive from Dumfries, it sleeps up to 16, and is perfect for holidays for families and friends. Burnfoot is open all year round for holidays and short breaks. There are eight bedrooms and three bathrooms, an Aga in the kitchen, a wood burning stove in the living room and central heating throughout. There is wifi, two televisions with Freeview and a good selection of DVDs and books. There are lovely river views from the house and lots of outside space for children to run around in or for adults to relax in. Up to two pets are welcome. Dumfries and Galloway is a great location for walking and cycling, with a huge variety of country and coastal routes to explore. The river path along Cluden Water (as the Cairn is known on this stretch) can be accessed directly from the garden at Burnfoot. The Twelve Apostles stone circle is also within walking distance.
There is a huge choice of activities locally to suit all ages, including Drumlanrig Castle and Country Park, Cream o’ Galloway, Mabie Farm Park, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries Museum, Caerlaverock Castle and Wetlands Centre, fishing and golf, and ice skating at Dumfries Ice Bowl. Dumfries and the surrounding area also have a great selection of restaurants, tea rooms and farm shops which are definitely worth investigating. Large supermarket 10 minutes’ drive. Shop and pub/restaurant 1 mile.

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.

Curlew Cottage is situated in a lovely rural area with amazing views from the wood fuel hot tub towards the Moffat Hills. Renovated completely in 2021, Curlew Cottage offers the perfect holiday cottage for you to get away from it all and relax. It is delightfully decorated throughout, and a particular feature of the cottage is the large living room with low windows making the most of the views. There is a small snug with cosy open fire perfect for those chillier evenings. With a large kitchen/diner, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, Curlew Cottage will suit families or groups of friends to meet and enjoy. There is outside to enjoy too with its spacious garden and perhaps in an evening you can sit on the patio and marvel at the starry night skies.

Amazing local towns nearby such as Lockerbie, Moffat and Thornhill. Situated just a few miles from the market town of Lockerbie, which provides all local amenities including some lovely little shops and restaurants. Lockerbie has a train station if you fancy a day trip to Edinburgh or Glasgow. However, Dumfries and Galloway is so beautiful there is plenty to keep you entertained during your stay at Curlew Cottage. The area boasts rugged coastlines and secluded sandy beaches with many beautiful gardens to explore. Enjoy world-class mountain biking, walking routes, riding, fishing and birdwatching all within easy reach.

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.

This charming semi-detached cottage, which was once the village smithy, is in the tiny hamlet of Carronbridge just two miles from the broad streets of Thornhill with its good local shops, pubs and restaurants. Very comfortable, bright and welcoming yet retaining original features such as working shutters, it provides a delightful base from which to get to know this fascinating region. The extensive grounds of Drumlanrig Castle are just two miles away, where there are lovely walks and the castle to visit. There are activities for everyone nearby, walks from the doorstep along the riverside, a playpark in the village, golf, fishing, hill walking and even panning for gold at Wanlockhead. Dumfries is 20 miles and the coast at Sandyhills around an hours drive.

This charming, detached holiday cottage is on a quiet country lane, situated on a working farm and is ideally located to explore the beauty of Dumfries and Galloway and Scotland’s Border Country with picturesque towns and villages set in a landscape of rolling hills, wild moorland and meandering rivers. The historic cities of Edinburgh, Carlisle and cosmopolitan Glasgow are easily reached within an hour. Dumfries and Galloway boasts rugged coastlines and secluded sandy beaches with many beautiful gardens to explore. Enjoy world-class mountain biking, walking routes, riding, fishing on the River Annan, 2 miles, and birdwatching all within easy reach. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

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.

Curlew Cottage is situated in the quiet village of Creetown amongst the rolling Galloway Hills, where the very best of Scotland’s countryside is on your doorstep, from rolling hills and fine forests and lochs, to sandy beaches and a spectacular coastline. Gardens here are special, with gems like nearby Threave and the Logan Botanic Gardens near Stranraer. Palm trees and many other exotic plants thrive under the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. The Galloway Forest Park is close by with an abundance of wildlife including red deer range, wild goat park and red squirrel feeding stations. Buzzards are a common sight and you may be lucky enough to see golden eagles and red kites too. The park has been awarded status as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK. With over 7000 visible stars to look at, you are spoilt for choice.

Dumfries and Galloway offers many picturesque towns and villages to explore. The market town of Newton Stewart is located just 6 miles away and offers a good selection of independent shops, supermarkets, a leisure centre, a cinema and many restaurants. There are also some great walks to enjoy, along with music and walking festivals. Kirkcudbright, locally known as the artists town, offers many festivals throughout the year including Scottish nights, classic car rallies, historic walks, a medieval fayre, a jazz festival and a spectacular Tattoo, as well as a good selection of pubs and restaurants. Castle Douglas, Scotland’s food town, and Wigtown, Scotland’s book town, are also nearby. There is also a large variety of outdoor pursuits available including fishing, horse riding, cycling, golf and watersports. Kirroughtree Mountain Biking Centre is just 3 miles from cottage. Electric vehicle charging point 550 yards. Beach 7 miles. Shop 500 yards, pub and restaurant ¾ mile.

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.