Dog-friendly Hotels Dumfries and Galloway

Situated on the outskirts of a quiet village, in the heart of 7Stanes Mountain Biking country, this detached, converted former dairy is set on a small holding and boasts stunning views over open countryside. This holiday cottage is ideally located to explore local history, with castles, abbeys, mansions and ruins. Dumfries and Galloway boasts rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, offering an ideal base from which to explore the Machars Peninsula and the Galloway Hills. The historic cities of Edinburgh and Carlisle, cosmopolitan Glasgow and the North Lake District are easily reached within an hour. Fishing is available on the River Annan at Hoddom, and there is golfing close by at Hoddom and Powfoot, as well as all the courses Dumfries and Galloway has to offer. Beach 5 miles. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Situated close to Newton Stewart, this compact, cosy, holiday cottage with low ceilings provides a base from which to explore Galloway and south-west Scotland, with riverside walks directly form the property. The town offers a good range of shops, pubs and eateries, and has a swimming pool. There are also tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course. Galloway Forest Park is close by, with many beaches and rocky coves to explore. Enjoy cycling and walking routes to suit all levels. Fishing, horse riding and sailing all nearby. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

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.

Enjoying a wonderful setting only a few yards from the harbour in the picturesque centre of Portpatrick, this spacious semi-detached house with sea views offers an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area. From the challenging uplands of the Galloway Hills to gentle seaside trails, rolling moors and dramatic cliff-top walks, the Southern Upland Way passing close by presents the ideal focus from which to enjoy the many and varied shorter walks within the region. 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, 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 both trout and salmon fishing close by. Other country pursuits are available including shooting and horse riding. Golfers will feel equally at home in this area with Stranraer, Portpatick and Lagganmore golf courses within a 20-minute drive. Turnberry, with its world famous course, is only 45 minutes away and also offers a spa, off road driving, quad biking activities and restaurant facilities.

For the 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 for those happy to travel slightly further afield, there is the Galloway Sailing Centre where visitors can also try windsurfing, canoeing and power boating. From Stranraer, 15 miles away. there is the ferry service to Ireland for a day trip. Beach 200 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 250 yards.

This pretty, grade II listed farmhouse is ideal for families or groups of friends. Set in a peaceful rural location overlooking fields it is the perfect retreat. The Castle Loch walk can be accessed by turning right out of the courtyard and is ideal for walks with children and dogs. The house is ideally situated for exploring, with handy transport links. With its golden, sweeping beaches, rugged forests, pretty coastal villages and historic houses and castles Dumfries and Galloway is an often overlooked treasure that is well worth exploring. When the sun is shining there are lovely walks taking in the stunning scenery, alongside world class mountain bike trails and nature reserves of international importance, due to the bird species they attract. Even in poorer weather there’s still a multitude of things to enjoy from Robert Burns’ house, the Camera Obsura, the Annadale Distillery to the magical Moat Brae; the birthplace of Peter Pan. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Situated on a working cattle farm, this pair of detached cottages are in the ideal location to explore Dumfries and Galloway, from the Galloway Hills and the Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park, with many hidden lochs, burns and waterfalls, to the beautiful coastline with sandy beaches, rocky coves and picturesque villages. You may even be lucky and spot seals and minke whales, and will most certainly see a host of seabirds.

The area is steeped in history and the landscape diverse, a haven for artists, birdwatchers and walkers. The Mull of Galloway, with its lighthouse and grass topped visitor centre, is Scotland’s most southerly point with amazing views of Ireland, England, the Isle of Man and Scotland! Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve is the largest local reserve in the UK. It has internationally recognised, significant numbers of pink-footed geese, greylag geese, many species of duck and wading birds, visiting in autumn and winter.

Horse riding, golf, sailing, diving and numerous walks are available in the area and with its famously mild climate and the balmy influence of the Gulf Stream, Galloway is home to some of the most beautiful and exotic gardens. Beach 3 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

Mid Bishopton Cottage (ref UK10910) can be booked together with Cotters Cottage (ref UK10922) to accommodate up to 8 guests.

This stunning, detached lodge boasts a spacious living area on the upper floor, which opens out to a large deck where you can enjoy beautiful views of the sea and beyond. Situated close to the pretty harbour village of Portpatrick, Chestnut Lodge provides ideal accommodation for a large group of family or friends looking to holiday together. There is access to a beautiful sandy beach a 15-minute walk from the lodge.

With a stunning coastline, beaches, rocky coves and windswept cliffs, the area is a walker’s paradise with everything from gentle walks to challenging hikes. There is easy access to many of the attractions that ’The Rhins’ has to offer. Visit the beautiful display of flowers at Logan Botanic Gardens or explore the Galloway Forest with its exceptional walking and cycling; the famous 7Stanes cycle trail runs through it. The forest is also a designated Dark Sky Park. Wildlife is abundant with many unusual species including pine martens, golden eagle, ospreys, red deer, red squirrels and the natterjack toad.
The RSPB Mull of Galloway Visitor Centre with thousands of nesting birds on the cliffs, is well worth a visit. Sea fishing can be enjoyed in Portpatrick and both trout and salmon fishing are available close by. Other country pursuits available include shooting and riding. Golf is available with the Dunskey and Lagganmore courses both close by. Beach ½ mile. Shop 2 miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

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.

Rose Blair Lodge brings you the the most uplifting and tranquil retreat where the free-spirits can prance freely to the untamed beats of their hearts. Tucked into rolling meadows and matured woodlands, the lodge features an outdoor bathtub nestled among shrubs and flowing vines. This is a luxury abode where one can truly run wild, to meander down the path along a babbling brook to the long beaches and tidal rushes of the Dunskey Glen.
The best part of Rose Blair is the outdoor bathtub, where you can luxuriate in complete privacy, surrounded by green hedges and meadows. A large garden and lawn provides ample room for picnics, and a fire pit will add warmth for those sundowner cocktails. To make it even more special, a wishing well is right in the garden so you can channel your inner Disney princess and sing to the birds.
Right outside Rose Blair is a lovely trail, typically swathed in bluebells, wild garlic, and numerous wild flowers, that courses alongside a babbling brook. The trail leads all the way to the Dunskey Fairy Glen, through matured tree tunnels, across an ancient stone bridge and a gushing waterfall. Two private bays mark the end of the path, revealing the ocean, beach and cliff lines in spectacular splendour.
The owner provides an amazing spread of a barbecue kit and grill, and a picnic basket for two, so you can explore the Estate or take lunch and champagne on the loch on one of their boats.
You’re not simply staying in a castle estate; you are staying on one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. Dunskey Estate boasts two waterfalls, two lochs, and three beaches, with the most magnificent walks along the craggy Scottish coastline. This pleasure ground will be completely yours to explore, including a private walled garden and a maze. You will have the time of your life! Beach 880 yards. Shop 8 miles, pub and restaurant 800 yards.
Rose Blair Lodge can be booked together with Wild Geese Lodge (UK31046), Fern Forest House (UK31047), The Royal Castle Apartment (ref UK31086) and Fawn’s Velvet (ref UK7261) to accommodate up to 30 guests.

This spacious, detached house lies next to the owner’s home, in the quiet village of New Luce, with a shop and a village pub including restaurant. It provides a peaceful retreat for you and your family after a day out exploring the surrounding area. The area is a walker’s and cyclist’s paradise, with the village being directly on the Southern Upland Way, offering everything from gentle walks to challenging hikes. Only a short drive from the coast, this property is an ideal location from which to enjoy the lovely beaches. The area boasts a stunning coastline, with amazing cliff top walks, including Burrrow 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, whilst ravens and peregrine falcons are regularly seen around the cliffs. Out to sea there are dolphins, porpoise and minke whale to spot. Tours can also be taken at the lighthouse. The town of Stranraer is 9 miles away and offers shops, restaurants and pubs. There are also many coastal villages to explore in the area. Sea fishing, golf and horse riding are all available locally. Day trips to Ireland can be taken from Cairnryan. Beach 7 miles. Shop 250 yards, pub 200 yards and restaurant 5 miles.