Dog-friendly Hotels Dumfries and Galloway

This delightful, detached, single-storey beach house stands in a magnificent position with direct access onto 2 miles of sandy beaches and rock pools, and sits right next to the 13th green of the local golf course, making it an ideal holiday location. The uninterrupted views of the sea and shore line with the Lakeland Fells to the south and Criffel and the Galloway hills to the east are breathtaking. This seaside holiday home provides comfortable and well equipped ’beach house’ style accommodation with level access to the oceanside patio from the living room, the en-suite bedroom, the adjacent bedroom and the conservatory. The light and spacious, open plan living space has three large picture windows spanning three of the walls taking advantage of the spectacular panoramic views and making this a wonderful year round retreat. The shower room is large and has a walk-in shower, and is wheelchair accessible. In the conservatory, there is a bar area with a drinks chiller. The small village of Southerness with its quaint lighthouse stands on the Solway Firth and is home to an outstanding championship golf course which borders the property and welcomes visitors. For bird watchers the RSPB nature reserve is just along the coast at Mersehead. Golf, cycling, walking and exploring rock pools is direct from the doorstep, so overall this is an ideal holiday location for beachcombers and outdoor enthusiasts (there is bike and golf club storage in the property). Other attractions nearby include, Sweetheart Abbey, Drumlanrig Castle and gardens and Mabie Farm Park and Forest, which has wonderful cycle routes. This area of Dumfries and Galloway is steeped in Border history and is rich in historical attractions including many castles, Robbie Burns connections and interesting towns and villages which host a lively calendar of festivals and events. Shop 500 yards, pub 400 yards.

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.

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.

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