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, 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.

High Auchenlarie Cottage is a traditional Galloway cottage set amidst stunning scenery with far reaching panoramic views out over Wigtown Bay. Whilst maintaining its traditional exterior, High Auchenlarie Cottage has been modernised throughout, and lovingly and tastefully furnished and decorated. The two living areas are beautiful and both maximise the panoramic views. The sun room is the perfect spot for reading whilst the living room boasts a wood burner, perfect for those chillier evenings. The modern kitchen is extremely well equipped where you will find the highest level of appliances, kitchen and dining ware. All the bedrooms take in that stunning panoramic view, two on the ground floor and two on the first floor, all tastefully decorated and boasting luxury linen. An ensuite shower room and a shower room on the first floor. There are also and ensuite bathroom and a shower room on the first floor makes High Auchenlarie Cottage the perfect location for a family or group of friends to enjoying the wonders of this beautiful corner of Dumfries and Galloway.
Six miles from the cottage is the small village of Gatehouse of Fleet where there are a couple of convenience stores and excellent cafés and restaurants. This corner of Dumfries and Galloway truly is magical with many sandy beaches and rocky coves along the coast, while inland there are many countryside walks to enjoy. Nearby the Galloway Forest Park, known for its starlit dark skies, has excellent cycle paths. There is so much to see and do with castles, prehistoric sites and specialist gardens, thanks to Galloways’ mild climate.
Activities for children include the Cocoabean Chocolate Factory with its chocolate workshops and indoor and outdoor play areas as well as Farm Parks, and don’t miss a visit to the Dark Space Planetarium in Kirkcudbright, an attractive harbour town where you can also watch the fishing boats returning with their catch. A must while staying at High Auchenlarie Cottage and just a couple of miles away along the quiet country lane is Laggan, a brand new dining experience, Gather, which has a modern café dining culture featuring international flavours and dishes. The views whilst dining are sensational!

No 2 Mote View, built in 2021, is a luxury semi-detached bungalow perfect for a family break in one of the most popular small villages by the sea in stunning Southwest Scotland. Finished to the highest standard and oozing quality and comfort from the moment you walk through the door, it guarantees a spectacular holiday.

With the owner’s attention to detail throughout, the modern living room has a built-in electric fire, subtle décor and comfortable sofas for you to curl up on and the modern and fully fitted kitchen with large bench table has everything you would need to cook up a delicious meal. The quality continues throughout the bedrooms with sumptuous beds and bedding with ultra-modern en-suite and family bathroom. There are Smart TVs in all the bedrooms as well as hairdryers and hair straighteners- nothing has been missed for a memorable holiday here at No 2 Mote View.

Outside is just as memorable, with an enclosed and child and dog friendly garden with rattan furniture and a gas BBQ. Sandhead is one of the most popular small villages along this stunning coastline and from No 2 Mote View you are only a 2-minute walk from the long sandy beach as well as a locally renowned restaurant and pub serving fabulous food, as well as a small convenience store. This beautiful corner of Southwest Scotland 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 away and is another delightful little village where you can sit and watch the boats coming and going from the harbour or for the more adventurous walk part of the Southern Upland Way from here. There are many beautiful gardens to visit only a short drive away, including Castle Kennedy Gardens and the world-renowned Logan Botanic Gardens with is many exotic trees and plants and The Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, is a delight. This property can be booked together with 4 Mote View (UK37497) to accommodate up to 12 guests.

Brooksyde sits in the popular coastal village of Kippford on the stunningly beautiful Solway Coast. Refurbished in 2022 by the renowned Manse Interiors, the furnishings are not only fabulous, as you would expect, but they are particularly stylish and suit Brooksyde perfectly, creating a luxurious space while watching a movie or enjoying a family meal in the modern kitchen/dining room.
Brooksyde is further enhanced by beautiful design touches everywhere including stunning lamps, artefacts, and paintings. With 3 stylish and beautifully decorated bedrooms, the beds have been selected for ultimate comfort as have the crisp linen and luxury towels.
Embracing outdoor living the gardens wrap around the house and with the bespoke handmade furniture guests can dine outside on a fine day or on a crystal clean night, enjoy some stargazing. The Games Room is another special place at Brooksyde, set in a Conservatory in the rear garden with a cosy wood burning stove so you can enjoy a game of pool any time of the year!
This southwest corner of Scotland often gets overlooked by tourists, yet it boasts 300km of stunning coastlines from sandy beaches to dramatic cliff top walks. From Kippford a particularly spectacular walk of just over a mile is along the National Trust path to Rockcliffe another lovely little coastal village with a sandy beach.
Inland there are dense forests, an abundance of wildlife, and some of the darkest skies in the UK. Whether you want an action-packed break enjoying mountain biking in forests or down quite country lanes, golfing, and of course water sports right on your doorstep, or you simply just want time to sit back and relax, Brooksyde is the perfect location.
Nearby towns include Castle Douglas, the “Food Town” with is lovely little niche shops and delightful cafes, Dalbeattie is only a few minutes’ drive, or Kirkcudbright with is harbour and various Art Galleries.

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.

Bramble Cottage is a delightful holiday cottage set quietly in the lovely small village of St John’s Town of Dalry, locally referred to as Dalry! Decorated beautifully throughout and with spacious, bright and airy rooms Bramble Cottage is a real home from home and is ideal for a family or indeed for a group of friends to meet up and enjoy not only the Cottage but the stunning surrounding area. A particular feature of Bramble Cottage is the large sitting room with patio doors which you can fling open on a fine day and make the most of the amazing panoramic views over the Ken Valley with the Galloway Hills in the distance. Not to be left out the large and extremely well-equipped kitchen/dining room is the perfect place to enjoy a home cooked meal discussing your adventures of the day! With three large bedrooms with quality beds and bedding you are sure to be guaranteed a good night’s sleep!
Dalry is a small village with a local convenience store and an excellent pub and restaurant (booking advised). Set amidst some of the most stunning countryside from Bramble Cottage you have access to wonderful walking, the Southern Upland Way, a coast-to-coast path, passes through Dalry. With many quiet country lanes, cycling is ever popular and for the adventurous cyclists there are several of the world famous 7stanes mountain bike tracks within easy reach. The area is well recognised for its clear skies and is one of the 12 best stargazing sites in the world, and the first Dark Sky Park in the UK. At Bramble Cottage there is a lovely garden where you can sit outside and enjoy a spot of star gazing.
Why not take a short drive into the bustling market town of Castle Douglas, where you will find many independent little shops selling anything from delicious cakes and artisan food to jewellery and clothes. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from too. This unspoilt area of Southwest Scotland offers magnificent scenery, fine sandy beaches and rocky coves to explore. There are also many traditional fishing villages and harbour ports where you can wander round.

Situated in an elevated position in the centre of the picturesque Rhins of Galloway Peninsula and enjoying a wonderful outlook over Loch Ryan towards the Firth of Clyde with stunning panoramic views of Ailsa Craig, Isle of Arran and Mull of Kintyre, Cairncroft Cottage is an ideal base for a relaxing holiday with family or friends.
Adjacent to the owners’ home and recently renovated, Cairncroft Cottage is perfectly placed to enjoy the delights of this lovely corner of south-west Scotland.
The spacious kitchen/dining room has a halogen hob and provides the perfect place to enjoy a meal while chatting with friends, or why not challenge them to a game of pool in the large games room? Perfect for your evening entertainment. The lovely sitting room has views over the gardens which are also a delight, not only if you want to sit out and relax but also for the kids and four-legged friends to run around and enjoy.
Only 10 minutes from the picturesque holiday village of Portpatrick and also 10 minutes from the coastal town of Stranraer, you have the best of both worlds, wonderfully secluded and quiet, while attractions, restaurants, bars and services are all within easy reach.
There are many miles of quiet country lanes to explore, excellent for both walking and cycling, with an abundance of wildlife to see. As well as stunning wildlife, the area boasts an interesting and colourful history with numerous sites and monuments of historical interest, ranging from the early Christian remains of Kirkmadrine to the more recent WW2 activity of Loch Ryan. The rugged coastline, dramatic cliff-top walks, secluded sandy beaches and pretty little harbour villages all provide great wildlife and nature spotting opportunities with endless spectacular scenes to photograph or paint - the natural light in the area is exceptional. Why not visit Dunskey Castle, a ruined tower house dating from the 16th century, only a short cliff-top walk from Portpatrick, or spend the afternoon in the village, on Dunskey golf course or the putting green by the harbour? The village has a good selection of places to eat and drink and also hosts a monthly craft fair and producers market. Within Stranraer, Agnew Park has various attractions to entertain younger guests, and The Ryan Centre has gym facilities, swimming pool, children’s pool and cinema.
Well worth a visit is The Mull of Galloway, Scotland’s most Southerly point, with its lighthouse, visitor centre and amazing views of Ireland, England, Isle of Man and Scotland. Seabirds are a certainty and seals are common in the sheltered bays, lucky guests may even spot minke whales or basking sharks feeding in the temperate waters. Another must is visiting one of the many gardens in the area which include the world-renowned Logan Botanic Garden, Castle Kennedy Gardens with their Monkey Puzzle Avenue and Lily Pond or the unique Glenwhan Gardens.
With so much to see and do, come back to Cairncroft Cottage and sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

The large kitchen/diner is the hub of the house with patio doors opening onto the rear garden and where you can sit and enjoy a family meal. The living room is warm and inviting and with three bedrooms, one with en-suite it really is a great base to explore the area.
Auldgirth is a small village with an excellent pub and restaurant just a short stroll from Park Lane and around 10 miles from Dumfries the county town of beautiful Dumfries and Galloway. Dumfries has a range of activities to keep all the family entertained including numerous museums, the Camera Obscura, Robert Burns’ house or mausoleum - Scotland’s most famous poet spent the last years of his life here and adventure playgrounds for the younger members.
From Park Lane a must is a visit to Drumlanrig Castle and Estate where you can fish for salmon, enjoy a stroll through some of the beautiful walks and gardens, and the more adventurous can try mountain biking. Or why not just visit the castle itself on a guided tour?
Try the region’s fantastic 9 and 18-hole golf courses set amid stunning scenery. Enjoy the delights of the Galloway Forest Park, which not only has some stunning scenery, but is also the UK’s first Dark Sky Park where over 7000 stars and planets are visible to the naked eye on a clear day. Visit Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, a spectacular 1400-acre wild reserve, will keep you busy all day no matter what time of year. If you want to explore more of this beautiful area, there are attractions in abundance, from beautiful sandy beaches to dramatic cliff tops along the majestic Solway Coast. With sailing, swimming, horse riding, fishing, golf, boat trips and water sports close by, there is something for everyone.