North of England
Scotland
This commanding converted farmhouse sleeps a total of nine guests, making it a fantastic choice for bringing extended family and wider friendship groups together for an unforgettable stay on the Solway Firth. All who stay here are welcome to make use of the amenities in the owner’s holiday park, just opposite the property (100 metres), along with easy access to the stunning Auchenlarie Beach (300 metres) beyond it.
Build sandcastles, launch small boats from the shoreline or have a go at kayaking or paddleboarding here. If you prefer to enjoy your outdoor activities on dry land, make your way to Galloway Forest Park (10 miles), one of Dumfries and Galloway’s most celebrated attractions.
Discover panoramic views from Darngarroch Hill (9 miles), bluebell-strewn fields at Carstramon Wood (8 miles) and the idyllic waters of Loch Whinyeon (8 miles), all before dropping into Gatehouse of Fleet (5 miles) for some well-earned refreshments. Beautifully maintained, with some of its original features intact - including handsome stone walls and feature fireplaces - this capacious farmhouse is set to impress.
Step inside to find the large kitchen, a central hive of family activity with its traditional Range cooker, generous breakfast table and TV right beside it, ideal for catching up on the day’s events over your first meal of the day. A separate dining room offers space to sit down and enjoy more leisurely meals, a place to raise a glass over a well-prepared dinner when the day is done.
After that, choose from the lovely lounge or the cosy snug to unwind in. The lounge is the larger room, with ample comfy sofas to choose from and a Smart TV, while the snug is a space to steal away to enjoy great conversation or an evening of games.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of 5-Bedroom Hot Tub Farmhouse in Auchenlarie, with real driving times.
Sat nav: DG7 2EJ
A well-preserved 15th-century tower house with a bloody family feud behind its thick walls.
Cardoness Castle is a well-preserved six-storey tower house just south west of Gatehouse of Fleet, built in the later 1400s for the McCulloch family, a prominent Galloway clan. It is now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.
Sat nav: DG7 2AB
A 14th-century Black Douglas stronghold standing on an island in the River Dee.
Threave Castle stands on an island in the River Dee, about 2.5 kilometres west of Castle Douglas. Archibald the Grim built it in the 1370s, and it was a stronghold of the Black Douglases, Earls of Douglas and Lords of Galloway, until their fall in 1455.
Sat nav: DG6 4LB
A late 16th-century tower house in the middle of Kirkcudbright, with a peephole in the great hall.
MacLellan's Castle stands in the centre of Kirkcudbright, on the south side of the River Dee. Building began around 1577 for Thomas MacLellan, on the site of a ruined Greyfriars monastery. The castle was never finished, and the roof had collapsed by the time the family sold it in 1752. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
Tip: Look for the peephole behind the great hall fireplace and the carved coats of arms above the entrance.
Sat nav: DG8 9AB
Tour the most southerly distillery in Scotland and taste Lowland single malts where they are made.
Bladnoch is a Lowland single malt distillery on the banks of the River Bladnoch, near Wigtown. Founded in 1817, it is the most southerly whisky distillery in Scotland, and it has a long and eventful history of closing and reopening.
Tip: Tours are appointment-only, so book by midnight the day before. The visitor centre and café are open Tuesday to Saturday only. Tours are not suitable for wheelchair users or walking aids, and high heels are not allowed.
Sat nav: DG2 8BU
A red sandstone Cistercian abbey in New Abbey, founded in 1273 in memory of a devoted wife's husband.
Sweetheart Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1273 in the village of New Abbey, about 8 miles south of Dumfries. Dervorguilla of Galloway founded it in memory of her husband, John de Balliol. She kept his embalmed heart in an ivory and silver casket for the rest of her life, and it was buried alongside her. She named the abbey Dulce Cor, Latin for Sweet Heart.
Drive times are typical times by car with no traffic. Check opening times and book tickets on each attraction's own website before you go.
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