North of England
Scotland
Get back to nature with a fresh-air adventure in the gorgeous location of Galloway. This high-quality holiday escape is ideal for one or two people looking to get out and about.
With walking, cycling, golf, fishing and more all available in the area, there are also nearby beaches and rocky shorelines that offer the chance for a day on the sand and for trying some water sports. The charming town of Gatehouse of Fleet is only a mile away, where you’ll find a selection of shops, pubs and places to eat, while the ‘artists’ town’ of Kirkcudbright, 8 miles away, offers pretty pastel houses set along wide streets, plenty of independent shops, and an incredible arts-and-crafts trail.
Castle Douglas, 13.5 miles away, is renowned for its array of places to eat and food businesses, while Threave Garden & Nature Reserve, 13 miles away, is a must for garden lovers. This lovely getaway is set on a small holiday site with just eight properties in total.
Take one step up and through the patio doors, into the bright, open-plan living space. Here, white walls and wood-laminate floors are the backdrop to comfortable furnishings and thoughtful touches – you’ll have both Wi-Fi and the luxury of underfloor heating.
A carefully planned corner kitchen includes a microwave and a dishwasher for convenience. Make the most of local produce found on your days out and about, and create delicious meals to enjoy at the dining table set just for two.
After supper, stretch out on the sofa and enjoy the views of rolling fields through the glazed doors, or pick out a classic film to watch on the Smart TV. When you’re ready for a dreamy sleep, head through to the tranquil, king-size bedroom, which also offers those gorgeous views – perfect for waking up to.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of 1-Bedroom, 1-Bathroom Hot Tub Cottage in Gatehouse of Fleet, 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: DG1 4RU
A moated, triangular medieval castle with a drawbridge, twin-towered gatehouse and a border-conflict history.
Caerlaverock is a moated castle on the southern coast of Scotland, about seven miles south of Dumfries. Its triangular shape is unique among British castles, and it has a wide moat, a twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements. First built in the 13th century, it was the stronghold of the Maxwell family and was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Tip: Head up to the South range for the best views over the moat, then follow the short nature trail to the older castle's foundations.
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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