North of England
Scotland
This impressive lodge is located on the hillside above the picturesque village of Kippford, and has panoramic views over Urr Water to Screel Hill. Its tranquil setting makes it ideal for a quiet family break or a relaxed getaway with friends, but it’s also perfect for outdoor activities.
Walks from the door connect to community woodland and a network of pathways to Rockcliffe (3 miles), a popular village with a sandy beach. The centre of Kippford is a mile away, where you’ll find a shop and two pubs that serve food, as well as a sailing club that offers temporary membership for visitors.
There are more walks in Dalbeattie Woods (2.5 miles), while the 7Stanes mountain bike trail is only 2 miles away. Also available nearby are loch and river fishing, hill walking, golf – including the championship course at Southerness (9.5 miles), and bird watching at RSPB Mersehead (7 miles).
Surrounded by mature trees and shrubs, the single-storey, timber-clad lodge blends beautifully into its natural backdrop. Inside, it’s comfortably furnished and has a welcoming, cosy feel, whatever the weather.
From the car park, there are six steps down to a gravel path, and then you’ll take two steps up to the front door and the entrance hall/boot room (please leave your outdoor footwear here). Stroll into the generous, open-plan living area.
This inviting space, with a pale carpet and natural-timber walls and ceiling, is bathed in light from the three sets of double doors that lead to the veranda and its sweeping views. Sink into the comfortable seating and you can either gaze out at the gorgeous scenery or, when night falls, draw the curtains and set up a family movie on the Smart TV.
The sleek kitchen has been thoughtfully designed for efficient holiday cooking, whether you’re whipping up a picnic or preparing a gourmet feast, and includes a microwave and a dishwasher for convenience, while the large dining table offers plenty of room for everyone to gather. When you’re ready for a good night’s sleep, choose from the main double bedroom, which has an en-suite spa bath, and the double or twin bedrooms, which share a family shower room.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of 3-Bedroom Hot Tub Cottage in Kippford, with real driving times.
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: 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.
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: 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: 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: DG3 4AQ
A 'Pink Palace' of 120 rooms with an adventure playground, tearoom and walking routes on the Queensberry Estate.
Drumlanrig Castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, set on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. Built between 1679 and 1689 from distinctive pink sandstone, the "Pink Palace" overlooks the Nith Valley and has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers. Inside is part of the Buccleuch art collection, including Rembrandt's An Old Woman Reading, along with tapestries and other objects of art.
Sat nav: DG12 5LL
A working Scottish distillery in Annan where guided tours end with tastings and a coffee shop stop.
Annandale Distillery in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, makes single malt Scotch whisky and describes itself as Scotland's only single cask single malt distillery. Every cask is bottled on its own, never vatted. The distillery was founded in 1836, closed in 1924 and was restored after 2007, and it now sits beside a visitor centre.
Tip: Finish your visit with a stop at the Maltings Coffee Shop.
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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