Scottish Tourist Board 4-Star Self-catering holiday accommodation in Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway Holiday Lodges, Self-Catering Holiday Lodges Dumfries and Galloway Scotland

for information about our lodges

About Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland's hidden tourism jewel

...without forgetting our own specific area, the Colvend Coast

Things to See and Do

Plan your trip

Nature at its best

The Colvend Coast on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth is the perfect location for great holidays for families looking for plenty to see and do to those seeking a more relaxed break.


Galloway Lodges at Barend are near Sandyhills Bay and just 10 minutes' walk from one of several pristine sandy beaches to be found along the coast. Children will also be delighted to go paddling or rock-pooling at Rockcliffe or Kippford which is also a haven for the yachting fraternity.


Our holiday lodges are adjacent to Bainloch Deer Park where visitors can experience a deer safari followed by a tasty lunch in the café.


There are also plenty opportunities for horse riding, cycling, coastal and forest walking trails, birdwatching, golf and fishing.


The Colvend Coast is a beautiful, unspoilt area boasting spectacular rugged coastlines and pristine sandy beaches. Birds of prey can often be seen flying overhead and badgers are regular visitors too!


There are many pretty villages to visit including Kippford, Rockcliffe or, further afield, Gatehouse-of-Fleet and you will find many more if you choose to hike or bike along the Solway Coast  National Tourist Route from Annan, an old market town. 


You can then pick up the Galloway National Tourist Route from Gretna. The road keeps as near to the coast as possible and the aptly-named Solway Coast Heritage Trail is easy to follow because it’s way-marked with the symbol of a Celtic cross.

The UK's first Dark Sky Park

Dalbeattie Forest with its Dalbeattie Love Heart Granite Stone sculpture is also perfect for long walks and boasts a free-to-use children's forest adventure play park. See if you can spot the Golden Hedgehogs!


The Galloway Forest, Britain's largest forest park offering 300 square miles to explore, is 45 minutes' drive away and the Galloway Hills provide excellent hillwalking opportunities. 


Come and enjoy self-catering accommodation near to the Galloway forest with Britains first-ever Dark Skies Park. With low light pollution due to the area's small population, it is perfect for stargazing on a clear night. Splendid scenery for all the family.

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A cornucopia of feathered friends awaits you

The Mull of Galloway is the most southern point in Scotland with spectacular panoramic views from Scar Rocks, an outlying part of the reserve with a small gannet colony, over to the Isle of Man, the Cumbrian Fells, the Western Isles and the coastline of Northern Ireland.


Classed as a nature reserve, it is great for bird spotting, with notable species including guillemots, ravens and kittiwakes to whet the appetite of the twitchers amongst you.

Here you will also find the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.


The whole area is unspoiled with its low population density making it a haven for a wide range of wildlife. You will see birds of prey flying overhead including red kite, buzzards, peregrine falcons and, if you are very lucky, even golden eagles.


You can also see barnacle geese flying in formation and a wonderful place to visit, for adults and children alike, is the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve at Caelaverock, within easy travelling distance. There are also 18 other reserves.


Another must-see is the Red Kite Feeding Station at Bellymack Hill Farm, Lauriston where, at specific times each day, you can watch the birds coming in for a feed.


Not surprisingly, Dumfries and Galloway has a number of Nature Reserves including four RSPB reserves at Mersehead, Loch Ken, Wood of Cree and Mull of Galloway.

Challenge yourself

If you enjoy long forest and coastal walks,  our holiday lodges in Dumfries and Galloway are for you. Similarly, if you're an animal lover, you may well spot badgers and deer as well as red squirrels and otters.


For the hardy walkers who like a challenge, there are many fabulous hills, for example The Merrick at 843 metres high and its smaller sibling Criffel, standing at 570 metres. Both afford stunning views over towards the Lake District and are popular hiking trails.


Water sports lovers will be able to fulfil their passion at Loch Ken or at the Three Lochs Water Park en route to Stranraer.


The area abounds in castles to visit including Drumlanrig, Caerlaverock, Dunskey and Cardoness.


And last, but certainly not least, Dalbeattie Forest with its world-renowned 7Stanes Mountain Biking Trails is perfect for adrenaline seekers on two wheels and is just 15 minutes' drive away.

There is much to see and do in Dumfries and Galloway during your stay at Galloway Lodges. For much more information, please visit our Things to See and Do page. We also provide guests with a handy Things to See and Do brochure on booking to help you plan your stay here or you can download it at the top of the page.


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