Email
Glenfinart Cottage enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Castle Douglas
Glenfinart
holiday cottage is a superb traditional cottage in the heart of Dumfries
and Galloway perfect for self catering holidays and short breaks.
Glenfinart Cottage is in the Haugh or Urr, a small country village less than 5 miles from Castle Douglas (also known as the "food town"). The Haugh of Urr has a childrens play park and a pub - the Laurie Arms serving guest real ales and superb bar meals.
Glenfinart Cottage Accommodation
Glenfinart Cottage is a traditional Dumfries and Galloway cottage dating from the late 1800's which has been upgraded and furnished to provide comfort as well as character.
The cottage sleeps 4 people, with one double room and one twin room. It has been refurbished inside to a high standard to provide quiet and comfortable self catering accommodation to relax and unwind. Its all on one floor (no stairs) and there is a large sunny garden to the rear.
It's ideal for families (the pub is also child friendly), couples or groups of friends.
Kitchen and dining area with views out over the garden. The kitchen and dining area comes complete with gas hob, electric oven, microwave, fridge freezer, washing machine and dish washer. An airing cupboard provides an indoor drying facility. Access to the garden is from the kitchen.
The cottage has central heating and double glazing throughout, and the lounge boasts its own multi-fuel stove to keep you even cosier on a chilly evening. The bathroom has bath and shower.
At the back is the cottage's own private enclosed garden. Just outside the back door is a sheltered area which is a real sun trap, a great place to sit out for meals or drinks, have a barbeque or let the kids play.
The rest of the garden is lawn with a separate patio area at the far end soaking up the afternoon and evening sun with views out over the surrounding fields. When they're in season and available, you're are welcome to pick the herbs just outside the back door to flavour the evening meal, or treat yourselves to fruit from the raspberry canes, strawberries and other fruit shrubs in the garden.
There is a clothes line for your use in the garden and parking for two cars on gravel at the front of the cottage. Whatever your style of holiday, Glenfinart Cottage will make it enjoyable.
If you want to venture further afield you are spoiled for activities to keep you busy.
Activities and Attractions
It's a great base for exploring the surrounding attractions of Dumfries
and Galloway such as the beach and walks at Rockcliffe, forest walks and
"7stanes" mountain biking, Mersehead RSPB nature reserve the
Red Kite trail.
Nearby visitor attractions include Mabie Farm Park and Cream o' Galloway organic farm and ice cream makers. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre near New Galloway has cycling routes, walks and wildlife exhibition.
The sailing town of Kippford is less than 15 minutes drive. Castle Douglas is 4 miles away for shops, supermarket, swimming pool, and market, and Threave Castle and Gardens is also close by.
Within easy reach is Loch Ken for water sports, fishing and the official Red Kite trail; Kirkcudbright, where you can watch the fishing boats land their catch, sit in a cafe or restaurant or look round the castle; and the Dumfries and Galloway coastline offers beaches galore for those sunny summer days.
Numerous golf courses surround the area from informal 9 hole to championship standard courses. There are plenty of options for walkers, from local walks along the river Urr by the village, to the extensive hills in the Galloway Forest to the north.
Great for cycling breaks, cyclists can enjoy a wide network of country lanes straight from the cottage, which is itself on national cycle route number 7. Mountain bikers can go to the forests at Dalbeattie a few minutes drive away where there are graded routes to suit all standards.
. Mabie Farm Park – outdoor and indoor activities for all of the family. Attractions include quad bike track, a grass sledging slope, pedal go carts, a boating pond, lots of animals and an indoor playbarn.
. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre, near New Galloway – see wild goats and red deer, forest walks and cycle tracks.
. Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries - original documents and relics of the poet and a fascinating scale model of Dumfries in the 1790s.
. Castle Douglas is 4 miles away for shops, supermarket, swimming pool, and market.
. Kirkcudbright – the “scenic fishing town with an artistic heritage”, a delightful coastal town where you can watch the fishing boats land their catch, sit in a café or restaurant or look round the castle.
Walking
The Haugh of Urr provides a perfect base for walking. There are local
walks along the river Urr straight from Glenfinart Cottage, and within
short distances there are numerous hill, forest and coastal walks. Here
is a hand picked selection to show the variety available:
. Coastal – Rockcliffe to Sandyhills
About 15 minutes drive to the south from the Haugh of Urr are the villages
of Kippford, and Rockcliffe. Beyond Rockcliffe is a path along the coastline
and cliff tops round to Sandyhills bay. This is a good walk for viewing
seabirds and if you are lucky – Peregrine Falcons.
. Coastal Hill - Criffel
Criffel is the prominent hill you can see on the approach to Dumfries
from the East. From the cottage, cut across to the A711 towards Dumfries,
then at Beeswing take the minor road to New Abbey.
A few miles to the south is the starting point for the ascent – strenuous but relatively short. On a clear day there are superb views out towards the Solway Firth and the Lake District.
. Woodland - Threave Estate
In the grounds of Threave Estate close to Castle Douglas there are low
level walks through farmland and woodland. This can easily be combined
with a visit to Threave Castle or the Countryside Centre.
. Galloway Forest and beyond
In the forests to the north and west of Loch Ken and New Galloway there
are numerous forest walks, the Southern Upland Way and the rugged hills
of Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells.
More details of all these walks and other ideas are in the visitors information kept at the cottage.
Bird watching
There is good bird watching without having to leave the garden! From the
usual array of garden birds, overhead you may see Buzzards, Sparrow Hawks
and at dusk - Owls. Look out for Merlin and Hen Harrier – both have
been seen from the A75 near by.
There are also bird reserves within easy reach of the cottage. On the banks of Loch Ken there is the Ken-Dee Marshes RSPB nature reserve and Red Kite driving trail. Not far from Creetown is the Wood of Cree RSPB nature reserve.
Mersehead RSPB nature reserve and Caerlaverock, the Wildfowl and Wetlands trust reserve are coastal based and especially good to see winter visitors such as swans and geese.
Golf
With over 30 golf courses to choose from the area has plenty to offer.
Here is a selection of 9 and 18 hole courses of differing standard and
character – all within easy reach of Glenfinart Cottage.
Local 9 hole:
. Dalbeattie Golf Club
9-hole - 4200 yards – Par 68. Parkland “Local parkland
course providing an excellent challenge for golfers of all abilities".
There are some magnificent views along the Urr valley, and the course
is a haven for wildlife - birds of prey fly overhead, deer are often seen
and woodland songbirds abound in the Rounall Wood, which is adjacent to
the course.”
. Castle Douglas, parkland 9-holes-5400 yards- Par 68 “Well laid out 9-hole course on the outskirts of town. A good test for all types of golfer”
. Craigieknowes Golf Club - Near Kippford., parkland 9 holes - 2782 yards - Par 54. “This is a great course for beginners to enjoy whilst at the same time presenting a fair test for the more experienced golfer”
Cycling
Glenfinart Cottage is located on National Cycle route number 7, which
in one direction takes you towards Dumfries and in the other direction
to Castle Douglas and beyond. There are an abundance of country lanes
around the Haugh of Urr to explore, good for taking in sites such as the
Mote of Urr bronze age earth works and Crannogs in Loch Milton.
Here are some cycle route ideas covering an area from Kirkudbright to New Galloway:
The forestry commission 7Stanes initiative provides off-road forest trail and mountain biking trails for the public. Off-road forest trails at Dalbeattie and Mabie provide excellent mountain biking for all skills levels.
Less strenuous forest trails and country roads can be cycled at Glentrool and Clatteringshaws in the heart of Galloway Forest Park.
Holiday Cottage Location and Directions
Glenfinart Cottage is situated in the Dumfries and Galloway village of
Haugh of Urr located 16 miles west of Dumfries and 4 miles from Castle
Douglas.
By road from the North:
Leave the M74 at Moffat (junction 15) and take the A701 to Dumfries. Join
the A75 and follow the signs to Stranraer taking you round Dumfries. From
the far side of Dumfries continue on the A75 for 16 miles passing though
Crocketford then Springholm.
Approximately 2 miles after Springholm turn left onto the B794 for 1 mile to arrive in the Haugh of Urr. At the cross roads (phone box on right, shop on the left) turn left into School Brae. Glenfinart Cottage is the second cottage on the right. Park on the gravel bay directly outside the cottage.
By road from the South:
Leave the M74 at Gretna Green and take the A75 to Dumfries. On reaching
Dumfries continue on the A75 following the signs to Stranraer. From the
far side of Dumfries continue on the A75 for 16 miles passing though Crocketford
then Springholm.
Approximately 2 miles after Springholm turn left onto the B794 for 1 mile to arrive in the Haugh of Urr.
At the cross roads (phone box on right, shop on the left) turn left into School Brae. Glenfinart Cottage is the second cottage on the right. Park on the gravel bay directly outside the cottage.
In brief..
· M74 South
· M74 North
· A75 to Dumfries
· A75 from Dumfries
· 16 miles south west
· Turn left onto B794
· 1 mile to Haugh of Urr
Email Glenfinart Cottage enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
