After we’d visited Crawick Multiverse, we made the short(ish) journey to Wanlockhead Inn, Scotland’s Highest pub (1531ft / 467m above sea level)! It’s about 10 miles (20 mins) from Crawick Multiverse.
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Crawick Multiverse, Artistic Landscape
Crawick Multiverse, near Sanquhar (pronounced “sang·kuh”) is a very interesting place to visit. I had a misconception of it when I first heard of it, thinking it was to do with science and geology. However, it’s actually a piece of “land art”. It was designed to reflect the cosmos in this area that’s celebrated for its dark skies.
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Gone Fishing! near Barend, Dalbeattie
Barend Loch, nestled peacefully within the tranquil surroundings of the lodges, provides an idyllic setting for fishing.
Just 100 metres away, only a 4 minute walk!
Guests at Serenity don’t need a permit, and can enjoy fishing right on the loch opposite the lodge (however please only use barbless hooks). Legend has it that a monster 14lb carp was even caught here!
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New Glazed Landing for Light & Privacy!
We’re excited to announce a recent upgrade at the lodge – a brand new landing area at the top of the stairs! Frosted glass fills the frames, allowing light to pass through and keeping a sense of openness with ample light for the landing and hallway. The design not only ensures privacy for anyone inside the room, as they can’t be seen from the other side, but also maintains the open and airy feel.
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The Birch Tree Hotel, Dalbeattie
7 miles NW ~13 min drive DG5 4AH
Our Experience
We visited The Birchtree Hotel on a midweek evening in March. Initially we sat in the Bar area, unaware that there’s a separate restaurant area upstairs.
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Walking & Hiking in Dumfries & Galloway
We love the walking and hiking near Serenity 22 Barend and in Dumfries & Galloway.
From gentle strolls to more strenuous hikes, there’s rewarding scenery every time!
Here are some of the places we’ve enjoyed going to:
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Top 10 places to eat near the lodge
It’s actually a top 7 list at the moment! The Crab Pot opened, then closed again! Also one or two of our other favourite places have closed in the last few months, so we’ll be using it as an excuse to eat out at a few more nearby 😋
April 2026 – Updates incoming, we ate at a few places on our recent trip (inc. Caddie’s Cove) and will update this page soon!
This list reflects our tastes and preferences, but we hope you’ll also enjoy going to eat at all of these places!
They’re listed by how close they are to the lodge, with a brief description and, where available, a link to our review so you can learn more.
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Top 3 “must see” places near Dalbeattie, D&G
We keep coming back to Dumfries & Galloway because we have favourite places to return to, and keep discovering new attractions we want to see.
Before that, we spent years going on holidays and rarely returning to the same place twice!
So, if you only come to Serenity 22 Barend once, here are our top picks…
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Criffel Hike (out-and-back trail) Review
11 miles NE ~20 min drive DG2 8DH
Criffel is a hill in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It qualifies as a Marilyn.
The moderately strenuous climb is well worth the effort, rewarding you with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
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New En-suite and Shower!
One first priority when we acquired the lodge, in terms of bigger renovations, was a second shower.
The original en-suite bathroom, a relic from the 70s, only had a dated toilet and sink, with no heating! The sink, awkwardly positioned over the stairs, felt a little cramped and limited. It was hard to imagine where a shower could even fit.
But now…
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