Red Squirrel on Feeder

Threave Garden & Estate Castle Douglas Review

22 Barend

Many years ago, before we had our children, we visited Dumfries & Galloway with another couple and camped at Hoddom Castle near Ecclefechan. During that holiday we visited Threave Castle, but at the time we didn’t know about Threave Gardens.

We discovered it a few years back when looking for a holiday cottage near Castle Douglas and ended up staying at the Gate Lodge. That holiday eventually led to us getting the lodge at Barend!

Threave Gardens & House
Red Squirrel on Feeder

Threave Garden & Estate is a great day out and one of the highlights for us was seeing red squirrels!

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Lunch at Street Lights Cafe in Castle Douglas

22 Barend
Frontage of Street Lights Cafe Castle Douglas

13 miles NW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ

Street Lights is a small family run café in the town centre, which serves a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, toasties, paninis, etc. There are good veggie, vegan and gluten free options, as well as delicious home baked cakes. They also do take away.

It was quite busy when we visited, but they found us a table for five.

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Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool

22 Barend
Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool

Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool is open throughout the week and it’s not necessary to book. Just check the timetable on their website and turn up. It’s only a small complex but has everything you need: changing rooms, lockers, showers and a small seating area where you can get drinks from the vending machines.

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Review of Lunch at The Old School House

22 Barend

Distance from the lodge: 21 miles W ~30 min drive

On a previous visit to the area, we travelled to The Old School House Café/Restaurant (on the A75 a few miles SW of Castle Douglas), only to find that they were closed for holidays. This time we checked they were open and eagerly awaited our lunch.

We arrived around 1:30pm on a Friday. We’d just managed to get in before they closed at 2pm for a few days staff holiday over the weekend, so were relieved!

It was much larger and spacious than we thought. We were a little concerned that it might be ‘too nice’ for us with all the family in tow ?, but we were quickly put at ease.

A friendly gentleman showed us to a free table, everything on the menu – plus specials on the boards – was very tempting!

Inside The Old School House, Ringford, near Castle Douglas
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