Activities - Serenity 22 Barend

Gone Fishing! near Barend, Dalbeattie

20 May 202420 May 202422 Barend

Barend Loch, nestled peacefully within the tranquil surroundings of the lodges, provides an idyllic setting for carp fishing.

Just 100 metres away, only a 4 minute walk!

Guests at Serenity don’t need a permit, and can enjoy carp 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!

Walking & Hiking in Dumfries & Galloway

30 March 202416 March 202522 Barend

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:

Sculpture of a Stag at Bainloch Deer Park Visitor Centre & Bistro

Top 3 “must see” places near Dalbeattie, D&G

11 November 202315 March 202522 Barend

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…

View of the stream and Solway from Criffel

Criffel Hike (out-and-back trail) Review

30 October 202316 March 202522 Barend

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.

A waterfall with 3 distinct water streams

Mares Braids / Back Burn Waterfall Sandyhills

25 March 202327 March 202522 Barend

Distance from the lodge:
2 miles W ~5 min drive DG5 4PA

Mares Braids Waterfall, also known as Back Burn (sometimes Backburn) Waterfall, is just a short drive from Serenity 22 Barend, by the A710 heading NE from Sandyhills. It’s near the Southwick Coastal Reserve and RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast.

⚠️ This walk is only accessible when the tide is out so you must check the tide times before going. The tides near Sandyhills move very quickly, and people have been trapped by them. ⚠️

Fantastic Outdoor Rock Climbing Experience

16 March 202315 March 202522 Barend

8 miles E ~17 min drive DG2 8BG

We spent an afternoon Rock Climbing with Daniel Johnston at Powillimount Beach and thoroughly enjoyed it – despite the cold, hail and snow at various points in the afternoon!

The causeway back to the mainland from Rough Island

Walk from Kippford to Rough Island

5 December 202226 March 202522 Barend

View of Rough Island from Kippford Beach

As soon as we heard about the walk to Rough Island, we looked forward to exploring the island. (We’ve previously done a similar walk to Davaar Island off Campbeltown, Kintyre.)

This area of the Solway Coast has such shallow seas that there are vast mudflats when the tide is out.

Rough island is about 3 miles / 5km from from Serenity 22 Barend “as the crow flies”.

⚠️ Check when to avoid crossing as the causeway is underwater for 5 (five) hours during high tide.

Beautiful Coastal Walk Sandyhills to Rockcliffe

29 September 202213 March 202522 Barend

The Rockcliffe to Sandyhills coastal walk has been described as one of the best in Britain, with stunning views across the Solway to Cumbria and the Isle of Man as well as along the Galloway coast.

Rockcliffe is just a short drive (or long-ish 😉 walk) from Serenity 22 Barend.

Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool

29 September 202225 March 202322 Barend

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.

Cream o’ Galloway Ice Cream Parlour

1 September 202210 March 202522 Barend

Cream o’ Galloway has been in the news in the last few months (Mar 2025). The Visitor Centre/Ice Cream Parlour that we visited when reviewing below is now closed. This is because the company was bought in January 2024, by a company called Brymor. Excerpts of a statement in Jan ’25 from Brymor are below.

“In January 2024, Brymor purchased the Cream O’ Galloway Ice Cream Brand.

Brymor manufactures and distributes premium ice cream, made on the farm on their site outside Masham, North Yorkshire and has been trading for 40 years.

It was evident from the outset that the manufacturing equipment [at the Cream o’ Galloway farm near Rainton, Gatehouse of Fleet,] and the whole site was tired and required significant new investment. Therefore, we are consolidating the manufacturing to the Brymor site.

Brymor has over 40 years’ experience in ice cream manufacturing … the brand will benefit from newer, more efficient equipment, as well as benefiting from the sustainable and environmentally friendly resources that Brymor has implemented over the last 4 years.

We will continue to distribute the Cream O’Galloway range from [The Cocoabean Company, Ashland, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4NP] … This means all local customers and holiday visitors can continue to use the full range of ice cream at The Cocoabean whilst enjoying the fabulous facilities, events and of course chocolate at the Cocoabean.”

Distance from the lodge: 29 miles WSW ~41 min drive

Cream o’ Galloway is a great place if you love ice cream!

They have a wide variety of flavours and a range of price options.

We spent a sunny afternoon there.