Towns & Villages | Serenity 22 Barend

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Afternoon Tea at The Olive Tree Tearoom, Dalbeattie

Dalbeattie Garden Centre, Shop, Tea Room

27 October 202323 November 202322 Barend

Dalbeattie Garden Centre is reasonably priced and has a good selection of plants. The shop is surprisingly big and has necessary gardening items as well as toys and gifts.

Visit to John Paul Jones Cottage Museum

26 October 202328 October 202322 Barend

8 miles E 17 min drive DG2 8BQ

Recommend using What 3 Words to find the entrance: comet.lump.sprouting

If you’re thinking “John Paul Jones – who’s he?” Then you’re not alone. 3 of the 5 people in our group hadn’t heard of him before visiting this little museum in the village of Kirkbean.

It’s the Historic Birthplace Museum of John Paul Jones, the “Father of the American Navy.”

The causeway back to the mainland from Rough Island

Walk from Kippford to Rough Island

5 December 202221 April 202622 Barend

Distance from the lodge:
5 miles WSW ~11 min drive DG5 4LB

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.

A small beach with a narrow sea inlet on the Solway coast

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.

JJ’s Fish & Chip Shop – Southerness

5 September 202223 November 202322 Barend

Last checked April 2026 – we visited and updated this post 🙂 Our previous visit was September 2022.

This chip shop is open 8 months of the year from March to November. It’s a little further away than the one in Dalbeattie.

Kippford – the Solway Riviera

19 April 202215 March 202522 Barend

Kippford is a picturesque little village that has also been called the “Solway Riviera”. It benefits from the Gulf Stream and is popular for sailing, with many small yachts moored in the tidal estuary of the River Urr.

Aerial photo of Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Castle Douglas ‘the Food Town’

15 April 202215 March 202522 Barend

We stayed in Castle Douglas and liked it so much we kept coming back!

From the town it’s only a short walk to Carlingwark Loch, and then just past the loch is Threave House & Gardens.

Kirkcudbright ‘the Artist Town’

9 April 202222 March 202522 Barend

Pronounced “kir-coo-bree“

Kirkcudbright has colourful houses, independent shops, a marina, a harbour and castle ruins overlooking the town. It’s a renowned artist town with art galleries to peruse. It’s also a classic harbour town famous for its scallop and lobster fishing.