Things to do, places to see
We hope you’ll really enjoy yourselves while you’re on holiday in Dumfries & Galloway! What kind of break do you want, active or relaxing? We’ve tried to cover both! Places we’ve visited are listed, plus lots more we’d still like to see (mostly by distance from the lodge).
This page also has other information you may need during your stay, from places to buy groceries to the more mundane ‘what’s the WiFi code’ and ‘how to control the boiler’ – it’s all here.
Click on the images or headings below for more info.
Jump to…
- Things you might need
Things to do while on holiday
Below are things and places we’ve been to, or plan to visit in and around Sandyhills, the Solway Coast, or further afield in Dumfries & Galloway. Click on the an image or heading below for more information and our review. We also have a post that lists our top 3 places for each category.
These tags may make it easier to find activities:
- on rainy days
- with free admission
- £10 and under per person
- in walking distance – this is for a (reasonably) gentle stroll; for more strenuous walking and hiking see those tags.
- less than 45 min drive
Would you find another category helpful? Let us know…
For even more holiday ideas, see: www.visitsouthwestscotland.com
Sightseeing
Sandyhills Beach
About 10 mins walk
Large, sandy and warmed by the gulf stream, popular for paddling and exploring rock pools.
Excellent for walkers at low tide, check ‘good to know’ for tides info.
For more beaches to visit click on the beach tag!
Kippford – the Solway Riviera
5 miles W ~10 min drive DG5 4GA
A picturesque little village popular for sailing. Can be part of a longer hike or take a short walk along the track to the next village.
Threave Garden & Estate
14 miles WNW ~27 min drive DG7 1RX
A garden for all seasons and a haven for wildlife.
There’s lots to see and do at Threave, including unique gardens and glasshouses, a Scottish baronial house, easy and more strenuous walks (Threave Castle is part of the wider estate), diverse wildlife including an osprey platform and bat reserve, and food and drink at the cafe!
Caerlaverock Castle
26 miles NE ~45 min drive DG1 4RU
As you can see from the image, Caerlaverock is an unusually shaped – triangular – castle!
It a great day out, with plenty to explore around the castle ruins and visitor centre.
Clatteringshaws Loch
33 miles NW ~50 min drive DG7 3SQ
We love this place – a haven for waterbirds in summer, and has views of the rolling Galloway Hills. Great walking and stargazing in this area too!
⚠️ Sadly the excellent Visitor Centre / Café and toilets are currently closed. The loch is still worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Culzean Castle
67 miles NW ~1 hr 50 mins drive KA19 8LE
This is obviously further to travel. It’s worth it though because Culzean is the flagship property of the NTS…
A cliff-top masterpiece, opulent to the extreme, it rises above woods, beaches, secret follies and play parks and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived there.
Stargazing
33 miles WNW ~50 min drive DG7 3SQ
Galloway Forest Park has been named a Gold Tier park for its breathtaking and rare stargazing conditions.
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Attractions
Bainloch Deer Park Visitor Centre & Bistro
About 15 mins walk
Bainloch Deer Park Visitor Centre & Bistro is right next door to Barend, and so it’s very convenient for a late breakfast, lunch or afternoon treat.
John Paul Jones Cottage Museum
8 miles E 17 min drive DG2 8BQ
Recommend using What 3 Words to find the entrance: comet.lump.sprouting
The Historic Birthplace Museum of John Paul Jones, the “Father of the American Navy.”
The Museum tells the story of this Naval hero who was born and lived his early life at the small cottage that forms part of the museum.
Sulwath Brewers
13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DT
“Sulwath” is the ancient name for the Solway Estuary.
Brewers of hand crafted traditional real ales to exacting standards.
“Conducted tour every Monday & Friday at 1pm.”
Mabie Farm Park
17 miles NE ~26 mins drive
A fun filled day out with animals to feed and lots of variety of play equipment for all ages, set in the beautiful Dumfries & Galloway countryside.
Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium
24 miles WSW ~37 min drive DG6 4EG
The Dark Space Planetarium is an interesting experience if you enjoy all things Space related!
There are lots of interactive exhibits and a planetarium.
Crawick Multiverse, Artistic Landscape
45 miles NNE ~65 min drive DG4 6EG
A piece of “land art” designed to reflect the cosmos in this area that’s celebrated for its dark skies.
Amazing landforms and sculptures that represent parts of the universe.
The Gem Rock Museum
39 miles W ~52 min drive DG8 7HJ
A collection of many fine and rare examples of crystals and other colourful specimens in an interactive museum with shop and Tearoom.
The Devil’s Porridge
40 miles ENE ~55 min drive DG12 6TF
An award-winning museum that tells the story of HM Factory Gretna, the UK’s largest munitions factory in World War I.
‘Mackintosh’ Day Out…
123 miles NNW ~2h 30m min drive G84 9AJ
We don’t mean a rainy day! If you’ve heard of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or you love the ‘Glasgow Style’, or Art Noveau, we recommend these places…
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Shopping for gifts etc.
Kirkcudbright
(pronounced kir-coo-bree)
23 miles WSW~37 min drive
A renowned artist town with colourful houses, independent shops, a marina, harbour and castle ruins.
Castle Douglas
13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DX
An historic market town, known as Dumfries and Galloway’s “Food Town”, Castle Douglas has over 50 independent businesses offering locally produced food, drink, and confectionary.
There are also lots of restaurants and cafes to choose from (see some under places to eat).
It also has art galleries, a theatre, and shops to browse if you’re looking for gifts etc.
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Active
Swimming
About 4 mins walk!
Book with Barend Holiday Lodges for free exclusive use of the swimming pool!
Free Round of Golf
4 miles W ~8 min drive DG5 4QS
When you book through Barend Holiday Lodges you can have a free visit to Craigieknowes Golf Club.
Rock Climbing
8 miles E ~17 min drive DG2 8BG
We spent an afternoon Rock Climbing with Daniel Johnston at Powillimount Beach and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Galloway Activity Centre
23 miles NW ~35 min drive DG7 3NQ
Loads of adventurous activities to choose from including sailing, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, archery, mountain biking, climbing and much, much more…
Walking / Hiking
Barend is perfect for walking; there’s picturesque countryside, a nearby loch and a short stroll to the beach on the Solway Coast.
Venture a little further for coastal walks, and more spectacular views in Dumfries & Galloway.
Horse Riding / Pony Trekking
There are 2 trekking and riding centres not far away (near Kirkcudbright).
20 miles W ~35 min drive DG7 2AR
Lochhill Equestrian & Trekking Centre
30 miles W ~48 min drive DG6 4TU
Mountain Biking
The 7Stanes Centres (five in D&G) offer award winning mountain biking, superb scenery, and a bike friendly welcome.
If you’re new to mountain biking there are routes for all abilities.
Dalbeattie (6 miles NW ~11 min drive DG5 4QU) is renowned amongst the 7stanes for its technical trails, granite features and great coastal views.
For more info about mountain biking in the area see:
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Places to eat – Cafés
Jump to Fast Food · Pubs & Restaurants
See our top 10 places to eat recommendations!
Bainloch Deer Park Visitor Centre & Bistro
About 15 mins walk
The nearest café, right next door to Barend, and so very convenient for a late breakfast, lunch or afternoon treat.
Loch Arthur Farm Shop and Café
About 15 mins walk
11 miles N ~17 min drive Beeswing, DG2 8JQ
A pleasant café that offers a range of delicious items including homemade cakes.
It’s part of a working community that includes the Café & Kitchen, a Bakery, Butchery and Creamery.
Abbey Cottage Tearoom by Sweetheart Abbey
12 miles NE ~20 min drive DG2 8BY
Award winning independent tearoom right next to Sweetheart Abbey ruins.
Good food served by friendly staff! Plenty of parking behind the tearoom. Indoor and outdoor seating and also a small gift shop.
abbeycottagetearoom.com/contact
26 Main St, New Abbey, DG2 8BY
Street Lights Café
13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ
Established café offering snacks and lunches with a continental style and also home baked cakes and slices.
fb.com/streetlightscoffeehouse
187 King Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1DZ
Designs Gallery & Café
13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ
Open Mon to Sat 10am – 4pm serving coffees, cakes and delicious lunches.
There’s also an outside garden area.
179 King Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1DZ
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Also see: Places to Eat and cafés, pubs
Places to eat – Fast Food
Jump to Cafés · Pubs & Restaurants
Chip Shops
- The Chip Shop – Dalbeattie (5 miles NW ~11 min drive)
- JJ’s Fish & Chip Shop – Southerness (7 miles E ~15 min drive) – Seasonal, check opening times.
- Moore’s Fish & Chips – Castle Douglas (13 miles WNW ~26 min drive)
Takeaways
- Rose Garden / Ship Inn Restaurant and Chinese Takeaway (5 miles NW ~12 min drive)
- Shezan Indian Takeaway – Dalbeattie (5 miles NW ~12 min drive)
- Sea Horse Chinese Dalbeattie (5 miles NW ~12 min drive)
- Best Pizza & Kebab – Dalbeattie (5 miles NW ~12 min drive)
- Thyme to Go Sandwich Shop – Dalbeattie (6 miles NW ~14 min drive)
- The Jewel in the Crown Indian – Castle Douglas (13 miles WNW ~20 min drive)
- Halikarnas (Chips, Pizzas, Burgers, Kebabs) – Castle Douglas (13 miles WNW ~20 min drive)
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Places to eat – Pubs & Restaurants
The Crab Pot
About 4 mins walk! DG5 4NU
Opening in March 2025!
Follow the links for more info, opening times etc.
The Birch Tree Hotel (Restaurant & Bar)
7 miles NW ~13 min drive DG5 4AH
Family owned contemporary restaurant and bar offering good quality food and drink from local suppliers.
1 Maxwell Street, Dalbeattie, DG5 4AH
Mr Pook’s Kitchen
13 miles WNW ~22 min drive DG7 1AD
Mr Pook’s Kitchen works closely with local suppliers. As well as foraging and collecting ingredients, they bring the best raw ingredients to the dishes, and turn them into innovative tastes of the region.
Open Wed – Sat
The Old Bank, 38 King Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1AD
The Olive Retreat Restaurant
13 miles WNW ~22 min drive DG7 1DX
A relaxed, family friendly mediterranean restaurant & café with a really interesting and varied menu. Specifically, there’s a good choice of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes with the menu organised well for each. You can pick a selection of small dishes (tapas) or order mains with a variety of sides.
139 King Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1DX
Ernespie House Hotel
13 miles WNW ~22 min drive DG7 3JG
A traditional hotel that’s open for meals and afternoon teas for non-residents.
Oak panelled dining area with log burner. Friendly staff and delicious food.
Ernespie Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Ernespie Rd, Castle Douglas, DG7 3JG
Somewhere to suggest? Let us know…
Also see: Places to Eat and pubs, restaurants
Things you might need while on holiday
Groceries
Convenience Stores
Londis Colvend – Well stocked convenience store.
Lochend Colvend, Dalbeattie DG5 4QD
Google Maps: 2 miles ~5 min drive DG5 4QD
Co-op Dalbeattie
55 High Street, Dalbeattie, DG5 4HA
Google Maps: 5 miles ~10 min drive
Spar Dalbeattie
The Cross, 49 High St, Dalbeattie DG5 4HD
Google Maps: 5 miles ~10 min drive
Londis Dalbeattie
286-292 High St, Dalbeattie DG5 4DJ
Google Maps: 6 miles ~11 min drive
Supermarkets that Deliver to DG5 4NU
We’ve had deliveries from these supermarkets to the lodge. The address is: Serenity 22 Barend, Sandyhills, Dalbeattie, DG5 4NU.
Asda “We offer both home delivery and Click & Collect for DG5 4NU.” Sign into your account, then go to Your Account > Account Settings > Address & phone book to add the address.
Tesco – sign into your account, then add the lodge address by clicking Change delivery details then Add a new address.
Morrisons – sign into your account, then add the lodge address by clicking My account > Account settings > Delivery addresses.
Supermarkets
Co-op Castle Douglas Superstore
Cotton St, Castle Douglas, DG7 1AN
Google Maps: 13 miles ~20 min drive
what3words: ///dispensed.voltages.radiates
Tesco Castle Douglas Superstore
Ernespie Rd, Castle Douglas, DG7 1LD
Google Maps: 13 miles ~20 min drive
Morrisons
Brooms Rd, Dumfries DG1 2DR
Google Maps: 18 miles ~30 min drive
Tesco Extra Dumfries
Cuckoo Bridge Retail Park, Glasgow Rd, Dumfries, DG2 9BF
Google Maps: 18 miles ~30 min drive
Lidl
Brooms Rd, Dumfries, DG1 2DZ
Google Maps: 18 miles ~30 min drive
Aldi
Oakwell Road, Castle Douglas, DG7 1JY
Google Maps: 12 miles ~22 min drive
Fuel Stations
Esso
15 Maxwell St, Dalbeattie DG5 4AH
Nearest fuel station to the lodge. Open 6am–11pm every day.
Shell Collin
Annan Road, DG1 3SE, Dumfries, GB
Nearest 24 hour fuel station.
Instructions
Heating (thermostat / boiler)
Something missing? Let us know…
Facilities, Recycling etc.
Launderette
The washing machine costs £5.00.
You’ll need your own laundry detergent.
The washing machine lasts around 35 minutes; please stay with your washing.
The tumble dryer is 20p/4 mins.
Recycling
There are 3 bins and 1 box outside the lodge for recycling and general waste. They’re emptied on Monday & Friday. We’ve listed which items go where on this page. You’ll also receive an email from Barend with more information about the items to put in each bin.
Checking out
Please leave the lodge and return your key to Reception (or the postbox outside Reception) no later than 10:00am on the day of departure.
When you’re leaving, please…
- Return keys to any doors they’ve been removed from.
- Open all windows to ensure air maximum ventilation.
- Empty the vacuum cleaner into the outdoor bin if you’ve used it during your stay.
- Empty all internal bins and rubbish into the outside bins per the recycling guide.
- Strip all beds that you used including pillow protectors.
- Put the linen, tea towels, oven gloves and towels in the provided canvas laundry bag (this is usually on a hook in the hallway or in the hallway cupboard – see picture below) and tie closed.
- Fill the dishwasher with kitchen items you have used and turn it on – this makes it easier to disinfect kitchen items between guests.
…thank you!
Emergencies
Police, Ambulance, Fire, HM Coastguard
In an emergency, call 999. Calls are free from any phone.
An emergency is when:
- Someone’s life is at risk
- Someone is injured
- There is a fire
- Offenders are nearby
- Immediate help is needed
You can make an emergency call without credit and for free.
Police
If your call is to the Police and non-urgent call 101.
Defibrillator
Barend has a defibrillator in the main carpark on the wall under the archway heading towards the Bar.
NHS 111
NHS 111 makes it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment for physical or mental health.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To get help from NHS 111, you can:
- Go online to 111.nhs.uk (for assessment of people aged 5 and over only).
- Call 111 for free from a landline or mobile phone.
Holidaymakers can also use NHS 111.
Doctors
Dalbeattie Medical Practice
Google Maps: 6 miles ~13 mins drive
Craignair Health Clinic
Port Road
Dalbeattie
DG5 4AZ
Shebburn Medical Practice
Google Maps: 11.8 miles ~19 mins drive
New Abbey – Main surgery
Main Street
New Abbey
Dumfries
DG2 8BY
Hospital
The nearest Accident & Emergency department:
Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary (A&E)
Main Reception – 01387 246 246
Cargenbridge
Dumfries
DG2 8RX
Vets
The nearest Veterinarians are in Dalbeattie:
The Stewartry Veterinary Centre
Appointments and Emergency out-of-hours call-outs: 01556 502263.
67a High St
Dalbeattie
DG5 4HA
(Part-time outreach surgery, also have a surgery in Castle Douglas.)
Bard Vets
Dalbeattie Practice 01556 610944.
Craigland/Station Rd
Dalbeattie
DG5 4AN
(Part-time surgery, also have a surgery in Dumfries: 01387 255295.)
Fire Evacuation Procedure
Please familiarise yourselves with the information near the front door. If you remove door keys from locks (for example to prevent children from going onto a balcony unsupervised) please put the key close to the door, e.g. on top of the door frame.
Good to Know
Sale of Alcohol in Scotland
In Scotland, the sale of alcohol in shops is only permitted between the hours of 10.00am and 10.00pm and the drink-driving limit is lower in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
Weather and Tides
The tide can move very quickly at Sandyhills beach. You can find information on Sandyhills tide times here.
Bus Times
Here are the Sandyhills Bus Times:
- on bustimes.org: bustimes.org 372 bustimes.org 372A
- Dumfries & Galloway Council Website (service 372)
Contact Info
22 Barend
Barend Holiday Lodges
Sandyhills
Dalbeattie
Dumfries & Galloway
DG5 4NU
Scotland
what3words address: ///clocks.clashing.fillings
Email: info@barendholidaylodges.uk
Web: www.barendholidaylodges.uk
Reception: 01387 780663
Facebook (out of hours, time sensitive): @barendholidaylodges
Twitter: @BarendHoliday
Instagram: @barendholidaylodges
Urgent out of hours: 07587 747571