Coastal lodge near Dalbeattie with loch views
Explore the stunning sandy shores and dramatic coastal stretches along the Solway Firth, right on our doorstep.
I’m not really sure why, but for some reason we only visited this RSPB reserve for the first time this spring, even though it is literally a few minutes drive from the Lodge. It’s amazing – I can’t believe we haven’t been before! The whole area is beautiful, and the wildlife is abundant. The visitor centre is small but very well thought out and has everything you need. It was a really good afternoon out.
One of the best walks from Serenity’s front door, the Portling Bay Coastal Loop takes you along the Solway shoreline, through a natural rock arch, and back along a cliff-top path with views across to the Lake District on a clear day. At 5.6km it’s a comfortable morning or afternoon out – though the final descent back into Sandyhills will remind you it’s not entirely flat.
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We’ve just got back from a few days at the lodge, and I thought I’d share some of the reasons why we love our lodge, and being at Barend…
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We love the walking and hiking near Serenity 22 and in Dumfries & Galloway.
From gentle strolls to more strenuous hikes, there’s rewarding scenery every time! The Colvend Coast alone has enough variety to fill a week: tide-dependent beach routes, clifftop paths with Solway views, wooded gorge walks, and hill climbs with the Lake District visible on a clear day. Further afield, the Galloway Forest Park opens up longer, quieter routes through one of the least-visited landscapes in Scotland.
Many of the walks below are ones we’ve done ourselves. We’ve added distance, difficulty notes, and links to our reviews and full guides where we have them.
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Culzean (pronounced “cull-ane”, not “cull-zeen”) is a fair drive from the Lodge, however it’s well worth the effort to visit this amazing castle and country park. We set off around 9:30am and arrived at Culzean Castle at about 11:15am.
The huge grounds have a number of different car parks spread out over the estate.
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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!
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Distance from the lodge:
5 miles WSW ~11 min drive DG5 4LB
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.
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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.
Read moreThe nearest beach, Sandyhills, is only a short 10 to 15 mins walk from the lodge along a quiet road.
It’s a large sandy beach, warmed by the Gulf Stream, so popular for paddling and exploring rock pools. It’s great for walking at low tide.
⚠️ The tide can move very quickly so we recommend you check the tide times.
To get there, turn left from Barend Holiday Lodges and stay on that road to the ‘T’ junction. Cross the road into the car park, then access the beach to the left of Sandyhills Bay Holiday Park.
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.
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