Day Trip | Serenity 22 Barend

October gaps available - 5 nights from 4th, 4 nights from 12th, 5 nights from 21st. Check dates

Rainy Day Activities in Dumfries & Galloway

8 September 202611 September 202622 Barend

Scotland’s weather is part of the deal. On the Solway Coast that usually means a shower rather than a washout, but it’s worth knowing what’s within easy reach when the weather turns. The good news is that some of our favourite days out near Serenity 22 have been on grey days – the galleries in Kirkcudbright are better without a crowd, Wigtown is quieter midweek, and a private sauna session feels even better when it’s raining outside.

Most of what’s below is within 40 minutes. None of it requires booking far in advance. And the pool and sauna are a 4-minute walk.

Quick info:

On-site options: Free sauna and pool – 4 min walk, bookable via your confirmation email
Nearest town: Dalbeattie (~10 min drive) – cafés, shops, supermarket
Best rainy day towns: Kirkcudbright (~40 min drive) – galleries, café, independent shops & Castle Douglas (~20 min drive)
Best for books: Wigtown (~1 hr drive) – Scotland’s National Book Town, multiple bookshops
Good for families: Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium (~40 min drive)

The Gralloch Gravel Race

14 May 20268 June 202622 Barend

The UCI Gravel World Series comes to Galloway Forest Park, 40 minutes from Serenity 22

Quick info for your visit:

Event: The Gralloch — UCI Gravel World Series
Location: Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway
Distance from Serenity 22: 40 minutes drive (~28 miles)
Race distance: 111km, 1,761m climbing
Sportive options: The Stag (111km) and The Fawn (53km)
Ultra: Genesis Gralloch Ultra (323km)
2026: 15-17 May
Next edition: The Gralloch returns 14-16 May 2027, aligning with the traditional UCI Gravel World Series calendar.

Dumfries and Galloway doesn’t often make international headlines. The Gralloch is changing that.

Britain’s first UCI Gravel World Series event, The Gralloch draws riders from across the globe to tackle over 110km of relentless gravel through the Galloway Forest Park – one of the most beautiful and least-known riding regions in the UK. Over 80% of the route runs through the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, an unspoilt landscape designated the UK’s first Dark Sky Park.

For guests staying at Serenity 22, it’s well within reach. Gatehouse of Fleet – the race’s start and finish – is around 40 minutes by car along the A710 and A75.

Mackintosh at the Willow Salon de Luxe Art Panel

Mackintosh at the Willow Glasgow Visit

26 October 202323 November 202322 Barend

96 miles N 2 hours drive G2 3EX

Mackintosh at the Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow are the last surviving tea rooms designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and originally opened in 1903. (Not to be confused with The Willow Tea Rooms on Buchanan Street, which are Art Nouveau and Mackintosh themed but not designed by Mackintosh himself.)

For those with a love of all things Mackintosh the tea rooms are a real treat.

Day Trip to Stunning Culzean Castle

18 July 202325 October 202322 Barend

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.