Family Friendly - Serenity 22 Barend

Threave House, Castle Douglas

24 July 202430 July 202422 Barend

We love Threave Estate and Gardens and enjoy visiting them. However, until now, we hadn’t managed to visit when the house was open.

Crawick Multiverse, Artistic Landscape

18 June 202413 July 202422 Barend

Crawick Multiverse, near Sanquhar (pronounced “sang·kuh”) is a very interesting place to visit. I had a misconception of it when I first heard of it, thinking it was to do with science and geology. However, it’s in fact’s actually a piece of “land art”. It was designed to reflect the cosmos in this area that’s celebrated for its dark skies.

The Birch Tree Hotel, Dalbeattie

5 April 202412 July 202422 Barend

7 miles NW ~13 min drive DG5 4AH

Our Experience

We visited The Birchtree Hotel on a midweek evening in March. Initially we sat in the Bar area, unaware that there’s a separate restaurant area upstairs.

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

11 November 202325 December 202322 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…

Lunch at Abbey Cottage Tearoom by Sweetheart Abbey

28 October 20235 July 202422 Barend

12 miles NE ~20 min drive DG2 8BY

These small but pleasant tea rooms are right next to the Abbey ruins but are run independently and open at times when the Abbey is closed. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and also a small gift shop too.

Dalbeattie Garden Centre, Shop, Tea Room

27 October 202323 November 202322 Barend

Afternoon Tea at The Olive Tree Tearoom, Dalbeattie

6 miles NW ~12 min drive DG5 4DS

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.”

Loch Arthur Farm Shop and Café

20 October 202312 December 202322 Barend

Loch Arthur farm shop, near Beeswing in D&G, offers a great selection of crafts, gifts, and locally produced organic fruit and vegetables, plus pantry staples.

11 miles N ~17 min drive Beeswing, DG2 8JQ

There’s also a pleasant little café that offers a range of delicious items including homemade cakes.

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.

Great Lunch at Designs Café Castle Douglas

23 March 202323 November 202322 Barend

13 miles WNW ~20 min drive DG7 1DZ

Designs Gallery & Cafe in King Street, Castle Douglas – established for over 25 years – serves coffees, cakes and lunches (see a picture of the menu below).

We’d been in shop before but didn’t notice the entrance to the café (it’s to the right of the steps in the middle of the shop)!

Go down the stairs through some doors to the ‘basement’ and then the café counter is on your left. Tables then extend on your right all the way to the back of the building. At the end of the room, through some double doors, there’s also a light and airy (but still warm in colder weather) conservatory that leads out into the garden.