Gelston Lodge Cottages are four perfect holiday cottages in Dumfries & Galloway and are situated in a National Scenic Area where the forests of the Solway cloak coastal plains with secluded bays & rolling hills that stretch out from the bustling food town of Castle Douglas - Scotland. Our holiday cottages in Scotland have all been recently converted from 150 year old stone barns to a very high standard and are tastefully furnished, with all the comforts of home, all have private parking, garden & patio and great views

A short walk from our luxury holiday cottage in Dumfries and Galloway takes you to the foot of Screel hill, renowned for its viewpoints across the spectacular Solway Coast. A few minutes drive north takes to the region's food town of Castle Douglas, a real gastronomic treat, with its bustling main street filled with filled cafes, restaurants, bars, delis, bakers and four speciality butchers. Alternatively you can take the coast road west through Auchencairn and the smugglers bay at Balcary to the picturesque artists town of Kirkcudbright, or go east by Palnackie famous for its world flounder tramping championship on your way to the beaches of Sandyhills. Auchencairn is the closest village, once thriving with local industry, in 1845 it had cotton, wool and sawmills, it was a busy place. Now it is a quiet pretty village which is surrounded by great scenery. Auchencairn has a post office, a general store and a pub thet always offers a warm welcome and good food. The nearby beaches of Sandyhills, Rockcliffe, Blacary Bay and Carrick are extensive, whilst there are miles of walks along the cliffs at Rascarrel and 17 miles of walks in Dalbeattie forest alone.  The Doach wood is just over the hill from your cottage and is dominated by some of the tallest trees in the south west of Scotland, that soar over 40 metres from the forest floor.

Each of our 4 cottages has a television, DVD player, video recorder, CD player, washing machine, electric oven and gas hob.  The luxury accommodation available is as follows:

The Long Barn: sleeps 4 in two bedrooms and is a detached converted stone barn on one level throughout. Enter from a private fully enclosed patio area with garden furniture into a bright, modern, fully equipped kitchen/dining room including dishwasher. Off the kitchen there is a tastefully decorated cosy sitting room with leather chesterfield, wing chairs and a wood burning stove built into an inglenook fire place for these romantic winter nights.

Doach Cottage and Screel Mill: well appointed semi-detached self catering cottages were converted from a former mill and each one sleeps four in 2 bedrooms, they are let all year and have spectacular views of the Dumfries and Galloway countryside. Enter through patio doors into a comfortable and tastefully furnished open plan kitchen, dining and sitting room.  A wood burning stove is built into the inglenook fireplace for those cosy winter nights.  There is an under stairs cupboard / cloakroom and downstairs WC.  Upstairs a fully tiled bathroom with bath / shower WC and sink.  There are 2 bedrooms upstairs, one double and one twin.

The Bothy: A converted outbuilding, which sleeps two in 1 bedroom and is ideal for grandparents. It is also available all year. Tucked away at the back of the cluster of outbuildings, a small, cosy bothy with open plan kitchen, dining and sitting room.  A corner stove is built into the inglenook fireplace for those cosy winter nights, in our holiday cottages in Dumfries & Galloway.  The Bothy has a flat screen TV, DVD player, CD player, washing machine, dishwasher, electric oven and gas hob.  There is a double bedroom with en suite shower room.

The property was beautifully clean and well presented. The location was quiet - just what we needed after a busy few months organising our wedding (we visited Gelston for our honeymoon). We received a warm welcome and the property owners were very knowledgeable about the area and places to visit. The location was fantastic for walks and lots of fresh air, great views and scenery. Local produce and food was enjoyed especially 'queenies' the scallops which are caught just off of the coast of Dumfries and Galloway. We will definitely be making a return visit! Rating 5 out of 5. Brieley, Dec 2009.