Dalbeattie & the Local Area

Kirkcudbright Artists’ Town

Kirkcudbright has become known as the ‘Artists’ Town’ due to the many artists that have made it their home. Their works are displayed in the numerous art galleries in the town, which make for a great day out. This is a beautiful little town with a marina, wildlife park, super shops and a great history. It is home to authentic local pub The Selkirk Arms and Broughton House, an 18th century town house and artist’s studio.

Kirkcudbright is situated at the estuary of the River Dee and is some 40 minutes’ drive from Glenearly.

Dalbeattie

The historic granite town of Dalbeattie is 15 minutes’ walk from Glenearly. The town originally grew around the local quarries; in particular Craignair quarry, a local landmark clearly visible to the west. Today it hosts a collection of small shops, pubs, and cafes, which offer some easy dining options for our guests.

Castle Douglas

Castle Douglas is known locally as 'the food town', with over 50 local shops and businesses offering selling local quality produce, including whole foods, fruit and vegetables, and locally-brewed ales in the town’s family-run Sulwath Brewery. It is also home to the beautiful Threave gardens and Threave castle, dating back to the 14th century. Castle Douglas is a short 15-minute drive from Glenearly and should be on the itinery for any tourist visiting Galloway.

Kippford

Kippford, known locally as the Solway Riveria, is situated at the mouth of the Urr estuary, a 10-minute drive from Glenearly. It is a popular sailing village, with many small yachts moored in the tidal estuary during the summer months. There are popular paths from the village offering walks out to the numerous shell beaches, or higher up the hills overlooking the village and the estuary. In the summer there are numerous sailing races organised by the Solway Yacht Club, which often draws small crowds of people watching from the shores.

Rockcliffe

Rockcliffe lies only a mile or so south of Kippford and the villages are connected by the popular 'Jubilee path' offering a popular walk between the two. To get there by road, you'll need to drive a more indirect route via Colvend; putting the village around 15 minutes' drive from Glenearly. The village wraps around a shell beach with views out to Rough Island in the middle of the mouth of the Urr estuary and Hestan island beyond. Rough Island is only around 500 metres from the shore and reachable by foot via a causeway exposed during low tide; but please be mindful of the tide times!

Loch Ken

Loch Ken is well known for its watersports as well as beautiful local scenery. The Galloway Activity Centre offers sailing courses among many other things, and is especially suited for families with young kids. You can also enjoy the wildlife at nearby Ken Dee Marshes and watch red kites being fed at Bellymack Farm.

Seven Stanes mountain biking

The 7 stanes trail at Dalbeattie is one of the best tracks in Scotland and there are many routes of varying grade to suit all cyclists. The area around Glenearly provides many fine opportunities for coastal and hill walking. The Jubilee Path goes from Kippford past the Mote of Mark Celtic hill fort and Castle Point to Rockliffe, offering fantastic views of the Solway Firth.

Walking

The impressive hills of Bengairn, Cairnsmore of Fleet, and Criffel are close by in the Galloway Forest Park (three hundred square miles) which is also famous for its dark sky. Merrick (Highest in Galloway) and Mulwharcher are within easy travelling distance. See hill walking in Galloway for further info.

Golf

There are a number of good quality golf courses within easy distance of Glenearly. Dalbeattie has a nice 9 hole course with clubhouse facilities and, for those who have static holiday homes, an excellent country membership scheme. There are two excellent 18 hole courses in Dumfries and Southernness is a championship standard links course about 10 miles away. The closest 18 hole is at Colvend Golf Club.