Dumfries and Galloway Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Confirmed Guest - Verified booking

  the whole cottage needs a thorough clean and furnishings very old and worn .When we arrived Mr Sinclair was just coming out of the cottage saying the TV wasn't working and he would be back. He did return a few minutes later and sat in the room trying to fix the TV. What a start to our holiday trying to unpack with a stranger sat there. The bathroom door wouldn't open properly, old rusty bin, light over mirror not working, heater in bathroom full of dust, old rusty tin of air fresher, shower screen on bath had black mould along the bottom. The kitchen had dirty cutlery trays and all utensils in them were very old. cupboard handle broken, dead beetle between the melamine plates, spider and web in a cup. No icebox in fridge so Mr Sinclair said to use the freezer where the dogs were kept in a separate outhouse which was disgracefully dirty. We were told not to shut the curtain in the hallway as the rail was broken. This meant when we left the bedroom to use the bathroom, we were on view up the lane. The single beds were very hard with child size quilts. furniture old, random old xmas decorations etc in draws which needed cleaning out. The carpets and flooring all needs changing as it is so old. there were dozens of flies every day due to the cottage facing the horse stables. We bought fly killer and were constantly spraying them. My partner honestly thought I was going to say " take me home" but because he had booked it for my Birthday I tried to make the best of it. We left 2 leg rest from our reclining sunchairs in the cottage shed by mistake, and after a call to them the day after our return, the daughter said she would get Mrs Sinclair to ring me. I have a friend in Ayr and though I could collect them when visiting my friend later in the year but I haven't had a call back and that was a week ago. I would have contacted you before now regarding how upsetting and disappointing our holiday accommodation was but I am just recovering from Covid and haven't been up to writing. On a positive note, we loved the areas of Rockcliffe and Kippford and would like to see other areas of Scotland. Baring in mind our bad experience at Tumbling Banks would the company give us some form of compensation for not only how upset we were but also for such poor accommodation as we would use Discover Scotland again but would suggest you think twice about using this accommodation to future clients in its present state. Kind regards, Susan Harwood

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• Jesse - Verified booking

  Charming little period cottage owned and recently renovated by NTS (free entry to beautiful Threave Gardens).

  Great location for Rockcliffe, nicely set back from the popular beach, with its own private parking next to the cottage. Two small bedrooms upstairs are bright and cosy. Mattresses and pillows could use covers as another reviewer pointed out six months ago. Small bathroom downstairs (steep staircase) with good shower, separate bathtub, toilet, heated towel rail and one tiny sink. Sitting room downstairs is a bit pokey. Well-equipped kitchen has more light and brand new good quality appliances. Oil-fired central heating throughout on a timer. There's an open lawn in front with partial views of coast and a small front patio with a wooden picnic table, four wooden chairs and a large parasol for those Scottish al fresco meals. There's nothing in the way of shops or tearooms in Rockcliffe, just a Mr Whippy van during the day, but there's a Londis convenience shop in nearby Colvend. A delightful 30-minute walk through NTS woods takes you to the little seaside resort of Kippford with a tearoom, pub and yachting club. A beautiful path going the other direction hugs the coast and takes you to a stunning viewpoint in half a mile and continues for another four miles to the sandy beaches of Sandyhills (a bus connects the two villages).

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• Confirmed Guest - Verified booking

  A last minute holiday and we did enjoy our stay. However, this is the only rental cottage ( we have stayed in many ) where there was no tea, coffee and sugar. Not all places have milk but most do, and usually a welcome pack. Luckily we had brought our own and also food for our meals for the first few nights. Alistair had told us that the main supermarkets were in Dumfries - I had already researched this, so planned in advance. The cottage is quaint within a converted stable block being so old and it was very unusual not to have a stand up shower but we knew this on reading the description. The flies were a total nuisance when preparing food and there were lots of dead flies on the window ledges. Perhaps some sort of 'fly catcher' could have been installed. There was no bathroom cleaner - only one anti-bacterial cleaner in the kitchen, which I took upstairs to use. Also, it would be better if the refuse bins were not opposite the kitchen window. Talking to Wayne was a pleasure, hearing the progress made so far and future plans.

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• Antony - Verified booking

  The cottage, it's location and grounds are lovely and some of the facilities (kitchen/diner and bathroom; except for ridiculously small sink) are good, but it is badly let down by the contents - or rather the lack of them.

  No spare bedding or blankets (or cot); nothing between the sheet and the very cheap mattress through which you could feel the springs and is unhygienic; no hair-dryer; no ordnance survey/walking maps; no suitable drying area or muddy shoe/boot racks. Kitchen poorly supplied: we have never stayed in any self-catering accommodation that did not supply even a few basics - salt, pepper, cooking/olive oil, no hand-wash in the cottage and no welcome supplies. A dishwasher but no salt or rinse aid, even in the machine. The grounds should have been mown and cleared on change-over day between 10am and 5pm, not spoiling our peace on a lovely sunny Tuesday afternoon (and making my hayfever flare up!). Despite all this we enjoyed our week in Rockcliffe with its wonderful walking, but would recommend that anyone visiting should take as many provisions as they can fit in their car - assuming that you are not travelling from abroad!

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• Shona Stewart - Verified booking

  Groom's Cottage provided us with a warm, comfortable and well equipped base within the grounds of Arbigland House. We, and our dogs, particularly loved the peaceful setting and the ready access to woodland, developing gardens and beach. However, it was the people who made our stay here so special. Alistair and Wayne were wonderful, welcoming hosts ensuring we had all we needed throughout our stay. We loved hearing about their vision for the house and garden and greatly applaud their enthusiasm and determination. Also thanks to Peter the gardener who spent a lovely evening with us over a cup of tea. We loved our stay here. So much so, we will be returning in May to see the gardens in full bloom and to once again enjoy the location and the warm welcome extended by Alistair, Wayne and Peter.

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