Rural Retreats was founded in 1985 with the aim of making the countryside more accessible for holidaymakers and giving them the best possible choice of holiday homes across the UK. Rural Retreats’ continuing success is based on excellent local knowledge and painstaking research, together with a flair for finding delightful and unusual properties. All of this has enabled us to build a portfolio of over 450 exceptionally fine holiday homes in stunningly beautiful locations, all available for you to rent. When you are looking for your own perfect holiday home, our experienced and helpful staff can help to point you to the property of your dreams. Whatever you want to ask about any of our properties, there will be someone on our staff who knows the cottage or apartment at first hand.

Sitting on the edge of the Galloway Forest, this traditional stone-built estate gate lodge has been lovingly modernised making it an excellent base for small families or couples to explore this unspoilt area of the Glenkens.

Information correct at time of writing. The Gate Lodge is in a rural setting on the edge of the Galloway Forest, Britain’s first Dark Sky Park and within easy reach of the village of St. John’s Town of Dalry, which has an award winning pub and several restaurants. Other points of interest include the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall, Loch Doon Castle and more. The market town of Castle Douglas is easily accessible as are the superb beaches along the Solway Firth and the Clyde Coast. Further afield are the traditional fishing villages and ports such as Kirkcudbridge to explore, and the bustling town of Dumfries is just an hour away. The nearby Southern Upland Way, a coast-to-coast path gives access to vast areas of hill country for walking, while cycling is an ideal way to see the countryside and discover the picturesque hideaways the area is known for. For the dedicated cyclists, the 7stanes mountain bike tracks are easily accessible, and the Galloway Activity Centre located on nearby Loch Ken offers canoeing and other water and land-based activities for all ages. Excellent coarse fishing is also available within a short drive, along with a variety of golf courses at New Galloway, Castle Douglas and Newton Stewart with numerous others within easy reach including the prestigious Royal Troon and Turnberry just over the border in Ayrshire. The Gate Lodge offers easy access to Forest & Land Scotland trails allowing opportunities for observing the wildlife of the area including Red Kites, Ospreys and possibly even Golden Eagles. The Ospreys regularly visit the nearby Loch Doon to nest and there is a small cafe with an Osprey observatory and a web cam link to the nest. South West Scotland is ideal for exploring Scotland's heritage. Many famous sites are within driving distance, including access to the Robert Burns trail and birthplace museum of Robert the Bruce, the Scottish King who secured Scotland's independence from England in 1324.