“You really have to stay here to understand all the other lovely reviews… It is not possible to fault this bandb. In fact we can’t sing it’s praises enough. It’s not high tech, simply the best Scottish hospitality you will find, not to mention the amazing food." Andy & Gill, Scotland, July 2017
“A great find. Very peaceful location. Convivial hosts. A great breakfast. It was certainly among the top 5 I have ever had and probably the best I have ever had in a B&B. Thank you for a lovely stay.” Martin & Cait, Ireland. June 2018
“Balkissock Lodge was a lucky find and quite possibly the loveliest B&B we have ever visited – at the end of our stay we did not want to leave at all!" Jessica, Germany, May 2018
Do read our reviews which are all conveniently located together on our website
Owner's Special Offers:
- Up to 20% off bookings (min 2 nights) ... the longer you stay, the more you save!!
- Why not Email me and ask sIgn up for our monthly e-newsletter for news and fantastic monthly deals. January's edition has a promocode for 25% off your 2018 holiday (min 2 nights).
We are located a 10 minute drive away from the nearest place to eat so many of our guests choose to either eat en-route or pre-order an evening meal cold platters or three-course evening meals so that they do not have to go out again in the evening. Bring a bottle of wine, sit back and relax in the peace and quiet of the Ayrshire countryside!
Breakfast made using the freshest of local and regional ingredients comprising of a cold buffet selection (yoghurts, cereal, fruit, fruit juice, etc) followed by either a Full Scottish or a range of alternative such as the popular Blueberry Pancakes, poached eggs with bacon wrapped asparagus or Scottish Smoked Salmon on scrambled local farm eggs all accompanied by delicious freshly baked bread. Please notify me at time of booking regarding any specific dietary requirements and allergies. Given sufficient notice I am able to cater for gluten free, lactose intolerance, vergetarian and vegan diets. There is also plenty of choice if you're eating healthily too!
"Clenliness is of an overall exceptional (5 star) standard. 100%
"Hospitality and friendliness is of an overall exceptional (5 star) standard. 100%
"Service and efficiency is of an overall exceptional (5 star) standard. 100%"
Visit Scotland Assessor
We have two double en-suite rooms both located on the ground floor with HD TVs with Freesat and a generous hostess tray. There is also a guest lounge where you can relax after a long day of driving or sightseeing. All rooms overlook the garden with views of the setting sun in summer. You will also find fresh fruit and biscuits or cake to welcome you on arrival and fresh milk is available at no extra cost.
Awards:
- Visit Scotland Taste Our Best Award
- Visit Scotland I Know Award
- NHS Scotland Healthy Eating Award
- Only B&B to soon hold the new Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere & World Heritage Site quality mark.
B&B Summary:
- Free on-site parking
- Evening meal cold platters
- Three-course evening meals available
- En-suite with shower, toilet and wash basin
- HD TVs with Freesat in bedroom
- Hairdryer and toiletries in room
- Guests' lounge
- Ground floor accommodation (no stairs inside)
- All day access to bedrooms and lounge during stay
- Generous hostess tray with a wide range of branded teas and coffees
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh milk
- Home baked cake or biscuits with refreshments on arrival
- Local and regional produce used
- Toast made using home baked bread
- Home made preserves, marmalade and lemon cured
- Full Scottish, Blueberry pancakes, asparagus and poached egg, creamy garlic mushrooms, etc.
- Large choice of quality tea and filter coffee
- Different dietary requirements catered for (please advise at time of booking)
- Local interest books, Ordiance Survey maps and Tourist Information booklets available
- Corkscrew and a range of glasses supplied
- Egyptian cotton bedding
- Pets welcome (twin room) (see note below)
- Walker and bike friendly
Quality accommodation and excellent service!!
"When Cordelia and Howard told me 4 years ago they were taking a break frim running their wonderful B & B, I was gutted. Rarely does one find the perfect place to stay and it was to be no more. Needless to say, I was overjoyed to here they were accepting guests again. A true test of a B & B is if you feel like family and not simply "paying lodgers". This is a wonderful place and I cannot say enough about it. It gets 6 stars (out of 5) and I highly recommend Balkissock.."
Dwight (TA review)
Free on-site parking is located at the guest entrance making the rooms easily accessible to those with limited mobility.
Ideal for overnight stays when travelling to and from Northern Ireland, the Lodge has also been hugely popular with golfers playing at Turnberry Golf Resort, Girvan or Stranraer Courses to name a few and those salmon fishing in the local river Stinchar. Located on the edge of the Galloway Dark Sky Park, Balkissock Lodge enjoys fabulous dark skies that are great for stargazing particularly on winter evenings.
We welcome motorbikes and cyclists and have a drying room for wet leathers and boots!
Walkers welcome and again they have use of the drying room for wet gear. We offer a drop off service to Glenapp Kirk to the start of the Ayrshire Coastal Path (please advise at time of booking).
Dogs welcome but please DO NOT allow them onto the beds and soft furnishings. Please see website for full details of our policy which I have sadly had to write due to a few incidents in this past year. Please note that we have a dog and two cats of our own and are located on working farmland and therefore dogs must be kept on a lead and/or under control at all times.
Local attractions such as Culzean Castle, Dumfries House, Logan Botanic Gardens, Burns Cottage, the Galloway Forest and the Mull of Galloway are within easy reach for day trips on longer stays. However, if you're passing through the area on an overnight stay, travelling times (according to Google Maps) are as follows: Ayr (1hr), Glasgow (1hr 40mins), Edinburgh (2hr 40mins), Stirling (2hrs 20 mins), Loch Lomond (2hrs 20mins), Dumfries (2hrs), Carlisle (2hrs 40mins) and Newcastle (3hrs 30mins).
* Please note that we are in the countryside and phone signals are very poor and non-existent inside of the house due to the three-foot thick stone walls!. Our internet runs at under 1mbps so pages will load considerably slower than what you are used to and it often drops out completely.The signal is also too weak to boost into the bedrooms effectively. You should be able to check messages and emails but will be unlikely to surf! Please note that these issues are completely outwith our control and we have been seeking to resolve the issues with BT and OpenReach for some considerable time with no success.
Directions:
Heading south on the A77 at Ballantrae: exit the village via the bridge over the River Stinchar (A77) then take the first left hand turning (Craigneil Road) AFTER the national speed limit signs.
Heading north on the A77: turn right at the 100m marker before entering the village (Craigneil Road).
Continue on Craigneil road for approx. 2 miles to the T-junction where you will see a sign for Balkissock Lodge.
Turn right and continue for approx. 200m to the fork in the road where you will see a sign for Balkissock.
Take the left hand fork and continue on this road to approx. 1 mile.
You will pass a long high wall on your left hand side and the road takes a sharp right hand turn where you will see our sign at the bottom of the driveway.
If you use Satnav, our postcode of KA26 0LP should bring you to the bottom of the driveway.
Please observe the speed limit on the driveway as we and our neighbours own dogs and cats.
Drive around to the back of the cottage and you will see parking signs next to the guest entrance.
