Perfect for families or groups of friends, sleeping 12 (+2) people, this luxury high spec. conversion forms one big 6-bedroom house, or two separate units, each sleeping 6 (+2). Huge oak table for 14 (+2), 6 bath/shower rooms inc. ensuites. Additional bedrooms in the main house, or a Bedouin tent, can be booked. Please see our website for short video of the place www.durhamhill.co.uk.
Entertainment in any weather - the games building has table tennis, table football, air hockey, and chessboard. It converts into a mini cinema to enjoy popcorn, wine and the woodburner. Also storage shed/drying facilities for cyclists etc.
Children are welcome to help feed the llamas or take Lettie, the llama, for a walk, and to help collect eggs.
Alan offers motorbike sidecar short trips and adventures in the Galloway countryside. We can arrange electric bike hire. Please contact owner re renting one half of building as Coach House will be marked as 'unavailable' when one half may still be available.
The Coach House is far from public roads, with a good-sized garden, abundant wildlife, including red squirrels and hedgehogs. There are stone barbecues (charcoal-fired), several seating areas (a private barbecue and big outdoor table for each of two groups- East Wing & West Wing). The giant stone horse-shoe seat has views to the hills. There are organic herbs for guests’ use & fruit in season (& vegetables from owners’ walled garden).
Secure outbuilding with laundry, drying facilities and storage for bicycles, motorcycles, fishing tackle etc.
Setting
Surrounded by grassland, with panoramic hill views, the house is close to the artists' village, Kirkpatrick Durham, 5 miles from the Scottish food town of Castle Douglas. The spectacular and unspoilt countryside, still relatively undiscovered by tourists, is a haven for hillwalkers, fishermen, sailors & explorers of secluded beaches, coves & rugged clifftop paths. Outdoor activities abound - several golf courses, water-sports, 5 of the popular 7-Stanes mountain bike trails, & the Red Kite Centre. Galloway Forest has been awarded dark sky status for stargazers. The magnificent Threave Gardens are nearby, as are castles, including Threave, on an island, with a scary dungeon, as well as an Osprey family – ring a bell to call the ferryman. Search beautiful countryside for Henry Moore statues on the Glenkiln Statue Trail. Children love the Chocolate factory and Mabie Farm Park, amongst many other attractions. Bigger children/brave adults enjoy exciting activities at Laggan Outdoors.
There are some steep slopes & drops in the garden so young children need supervision.
Eco-friendly design
This 200 year old listed building has been sympathetically converted &, along with our wind turbine, the house is carbon positive. The wildflower meadow roof of the new wooden extension runs into the top lawn of the garden. The air heat exchange system is combined with underfloor heating & woodburners. The use of synthetic chemicals is limited as much as possible. The eco-friendly nature of the building does not affect the comfort or facilities.
Residential courses
Participants stay in the Coach House and the games room is used as a studio. Courses include writing, arts, crafts, music & rural skills.
People wishing to run their own courses are welcome to book the Coach House.
Room layout
a) Whole building - 6 bedrooms in total
1 room with king-sized bed (e/s wetroom)
1 double room (e/s)
1 small double room (4ft wide bed)
1 twin/kingsize room - zip & link mattresses (e/s)
1 twin room with two stored guest beds'
1 bunk room (for adults or children).
To allow more bed space, there is a sliding partition between the twin room & bunk room. When this is opened to form one large room, the 2 extra guest beds (2’6” wide) can be used to allow 6 people to sleep in this room (4 beds close together -limited floor space), giving beds for a total of 14 people.
2 shared bathrooms, 1 shared shower room
2 big open-plan kitchen/dining/sitting areas with woodburners
b) Divided building
West wing
1 double room (e/s)
1 twin room
1 bunk room with sliding wall between it & twin room (+2 guest beds).
Shared bathroom, shared shower room.
1 kitchen/dining/sitting area
East wing
1 King-sized bed (e/s wet room)
1 Small double room (4ft bed)
1 Twin/king-size (zip & link) room (e/s)
1 Shared bathroom & a small sofa-bed in the sitting area
1 Kitchen/dining/sitting area, with big table.
Extras
Outdoor equipment store has sink, washing machine, dryer, drying pulley & extra freezer.
Bedlinen, towels, hairdryer, radio alarms with iPod docking stations in bedrooms.
Cot, high chair, stair guard & fire guards can be provided.
Wireless broadband.
During wet weather, the studio is a great playroom with table games, or a cosy mini cinema, heated by the woodburner.
Llama feeding/walking, egg collecting, sidecar trips.
Disabled people
There is access for an assisted disabled person with walking difficulties. Wheelchair would be problematical - Please call beforehand.
Multi chemical sensitivity
The owner suffers from this and finds this house inhabitable due to the strict restriction of chemicals, & the good ventilation system. It would probably be suitable for other sufferers. The Wi-Fi can be turned off for people with electromagnetic sensitivity. Please call beforehand
Sorry, no pets allowed
There are livestock in the surrounding fields and our hens and old cat sometimes wander into the garden.
Road
Head west towards Castle Douglas, from Dumfries, on A75. After about 12 miles, you will reach Springholm village. Turn right in Springholm, opposite the shop, towards Kirkpatrick Durham. Once in Kirkpatrick Durham village, turn right at crossroads. Leave village and Durhamhill’s drive is the first on the right. There are water hydrants & a green 'Scottish Water' box near the gate to the drive. On the drive go past the first coach house (games room) on left, and the main house on the left and you will reach the Coach House garden gate.
If coming from Castle Douglas, head east towards Dumfries, on A75, and turn left in Springholm (about 4 miles from Castle Douglas).
Warning - Sat Nav will try to direct you up a shortcut track which is too bumpy for cars.
The Grapes Pub in Springholm often serves free food for children in the early evening
Travel
By Rail
Take train to Dumfries Station, and bus from Dumfries as above. Buses to Kirkpatrick Durham are very infrequent, so it may be easier to take a taxi to Durhamhill (15 miles from Dumfries) or a bus to Springholm (village on main A75 between Dumfries & Castle Douglas),which is 1.5 miles away, and we can collect you by car, by prior arrangement.
By Air
Fly to Glasgow/Edinburgh/Newcastle and get train to Dumfries Station. Then follow directions as above.
By Ferry
Ferry to Stranraer, bus to Dumfries and get off bus at Springholm village, after Castle Douglas. We can collect you from Springholm by car by prior arrangement.
