The Smithy Spittal

The Smithy is in Spittal, Dumfriesshire. It's a semi-detached cottage, right by the River Bladnoch. The view is quiet, just fields and the river. You can see it from the garden.

It sleeps four. Two bedrooms, one bathroom. Everything's on the ground floor. It's a 3 Star place, so it's comfortable and clean, not luxurious. The master bedroom looks out over the garden to the river.

There's an open fire in the sitting room. You get a basket of logs to start you off. The kitchen's been done up recently. It has a washing machine.

The garden is yours. It's big and enclosed, so it's safe for dogs. You can bring two pets. There's parking right outside.

If you fish, that's the main thing here. You have about ten miles of salmon and trout fishing on this stretch of the Bladnoch. It's private, just for the cottages here.

The nearest pub that does food is about seven miles away in Kirkcowan. It's a proper drive, so you'll want to plan meals in. For a big shop, Newton Stewart is your best bet, about nine miles.

For walking or biking, you're in a good spot. There are quiet lanes all around. The 7stanes mountain bike trails at Kirroughtree are about twenty minutes by car. The Galloway Forest Park is close too, if you want proper forest and lochs. The coast, with sandy beaches like Sandhead, is about half an hour's drive.

Useful links if you're planning trips: Forestry and Land Scotland - Galloway Forest Park and 7stanes Mountain Biking.

This cottage can be booked with the two next door, The Lodge and The Coach House, if you're a bigger group.