It is a bayside bolthole that takes romantic rest and relaxation to a new level. In an elevated position on a private inlet, this luxury love nest is 10.5 miles from Castle Douglas on Scotland’s Solway Firth.
Soaks in the hot tub with stunning sea views have to be the order of your stay and exploring fairy tale sites with names such as Sweetheart Abbey all make for an unbeatable break in the loved-up stakes.
The village of Auchencairn, once a favourite with smugglers, is in walking distance for your pint of milk and postcards from its quaint post office and general store.
This luxury love retreat overlooking a private bay sleeps two. From the kitchen’s mood lighting, the bedroom’s sea view to the glass-panelled decking with a hot tub, it is an unbeatable romantic setting.
The king-size bedroom has a walk-in dressing room and an en suite with a free-standing bath and separate double-headed rain shower. The open plan living area with bi-fold doors brings the outside in and there is a table for two with lovely views of the bay.
For meals alfresco, the seating on the decking is protected from the elements in a timber-panelled snug complete with mood lighting.
A staple of your romantic break has to be walks hand-in-hand on Mossyard Beach below your holiday home. It’s 330ft of soft sand and rock pools with the waves gently rolling into the bay. From the village, Hestan Island can be reached by a causeway at low tide. Here you will find caves, once used by smugglers and resident birds such as cormorants.
The coastal scenery is not all the area has to offer. Castle Douglas is only 10.5 miles away. You will need day to visit the art galleries in this thriving livestock town. The Castle Douglas Art Gallery, part of Scotland’s museums, often features the work of its talented residents. The town has more than 50 independent shops, including those who are happy to make up sandwiches for your picnic.
Threave Garden is an excellent picnic location. Not far from Castle Douglas’s town centre it is a series of National Trust gardens that cover 64 acres. It includes a walled garden, ponds, water features and an explosion of colour and greenery. Take a walk over to Threave Castle on its own island in the River Dee, at the northwest side of the estate.
For a fitting place to go on bended knee take the half hour drive from Castle Douglas to Sweetheart Abbey. The Cistercian monks named it “Dulce Cor” after Lady Dervorguilla of Galloway had it built in tribute to her beloved husband more than 700 years ago.
Wake up in your sumptuous king-size and take in the sweeping view while you enjoy breakfast in bed or take a morning coffee on the decking to watch the sun rise over the Solway Firth. You will agree that waking up has never been this easy to do as you invigorate in the double-headed walk-in rain shower or luxuriate in the room-for-two freestanding bath.
You have your own private bay overlooked by the skilfully designed partial-glass decking that includes an outdoor snug with plush seating and mood lighting. From the hot tub where you can stargaze in a perpetual trail of warm bubbles and afterwards you can snuggle up in the fluffy bathrobes provided.
Preparing a meal in the well-equipped kitchen is going to be a pleasure and don’t forget to check that the wine cooler is well-stocked with bubbly for your breakfast bellinis and sundowners. To keep the chore element out of sight there is a separate utility room with a washing machine and tumble dryer.
It is two miles to Auchencairn’s post office and general store, so make sure you are well stocked up on the basics so that you don’t have to waste any of your magical time by doing any unnecessary trekking.
