Delightful country cottage in unique and completely secluded setting in an area of outstanding natural beauty yet within a 10 minute drive of Newton Stewart and other local facilities. One and a half acres of private grounds with pretty woodland and enclosed garden, sleeps up to 10.  Woodburner, lovely views.

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2008 LOW DEPOSIT OFFER

Book your 2009 holiday before 30 September 2008 and pay only 25% deposit instead of the normal deposit of 50% of your holiday rate. And remember we accept all major debit and credit cards. CALL NOW 01988 600600

SPECIAL OFFERS

Book for Christmas 2008 before 30 September 2008 and receive a hamper of local produce worth up to £50 to help you celebrate.

CALL NOW 01988 600600

ACTIVITIES AND  EVENTS

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NEWS

Many of our visitors like to keep up to date with our livestock on the smallholding and other developments here in Garlieston. Here is the latest news.

Garlieston Harbour

Garlieston Village has seen the demolition of the old red brick mill building on the harbour. Having ceased trading as The Trading Post about 15 years ago, the building had fallen into serious disrepair and was sold off along with the stone buildings on the harbour for further development.

A three phase property development is being built in its stead, and the building work has commenced on the first phase. We are relying on the developer to do a good job, especially as Garlieston is such a charming village, with a good deal of local history. With new visitors should come more prosperity to the area. I am pleased to say, that the fishing boats will still be using the harbour and the lobster catch should continue to come in there. The public slip way remains in use, so the familiar sight of boats in the harbour will remain, though parking may be a bit limited for a while.

Swimming Pool

The pool is looking inviting but  we are waiting for the warmer weather, and heating will commence as soon as the ambient temperature stays consistently above 7 degrees C.

Calving

2007 was a sad year for us as we lost our first two Dexter cows. They had been wonderful mums to the many calves they gave us, but having never had any trouble before, they both died of complications following milk fever. The good news is Beauty and Buttercup's two gorgeous calves are doing well. Dexters are a minority breed of miniature cow usually black, red or reddish brown (dun) in colour. Apart from being generally smaller in size than commercial breeds, they can also be born with short legs, making them an easy breed to manage for smallholders. They produce very creamy milk and excellent beef. And we think they are rather good to look at.

Lambing
We are giving the ewes a break from lambing this year, but as usual we have had a surprise lamb born to one of our Castlemilk ewes. The lamb is white with a brown spot on one side and a black spot on the other. As we only had one white tup lamb last year we know who the daddy is.

Castlemilk Moorit sheep are on the endangered list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust records, having fewer than 300 breeding ewes. We have been breeding them here in Garlieston for 9 years. They are a parkland flock bred from native primitive stock to look like small deer. They have a dark brown Arran type fleece that fades to a milky coffee colour as the fleece grows, this returning to dark brown after shearing.

Hatching
Despite our best efforts a fox was very determined and took our first broody this year just days before the chicks were due to hatch. Two of our other hens have subsequently given up sitting after just one week and we feel that the late cold spell may have put them off.  We have taken matters into our own hands and put a clutch of eggs in the incubator. Hatching should take place at the end of April.

Galloway House Gardens

The temporary sculptures left by the team of British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) in the neighbouring Galloway House Gardens have long disappeared, but we hope they will be back for another sculpture workshop this summer. They have done some wonderful work clearing and improving the environment here for visiotrs to enjoy. Their work makes a real difference, and they a re a great help to the gardener here at Galloway House Gardens. Anyone wishing to help eirther by making a contribution towards repair of the old walled garden, glasshouses or planting schemes, or through physical involvement, say in clearing, or if you have expert skills that could be put to good use in preserving the gardens for the future, please contact us and we put you in touch with the head gardener.

Seal Spotting

Grey seals are often spotted off the point in Rigg Bay. Thanks to BTCV, there is now a lookout point where you may stand and lean with your binoculars so that you can watch the seals without disturbing them.

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