Dumfries and Galloway

We selected the [listingCount] homes worth renting in this location

Book a stay in one of the best homes in [destination]

Set in a historic Edwardian castle estate stretching across 2000 acres of glen walks, forests, beaches, lochs, gardens and waterfalls, this bonnie cottage is poised to provide you with an endlessly romantic, back-to-nature stay. Located in the heart of picturesque Portpatrick – one of Scotland's prettiest seaside towns – you'll have the long beaches and tidal rushes of Dunskey Glen a short stroll from your cosy home base. We love the bohemian aesthetic and eclectic interiors, especially the rose petal wallpapers that give an air of stately grandeur from the get-go. Dreamy chandeliers and plant-themed prints fill the spaces with a homely touch, while the pink velvet sofa and grand upholstered bed make a striking impression with spades of glossy glamour. After a day exploring, curl up in front of the wood-burning stove with a good book and a tipple of whisky. On warmer nights, step out onto a private courtyard boasting an outdoor bathtub nestled among shrubs and flowing vine – this is an ideal spot to relax while admiring your woodland surroundings. Outside of your home, Dunskey Golf Course and the Portpatrick Harbour are two minutes away (on foot), while the Dunksey Castle is a twenty-minute walk up the craggy Scottish coastline. 

Highland Heather

An eleven-minute drive to the bustling town of Hexham (or just over thirty minutes to the metropolis of Newcastle), this delightful cottage offers a secluded, rural retreat in the north of England. The setting is postcard-perfect – a white picket fence, traditional iron lamppost, and handmade stone wall surround this cute and cosy home. As you stroll down your paved entrance, you’ll notice your manicured lawn, flowerbed, and dining patio. On a sunny day, it’s the ideal spot for a picnic. Or on a chilly evening, it’s even better for stargazing with a hot toddy in hand. Inside, the living space is a welcoming mix of old and new. The stylish, light-grey kitchen is understated and modern. But we love the traditional countryside features such as flagstone flooring and a sandstone, inglenook fireplace with a wood-burning stove. You feel like you've gone back in time when you’re stoking the flames with the cast-iron tools, and adding fresh logs from the wicker basket. And there’s plenty of history to discover outside the home too – take a thirty-five-minute walk to the 2000-year-old Chesters Roman Fort and Museum on Hadrian’s Wall.

Sandstone Hearth

Each season brings a new vista to the sprawling, 2000-acre estate this home is set on. Spring brings carpets of bluebells to the forest walks, winter sees snowdrops poking their heads through the undergrowth and in the summer, rhododendrons burst onto the scene in magenta and crimson. Back in the day, this grand stone cottage was set aside for the estate’s gardener and the decor leans into the horticultural theme with a stunning mural of ferns, forest and foxes in the living room. Floral patterned rugs sit on the hardwood floor, and faux fur blankets on tufted leather sofas keep the living room feeling cosy on cold nights. Get a fire crackling in the grate when the temperature drops. The kitchen is designed for farmhouse-style cooking with a big range cooker in the centre. It’s the decor that really grabs your attention though, with a handful of plates and vintage posters adorning the duck-egg-blue walls. Outside you’ll find a huge private garden where outdoor dining is on the cards at the barbecue and fire pit lawn. Views from here stretch across the hills and fields, where curious cows graze nearby. Exploring the estate you’ll find walking trails leading to waterfalls and lochs, and there’s a hedge maze right on your doorstep. The surrounding forest is filled with wildlife and you might spot deer, foxes and pheasants on daily walks.  

The Horticulturalist

Tucked away in the grounds of a 2,000-acre coastal estate, this quaint cottage and its enchanting surrounding are plucked from the pages of a storybook. Inside, the home oozes elegance with plush fabrics and romantic cherry blossom hues. When we stayed, we were smitten with the Japanese rice-paper screen, mother-of-pearl headboard and the underfloor heating that kept our toes toasty after long yomps through the grounds. While the kitchen is fully stocked with accoutrements for rustling up your favourite dinners, call upon your host’s head chef to deliver a Michelin-quality meal straight to your table. After a cup of tea in the sunshine on your quiet patio, pull on your walking shoes and explore. You’ll find secret waterfalls, lochs and a maze right on your doorstep. Jump in the car and take the eight-minute drive to Killantringan Lighthouse or if you’re feeling brave, plunge into the brisk Irish Sea at Knock Bay Beach. Return back to your bolthole in the late afternoon to catch the last of the sunshine; set up the lanterns in your courtyard, pour a glass of prosecco and sink into the outdoor bathtub beneath the blooming camellia tree. Bliss.

Under The Camellia Tree

Dating back over 170 years, this beautiful home in the Scottish Borders was updated in 1870 to take on the Scottish Baronial features that gave it its fairytale castle look, but it was only in the late 70s that the incredible vaulted ceiling was discovered and the mezzanine was added to update the home to what it is today. Of course there has been modernisation since to give it the contemporary, but homely, feel and the result is an ambient, open space that encourages rest and relaxation. 

With the windows stretching up to towards the ceiling, there’s plenty of natural light and bookworms will rejoice to find a little home library on the mezzanine where they’re able to curl up with any of the good books on offer. Look out over the lounge from up there and when you get a little cold, head down to kindle the fireplace so you can watch the flames dance between every turn of the page. 

Musicians can retire to the piano room to hone their skills or entertain the rest of the family in style, but not before sitting down for dinner at the chunky oak table. 

Take to the garden as a group, or in isolation, and walk along the sloping paths as you breathe in the fragrant scents of apple, plum and flowering cherry trees of the orchard. You can also do this from the outdoor bench as you nibble on shortbread. 

With a bike shed on site, why not bring along bicycles so you can head out to explore the Borders on two wheels. With golf courses aplenty, fishing opportunities, beautiful landscapes to admire, and plenty more around, you’ll never run out of things to do. Should you choose, however, to just stay home and bask in the tranquillity, well, we certainly won’t blame you.

Once Upon a Fairytale

Hidden away on a lovely farm estate, this stunning stone cottage offers all the charm of a country retreat combined with the convenience of all the mod cons. On cool nights, cosy up by the wood-burning stove and play board games by firelight or stream your favourite films as you sink into the sofa. The patio area of the private walled garden is the perfect place to sip coffee out of the wind in the morning and glasses of wine in the afternoon when the sun emerges from behind the building and warms the stones. Of course, you could spend all day wandering the moors around the home, and the coast is only a short drive away. Alternatively, you could drive thirty minutes to Whiteadder Watersports Centre for sailing, kayaking and SUP sessions, or visit the timeless city of Edinburgh, a forty-mile drive away.

Farrier's Cottage

Offering stunning sea views across Loch Ryan near Kirkcolm in southwest Scotland, this garden cottage is the perfect country and coastal retreat to get away from it all and immerse yourself in beautiful, pristine nature. The home is part of the 18th-century Corsewall Estate surrounded by twenty acres of woodland and gardens – all for you to enjoy. From snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells in the winter and spring to a riot of colourful rhododendrons and azaleas in summer, you’ll be instantly struck by the vibrancy of your locale with countless walking and cycling routes around them to explore. Inside your home, a picturesque living room is arranged around a wood-burning fireplace, ideal for curling up with a glass of wine and some board games. The sunny kitchen, meanwhile, is all set to get mornings off to a hearty start over breakfast or afternoons snacks courtesy of the homemade brownies, milk, bread, jam, butter, tea and coffee provided. We love the country bedrooms with their floral touches and large windows proffering views across the gardens and towards the Loch, while the en-suite tubs invite long, luxurious baths after a day in the great outdoors. With a private garden equipped with a barbecue and croquet set, you can spend lazy afternoons having fun in the sun, or head to the nearby woods where a campfire beckons ghost stories over toasted marshmallows under a blanket of stars – your host even provides a tent and roll mats should you wish to snooze amidst the trees (all you need is your sleeping bag).  Factor in the estate’s dedicated play areas that offer a zip-wire, a climbing frame, swings, and a trampoline and there’s more than enough fun for the whole family. Boat Bank Beach is also a short walk down the estate’s drive and Lady Bay – a shell collector’s dream – is a ten-minute drive away.  Further afield, the charming fishing village of Portpatrick is also only twenty minutes away by car. 

Gaelic Stone

Perched between the Scottish Lowlands and the sea on a 2000-acre private estate fringing Portpatrick, the setting of this lodge has to be seen to be believed. It's truly a home for all seasons. Summer nights are all about barbecues, soaks in the outdoor bath, and marshmallow toasting around the firepit. Meanwhile, winter evenings are made for cosying up with hearty meals delivered to your door (available for a fee) after exploring the grounds. There are plenty of on-site activities to take advantage of here, too. We're talking private dock on the loch for boating, guided hikes, wild swimming, maze running, wildlife tracking, yoga sessions, and beach picnics – and that’s just the start.

Dock on the Loch

This cottage sits on a 2000-acre estate where walking trails through the woodlands bring you to waterfalls, lochs and the craggy coastline of Dumfries and Galloway. A forty-minute stroll down a forest track brings you to a deserted beach, and the coastal town of Portpatrick is a twenty-minute walk away. A welcome pack of local produce – eggs, butter, bread, home baking, artisanal cheese and the estate’s handmade toiletries – awaits you on arrival. Perhaps head out to the sunny dining spot on the lawn for your first meal. Here you’ll find a fire pit to keep the evening chill at bay. The home itself is beautifully decorated. The living room is like a wild meadow with its magenta and violet mural of wild birds and flowers and pot plants seem to fill every nook. Yet there’s a grand feeling to the tufted velvet sofas, and the writer’s desk in the corner is an Edwardian antique from Dunskey Castle itself. Once the wood-burner is crackling away it’s super cosy too. Come bedtime, bedrooms are a fairytale fantasy with plush beds fit for a princess. Especially the twin room, with silk drapes flowing over the beds. With deer, pheasants and wild birds filling forest walks, you can feel like you’ve stepped right into a Disney movie. 

A Gaggle of Geese

While the idea of staying in a castle sounds rather splendid, they do tend to be rather large places and if you're only a small group, it's easy to get overwhelmed. The solution, then, is to simply stay in the best section, as is the case with this penthouse apartment inside Dunksey Castle. Built at the turn of the twentieth century for industry magnate and Member of Parliament Charles Lindsay Orr Ewing, there are some original features to be found inside, such as a cast-iron bathtub now filled with plants, baronial fireplaces and salvaged mirrors. However, the rest of the living quarters are thoroughly modern. with plant-themed artwork, velvet furnishings and plush rugs. The master bedroom is particularly spectacular with the bay windows, four-poster bed and bathtub in the corner. It's possible to see the sea and the village of Portpatrick from here, and it only takes twenty minutes on foot to reach these. Elsewhere on the estate, there are lochs, waterfalls and even a maze to explore.

The Tallest Tower

Nestled amongst the east wing of a sprawling estate, this maisonette has plenty of room for families. Cosy and inviting with wooden beams and angled ceilings, this home is sure to give you that warm and fuzzy feeling when you arrive. Snuggle up on the Chesterfield sofas in front of the electric fire while your favourite movie plays on the DVD player. Rustle up delicious meals in the stylish kitchen, then gather around the dining table for family feasts, sharing stories and bottles of bubbly straight out of the wine fridge. All the bedrooms are roomy and traditionally styled, and with private en-suites, nobody will have to queue for the loo. But our favourite spot is the garden. After an alfresco lunch in the courtyard, wander the several acres of grounds and woodlands. The views are absolutely stunning – they stretch towards River Eden and to the Castle Carrock Fells, promising you a slice of that peaceful rural life. Keen cyclists can roam the country lanes by bike or just stroll along the river – viaduct towers, hidden caves and waterfalls are just a few things you'll discover. When your stomach starts rumbling, walk ten minutes into town for local ales and mouth-watering fare at the village pub. Both Carlisle and the Lake District are easily reached by car if you fancy a day out, though we're quite happy to while away our afternoons in Wetheral, exploring the countryside.

From Fells

If you’re seeking an escape back to nature that’s a perfect fit for two, it’s time to stop scrolling. We love this former Porters’ Lodge, packed full of character and inviting its guests to unwind. You’ll find this home set on an estate, where you can enjoy the landscaped grounds at your leisure – if you’re not too busy relaxing in your private cedar hot tub, that is. Locally, a hike up the Pentland Hills is a must, and for those seeking a city fix, Edinburgh is a thirty-minute drive away. 

Brambled Bliss

United Kingdom luxury cottages

England luxury cottages

Wales luxury cottages

Scotland luxury cottages

Edinburgh airbnb alternatives

York airbnb alternatives

Cornwall luxury cottages

Cumbria luxury cottages

Devon luxury cottages

Dorset luxury cottages

Kent luxury cottages

Norfolk luxury cottages

Northumberland luxury cottages

Pembrokeshire luxury cottages

Somerset luxury cottages

Suffolk luxury cottages

The Cotswolds luxury cottages

Yorkshire cottages

United Kingdom

London airbnb alternatives

London luxury aparthotels

London luxury serviced apartments

London luxury short stay rentals

London luxury vacation rentals

London

Paris airbnb alternatives

Paris luxury aparthotels

Paris luxury short stay rentals

Paris luxury vacation rentals

Paris

Los Angeles airbnb alternatives

Los Angeles luxury vacation rentals

New York airbnb alternatives

New York luxury short stay rentals

New York luxury vacation rentals

Joshua Tree airbnb alternatives

Palm Springs airbnb alternatives

Palm Springs luxury vacation rentals

San Diego airbnb alternatives

United States

Italy luxury villas

Rome airbnb alternatives

Rome luxury vacation rentals

Milan airbnb alternatives

Florence airbnb alternatives

Venice airbnb alternatives

Apulia Luxury Villas

Sicily luxury villas

Tuscany luxury villas

Lake Como

Sorrento airbnb alternatives

Amalfi Coast airbnb alternatives

Italy

Spain luxury villas

Barcelona airbnb alternatives

Barcelona luxury aparthotels

Barcelona luxury vacation rentals

Madrid airbnb alternatives

San Sebastian airbnb alternatives

Canary Islands luxury villas

Costa del Sol luxury villas

Ibiza luxury villas

Malaga airbnb alternatives

Mallorca luxury villas

Marbella luxury villas

Spain

Portugal luxury villas

Lisbon airbnb alternatives

Porto airbnb alternatives

Algarve luxury villas

Madeira luxury villas

Portugal

Greece luxury villas

Athens airbnb alternatives

Crete luxury villas

Corfu airbnb alternatives

Mikonos airbnb alternatives

Rhodes luxury villas

Santorini airbnb alternatives

Greece

Berlin airbnb alternatives

Cape Town

Copenhagen airbnb alternatives

Dubai airbnb alternatives

Tel Aviv airbnb alternatives

Barbados luxury villas

Cyprus luxury villas

French Riviera luxury villas

Other

Top Destinations

Stranraer

Destinations

Dumfries and Galloway Accommodation

Dumfries and Galloway Accommodation for Groups

Dumfries and Galloway Airbnb Alternatives

Dumfries and Galloway Apartments

Dumfries and Galloway Beachfront Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Boutique Hotel Alternatives

Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Homes

Dumfries and Galloway Cottages

Dumfries and Galloway Dog Friendly Rental Accommodation

Dumfries and Galloway Family Friendly Hotel Alternatives

Dumfries and Galloway Family Friendly Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Holiday Homes with Hot Tubs

Dumfries and Galloway Holiday Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Hotel Alternatives

Dumfries and Galloway Long Stay Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Luxury Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Monthly Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Pet Friendly Rental Accommodation

Dumfries and Galloway Seaside Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Self-Catering Apartments

Dumfries and Galloway Short Stay Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Unique Homes

Dumfries and Galloway Vacation Rentals

Dumfries and Galloway Villas

Types

Book a stay in one of the best homes in Dumfries and Galloway

We selected the 658 homes worth renting in this location

Who's coming along?

Home spotlights in Dumfries and Galloway

We selected the top 3% holiday homes in Dumfries and Galloway

Most popular homes in Dumfries and Galloway

Check upcoming rates & availability for Dumfries and Galloway

Frequently asked questions