Gate Lodge - Threave Estate
ID: S282714
- Bedrooms 3
- ・ Sleeps 5
- ・ Pets 2
Guests say
Guests generally appreciate the Gate Lodge's beautiful location, comfortable furnishings, and the estate's tranquil surroundings. The property's charm and the availability of local walks and attractions are frequently praised. While some guests mention issues with cleanliness and maintenance, these do not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.
Several reviews mention cleanliness issues such as cobwebs, dust, and the need for a deep clean. However, some guests found the property to be clean upon arrival, indicating inconsistency in cleaning standards.
The location is highly praised for its peace, beauty, and proximity to local attractions and nature walks. The estate itself is described as lovely, and the property's setting is considered a highlight by many guests.
The majority of guests find the cottage comfortable, with special mentions of comfortable beds and a cosy atmosphere. Some guests, however, note issues with bed sizes and sofa comfort, suggesting room for improvement.
Facilities are generally good, with mentions of a well-equipped kitchen and quality linen. However, there are comments about missing items, outdated appliances, and maintenance issues like tricky locks and heating adjustments.
While some guests mention welcome gifts such as tea, coffee, and biscuits, there is not enough information to assess the consistency of such gestures or their impact on the overall experience. Therefore, a score cannot be provided.
About this property
A 19th-century sandstone lodge, guarding the entrance of the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Estate, Gate Lodge offers a traditional holiday home for a group of five seeking a scenic base in Scotland. Boasting views onto the garden that blooms with daffodils in the spring, it makes a spectacular choice for an idyllic escape. Once home to the housekeeper of the Gordon family, the cottage now provides a superb space to enjoy a piece of baronial splendour. Enter the property on the ground floor and discover the beautiful social spaces, made up of a sitting room with a wood burner, encompassed by traditional furnishings where you can relax; a kitchen hosting a good range of appliances and utensils; and a formal dining room where you can enjoy quality time together over a homemade meal. Also, on the ground floor rests a bathroom and a shower room, giving you a choice of either a bath or shower to begin the day, as well as the master double bedroom. Take the winding staircase to the first floor to find the final two bedrooms, a twin and a single, wonderfully suited to a variety of group needs, with each bedroom offering a unique, traditional interior. Soak up your surroundings in the mornings in your own private garden, observing the red squirrels and nuthatches that regularly visit, before exploring the wider grounds of the Threave Estate. The properties sit in an extremely desirable position, amidst natural beauty and wonderful wildlife, with an osprey platform and a bat reserve too, they offer a truly unique experience at any time of the year. As well as the beautiful Victorian era gardens, you can find a visitor centre, café, shop, and a nature reserve all within walking distance of your front door, so you'll never have to venture far to find excitement. The centre of the local town of Castle Douglas rests slightly further afield; known as the 'Food Town', it's sure to offer something for all your cuisine needs, with a wide variety of food shops, pubs, and restaurants to choose from, plus a selection of shops to while away the hours in. Loch Ken is worth a visit for keen birdwatchers, home to the official Red Kite trail, as well as being within easy reach of the Galloway Activity Centre for even more adventure! Venture towards the beautiful Galloway Hills, or enjoy a day in the riverside town of Kirkcudbright, known locally as the artists’ town, and discover the Stewartry Museum, a picturesque marina and the impressive National Trust for Scotland owned Broughton House & Garden, once the Edwardian home and studio of Scottish artist E A Hornel, you can expect to find a plethora of beautiful paintings accompanied by an equally impressive garden boasting a beautiful blend of Eastern and Western horticulture. Further afield is the village of Ecclefechan, Thomas Carlyle’s birthplace, where you can visit the home of this prolific writer and social commentator, constructed by Carlyle’s father and uncle, definitely well-worth a visit. A truly special holiday home, choose Gate Lodge for your escape to Scotland.
Castle Douglas is a pretty country town in southwest Scotland, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway. Boasting a range of wonderful amenities and attractions, it makes a fantastic holiday base for the keen foodie with the town being known as the 'Food Town' for its wide range of independent food shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as there being a scatter of shops to explore too. Explore the beautiful Solway Coast for a truly scenic experience, or venture out to the Galloway Forest Park for a range of outdoor adventures.
Accommodation
Three bedrooms: 1 x ground floor double, first floor 1 x twin, 1 x single.
Ground floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Ground floor shower room with shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Dining room.
Sitting room with wood burner.
Oil fired central heating.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer washing machine, TV, radio, and WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Cot and highchair available.
Ample off road parking.
Private rear lawn and gravelled area with furniture (not enclosed).
Two well behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 1.6 miles, pub 1.5 miles.
Holiday guests have access to the estate grounds outside of the regular opening hours.
Cot bedding is not provided.
Should you wish to use the wood burner please note that wood is not supplied.
Restricted headroom entering the shower room and at the top of the staircase, please mind your head.
Narrow, winding staircase, please take care.
The opening times, visitor facilities and entry prices of all National Trust for Scotland properties and attractions can be viewed on their website here
Reviews (48)
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Sharon
Best showers ever! Would have liked to have been able to start our booking on a different day (which should be manageable during this quiet season?).
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Frances
Deer on the doorstep and beautiful walks round the estate. You do need to take care with dogs as the garden is not enclosed but it was so quiet and the woods at the back of the cottage made a great little place for them to explore so not a problem at all. Castle Douglas is walkable distance away with all the amenities you could want.
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Brenda
Set in the trees I suppose. We found there were very few electric sockets so difficult to find somewhere to charge mobile phones. Appreciated the torch/light in hall. Essential if you needed to use the cloakroom in the night. The cottage was very comfortable. We moved a chair from dining room into lounge as no one likes to sit three on a sofa, not very relaxing. Beds extremely comfortable. Found the kitchen a bit odd, nowhere to put food other than the fridge. No dishwasher. Also found the crockery and cooking pans extremely heavy. Denby looks great but that shape not all that practical when you want to stack things. Surprisingly couldn't find a kitchen fork. With five of us in the lounge we felt that it would have been better to have a smaller table. A number of knees got bashed. All in all it was a plesant experience and we would recommend to friends.