Local Attractions

Great Things to See & Do at Destination Balcary Farmhouse

The Farmhouse is ideally situated as your base for you to explore the best of South West Scotland’s attractions and whats on offer:

Local Family Attractions:

• Chocolate Factory – If chocolate is your world. Chocolate workshops, indoor and outdoor play areas, café and visitor shop.
• Cream o Galloway – Icecream making, fun activities both indoors and outdoors with nature walks and lots more.
• Kirkcudbright Art Tours 
• Kirkcudbright Galleries
• Whisky distillery (Bladnoch Wigtown)
• Sulwath Brewers
• Scottish Dark Sky Observatory
• Mill on the Fleet exhibition centre

Places to Visit:

• Galloway Forest Park
• UNESCO Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve – http://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/
• Barstobrick Visitor Centre – wildlife walks, horse riding, coffee shop, fishing and local heritage
• Historic Scotland venues
• Mersehead Nature Reserve
• The Dark Sky Observatory
• Galloway Alpacas
• Cally Gardens, Gatehouse of Fleet
• Logan Botanical Gardens
• Sandy beaches at Mossyard Beach, Brighouse Bay, Carrick Bay, Kippford & Sandyhills
• Southern Scotland’s Annual Country Fair
• Galloway wild foods
• Museums & galleries
• Gem Rock Museum

Where to Eat & Drink:

Restaurants & Pubs

• Selkirk Arms Kirkcudbright (Michelin starred restaurant)
• The Masonic Arms, Gatehouse of Fleet (pub meals and Sunday carvery)
• The Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel, Kirkcudbright (pub meals)
• Carlos Restuarant (Italian), Castle Douglas (restaurant)
• Mr Pooks, Castle Douglas (restaurant)
• The Anchor at Kippford (pub meals by the harbour wall)
• The Mariner Hotel at Kippford (pub meals)

Or visit our feature blog on our favourite & guest recommended pubs and restaurants to visit.

Cafes & Takeaways

• Mulberries Café Kirkcudbright
• Kirkcudbright Art Gallery, Kirkcudbright (cafe)
• Galloway Lodge, Gatehouse of Fleet (cafe)
• Designs Gallery & Café Castle Douglas
• Polarbites fish & chip shop Kirkcudbright
• Moores fish & chip shop Castle Douglas
• Paul Jones the Bakers, Kirkcudbright (takeaway bakers)

For our recommended and guest favourite cafes and tearooms to visit see – Popular Café’s and Tearooms Near Kirkcudbright & When Out & About

Local Activities:

• Golfing available at Brighouse Bay or Kippford, or Dalbeattie – spoilt for choice
• Country and coastal walking – so many great dog walking options
• Pony trekking at Barstobrick
• Forest Estate Experiences – Country Sports, Rifle & Clay Pigeon Shooting, Trout Fishing
• Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities
• Swimming pools at Kirkcudbright or Castle Douglas
• Galloway Activity Centre at Loch Ken
• Mill on the Fleet exhibition centre
• 7stanes mountain biking
• Great cycle routes & off road trail – Bike Hire available

Local Walks

• Balcary Local circular walk – all around the farm via the coast
• Balcary Bay offers some of the best coastal walks in the area
• Best walking & cycling trails near Castle Douglas
• Rockliffe Beach is a small & picturesque sandy beach surrounded by rocks
• Southerness Beach is a lovely wide, sandy beach, with a few rocky areas.
• Brighouse Bay and Borgue Beach is a lovely wide sandy bay & beach that is great for families
• Carrick Bay is good for bathing, canoeing, coastal walks & picnics
• Best Beaches for dog walking
• Galloway Forest Park is great for dog walking.

Checkout our Local Interactive Map

Click on any icon or open up in full size to reveal the legend and interactive listings to view selectable options.

Local Tourism Information Websites:

• Visit Dumfries and Galloway
• Visitor information for Southern Scotland
• Visit Scotland
• Welcome to Scotland

After an action packed day, on return to The Farmhouse,  you could set up the BBQ and watch the sun go down.  You may be spoilt for choice where to set up. The sunny south facing garden, or out the front overlooking the fields and across Balcary Bay. Enjoy sizzling steaks, or freshly caught local fish whilst listening to the sound of the birds.

There are plentiful places for fine dining, bar suppers, pub grub, fresh fish & chips, local cafes and bakeries in the area.

Where to Eat & Drink

• Selkirk Arms Kirkcudbright (restaurant)
• Kirkcudbright Art Gallery, Kirkcudbright (cafe)
• The Masonic Arms, Gatehouse of Fleet (pub meals and Sunday carvery)
• The Kirkcudbright Bay, Kirkcudbright (pub meals) http://www.kirkcudbrightbayhotel.com/
• Carlos Italian, Castle Douglas (restaurant) http://www.carlosrestaurant.co.uk/
• Mr Pooks, Castle Douglas (restaurant)
• Mulberries Café Kirkcudbright
• Galloway Lodge, Gatehouse of Fleet (cafe)
• Designs gallery & Café Castle Douglas
• Moores fish & chip shop Castle Douglas
• The Anchor at Kippford (pub meals)
• The Mariners at Kippford (pub meals)
• The Balcary Bay Hotel
• Auchencairn Village shop and cafe
• Paul Jones the Bakers, Kirkcudbright (takeaway bakers)