Name: Kirk House
Address: Girthon, Castle Douglas, Castle Douglas, Castle Douglas, DG7 2DW, United Kingdom
Rating: 8

Smoke-free property

All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

General

Non-smoking rooms

Shower

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Hairdryer (on request)

Luggage storage

Ironing accessories (by request)

Services and amenities

Coffee/tea for guests

Breakfast

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet access

In-room internet

Internet

Library

Barbecue grill(s)

Picnic area

Barbeque

Recreation

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Kirk House

Castle Douglas

We came across Sheena and Woody by accident. We only booked in for one night with our two dogs. Sheena had no bother with us wanting to have the dogs in the room with us unlike some places who say they are dog friendly but aren't.  The house felt welcoming and cosy and lovely and warm. The room was comfortable with plenty of books and paintings to look at. Sheena was very relaxed and we felt at home as soon as we arrived. Breakfast was good with lots of fresh fruit and endless tea. Sheena went beyond the call of duty when my other half lost his car keys. She drove me down the lane retracing our steps to see if we could find them. She even contacted the local garage to see if they could help. All this when she had lots to do preparing for her next guests.
If you are house proud and like the minimalistic look this is not the place for you. If you like the homely feel and quirkiness of the building and it's somewhat dated facilities, you'll love it. Everything works, it's clean and warm. Sheena and Woody the dog are great.

We loved it....and so did the dogs

I enjoyed my stay at Kirk House. It was very peaceful and the two breakfasts I had were pretty good. The fresh fruit salad was a nice, unexpected extra. The proprietor is a lovely, gentle woman. She is a skilled artist and many examples of her work are on display around the house.

For me there were two negatives. Firstly, the presence of a dog. I am not fond of dogs at the best of times. This dog was docile but also smelly. Its odour was detectable from the moment I walked in to Kirk House. Secondly, it was impossible to open the sash window in my room. Walking in on a pleasant summer evening, my first thought was to air the room but it was clear that the window hadn't been opened in years.

Next to the property is the ruin of Girthon parish church. An evocative churchyard with some interesting old gravestones. The minor road that passes south from Girthon leads to a fascinating coastline - including the beaches at Sandgreen and Carrick. A lovely district to explore..

A mixed bag

We spent two nights here at the end of May 2017. A warm welcome from Sheena and her friendly dog, and a very full breakfast at times to suit us. Our upstairs room was furnished with a comfortable bed and an excellent selection of reading material, while the ground floor self-catering apartment was also comfortable and well-furnished. Thanks for a great stay.

A great couple of days in Galloway

It is difficult to rate Kirk House as on a standard basis - it didn't fulfil modern criteria but it was absolutely teeming with character.  Incidentally, the same could apply to our host Sheena!  She was quietly reserved but wonderfully helpful, giving us quite an insight of the local area and community.
The House is situated a few miles from Gatehouse of Fleet in a small hamlet in deep rural Galloway.  It has splendid views all around and is adjacent to a ruined church and graveyard - well worth a stroll through on a quiet summer evening.  The house itself is full of Sheena's paintings and it felt as though you were staying in a friend's house.  Our bedroom was also the library, so there were masses of books about the local area, natural history, art, biographies, novels etc to look at.  We even had a couple of rocking chairs in which to make ourselves comfortable when reading.  Of course these took up a fair amount of space so there was not a lot of room  for much else although there seemed plenty of little artefacts around.  I particularly like the noughts and crosses board with black and white pottery sheep! 
As cyclists, without easy access to nearby restaurants, we were provided with a very reasonably priced but lovely supper to which we were able to bring our own wine.
For us it was a perfect place to stay after a long day's cycling across the Galloway moors and we would love to return.  It will not, however be to everyone's taste especially if you are looking for the convenience and spacious anonymity of a modern hotel.

Perfect for us

Our room was lovely we stayed in, the house is nice and the yard amazing. Sheena was lovely and not so intrusive, her dog Willow is gorgeous and they are both very welcoming. It has the creeks and groans of an old house but that comes with the charm. It is away from major towns which is an added bonus. Next to a graveyard which I was hesitant about

Kirk House

Main amenities of the hostel

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hostel

What other amenities are there?

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Additional information

Payment