Shelduck Cottage, Sandyhills
ID: S135614
- Bedrooms 2
- ・ Sleeps 4
- ・ Pets 2
Guests say
Shelduck Cottage in Sandyhills is a well-loved, cosy retreat praised for its idyllic location amidst nature and wildlife. Guests appreciate the secure garden, friendly staff, and the warmth of the cottage. While some mention the need for updates and maintenance, the overall experience is one of relaxation and enjoyment, with many planning to return.
Reviews are mixed regarding cleanliness. Some guests found the cottage to be comfortable and clean, while others reported issues with dirt and maintenance. The negative comments suggest room for improvement, but the majority did not raise cleanliness as a concern.
The location is highly praised for its tranquillity, proximity to nature, and wildlife spotting opportunities. The secure garden and nearby beach are appreciated by guests with pets and children. The only drawback mentioned is the occasional flooding of the access road.
Guests find the cottage comfortable, with a warm atmosphere and cosy wood burner. Some guests mentioned the need for better hot water supply and updates to furniture, but overall, the cottage is seen as a home away from home.
Facilities are generally seen as adequate, with a well-stocked kitchen and recent bathroom upgrades. However, some guests noted issues with maintenance, such as the need for a deep clean and repairs. The addition of Wi-Fi is appreciated for entertainment on rainy days.
There are no specific mentions of gifts or extra thoughtful touches provided by the hosts in the reviews. Therefore, it is not possible to assess the thoughtfulness category based on the available information.
About this property
Discover the breath-taking scenery, wildlife, culture and history of Dumfries & Galloway whilst staying in a cosy cottage located in the heart of RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve.
Shelduck is a semi-detached traditional stone farm cottage with off-road parking. A log burner keeps the cottage warm and cosy throughout the winter months. The perfect family destination, rspb Mersehead has a stunning beach and sand dunes just a short walk (1-mile) from the cottage, perfect for building sandcastles and driftwood lodges. In the large farmhouse garden, there is a playground with swings, slide, mud kitchen and badger tunnels providing hours of fun.
Located on the scenic northern shore of the Solway Estuary, the large skies and seascapes give a feeling of escape. RSPB Mersehead is an extensive wetland nature reserve internationally important for the population of wintering Svalbard Barnacle geese and wildfowl. In the spring, the evening air is alive with sound of displaying Lapwing and the distinctive chorus the UK's rarest amphibian, the Natterjack Toad.
A haven for wildlife, away from Mersehead there are an additional three rspb reserves to discover; Wood of Cree, Crook of Baldoon and at Scotland’s most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway. WWT Caerlaverock can be found just the other side of Dumfries and there are a number of Scottish Wildlife Trust and Local Nature Reserves to explore.
There are great rock pooling adventures to be found at nearby Rockcliffe or try crabbing from the quay at Kippford. In addition to the wonders of nature, a vast array of attractions will keep young families entertained for hours such as the Dino Park, Drummuir Farm Ice Cream Parlour, Mabie Farm Park and the Chocolate Factory. The Camera Obscura, installed in 1836, is on the top floor of the old windmill tower where you can see a fascinating panoramic view of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.
Dumfries & Galloway is full of history waiting to be discovered. A wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements make Caerlaverock Castle a medieval stronghold. Learn all about its turbulent history as a castle caught up in border conflicts or unravel the tale of devotion behind Sweetheart Abbey’s evocative name. On a wet day, there is plenty of opportunity to explore indoors. Discover the remarkable story of HM Factory Gretna and the Solway Military Coast at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Visit the home of runaway weddings at Gretna Green, now a 5-star visitor destination or explore the Dumfries Aviation Museum.
For those looking for a fast-paced action holiday, rspb Mersehead is located just a short drive from two of the Scotland Forestry and Land 7-stanes mountain bike trails at Mabie Forest and Dalbeattie Forest. A little further afield are the trails in the Galloway Forest Park and the Ae Forest. The Galloway Activity Centre is situated on the banks of the stunning Loch Ken. A challenging links course, Southerness Golf Course is a Scottish Golf Championship Venue whilst Colvend Golf Course offers a parkland experience with panoramic views from the high cliffs.
rspb Mersehead is the perfect base from which to discover Scotland’s forgotten corner.
More information about rspb Mersehead Nature Reserve can be found at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/mersehead/
Postcode: DG2 8AH
Damage Deposit £150
Let weekly Friday to Friday
STL Licence: - DG01200F
EPC: D
For parties of 2 or less a £20 discount will be applied. A discount of £50 will be applied when 2 consecutive weeks are booked regardless of party size. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
Accommodation for 4 on one floor: Lounge/dining room; kitchen, bathroom with shower over bath; one double bedroom; one twin bedroom.
Services: * Electric heating (cost included) *Multi Fuel stove with complimentary fuel provided * Bed Linen and Towels included * Hair dryer * Electric cooker & Microwave * Washing machine * Fridge/Freezer * TV with DVD * Wifi * Highchair and cot available on request * Enclosed garden with furniture * Private off road parking * No Smoking * Dogs: Maximum 2 well behaved dogs with own bedding, not to be left on their own or allowed on furniture or beds. Charges apply for the 1 dog, second dog free.
Additional accommodation is available next door in Barnacle.
Please note that the council road leading to the reserve is liable to flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Reviews (35)
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Confirmed Guest
Have stayed at Shellduck cottage on a number of previous occasions and it never dissapoints, lovely cottage, brilliant location, so peaceful in a world of its own, with the added bonus of wonderful bird watching at the RSPB reserve.
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Confirmed Guest
Have stayed in Shelduck a number of times. Cottage is in an excellent location & was warm & cosy when we arrived in Storm Amy. Prefer the old Saturday -Saturday changeover days, rather than Friday - Friday. Traffic is busier on a Friday & also anyone working full-time needs to take an extra day’s holiday.
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Linda Craddy
We have been coming to lovely Shelduck cottage for over 13 years. The cottage is so lovely and relaxing and the reserve is a wonder of wildlife that is just on your doorstep. The cottage is well equipped and the log burner we love. The cottage this year was exceptionally fresh and clean this visit and the heating system seems to have been improved as the mornings and evenings were so warm and cosy. We arrived in the middle of a storm but by night time the skies had cleared to reveal a sky of shinning stars, we even saw shooting stars during the week. The reserve staff are all really helpful and always happy to talk to us about the reserve and the wildlife. All in all a joy. We cannot wait for our next visit. The only thing we found this visit was the reliability of the Wi-Fi connection on the TV. We had looked forward to cosy nights watching some programmes we had made a list to watch but the TV settings and Wi-Fi would not allow us to access some apps including iPlayer and Paramount. Also the DVD seemed not to be connected to the TV as we could not get this to work either. Although we found other programmes to watch or we listened to music and read, so not so much an issue for us however, this may be an issue for other visitors.