Guests say
Grey Craig Cottage is praised for its beauty, peaceful surroundings, and wildlife. Guests enjoyed the well-equipped space and the hot tub, despite some maintenance issues. The welcome was not warm for one guest with a dog, and some found check-in/out times inconvenient. Overall, the cottage offers a lovely stay.
The cottage was described as clean and well-presented on arrival, indicating a high level of cleanliness. No negative comments about cleanliness were mentioned.
The peacefulness and beautiful surroundings are appreciated, suggesting a good location. However, the lack of nearby paths for dog walking and difficulty with food delivery slightly affected the convenience.
The cottage is generally seen as comfortable, but there were comments about a creaky bed and less supportive sofa cushions, indicating room for improvement in comfort.
Facilities like the hot tub and wildlife cameras add to the experience, but issues with hot tub maintenance, kitchenware quantity, and lack of operational instructions have led to a lower score.
There is no mention of gifts or extra thoughtful touches in the reviews provided, so it is not possible to assess this category.
About this property
Annan 3.8 miles. Nestled on the edge of a nature-friendly, working farm on the outskirts of the quiet town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway and just a short car journey from Hadrian's Wall, Gretna Green and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is this charming holiday home, Grey Craig Cottage. Standing in some 300 acres of farmland, Williamwood Farm, this idyllic rural escape welcomes small families or even friends sharing. On the estate, there are young woodlands and wild meadow ground where deer, wading birds, foxes and badgers are common place sightings, making it the perfect destination for those who want to enjoy the peace and tranquility that is offered in the lovely mature woodlands or around the loch. Upon entering the home through the patio doors, be sure to take advantage of the Shaker-style kitchen's full amenities. Here, scrumptious meals may be rustled up and enjoyed in the tastefully decorated sitting room, which includes soft sofas and a woodburning stove as its focal point. You can imagine spending many hours in the inviting sitting room in front of the delightful woodburning stove, simply soaking up the gorgeous views over the fields full of wild flowers in summer and onto the loch in the distance, not forgetting the Highland cows grazing away. You might catch sight of a friendly badger in the garden and you can even watch him on the TV as live feed cameras offer the opportunity for live footage of this beautiful, notoriously shy creature. Look forward to spending time relaxing in the outdoor hot tub, where the famous dark skies provide for an incredibly calming place to spend your evenings. When it’s time for bed, two tastefully-decorated bedrooms are waiting to help you get some shut-eye before a day full of activities. Hop in the shower in the morning or enjoy a relaxing soak in the bath, before heading out refreshed and raring to go. If you can tear yourself away from the home comforts of Grey Craig Cottage then there is plenty of exploring to do in the local area. Be sure to spend the day at the Courtship Maze and retail park, a real family-friendly location or visit The Devil’s Porridge War Museum on your way to Gretna Green, where you can explore historic sites like Quintinshill.
The renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns was born in Dumfries, where you can also visit his memorial. Robert The Bruce was also a resident of the area, with Bruce's Cave nearby to tour, along with splendid castles such as Drumlanrig Sweetheart Abbey and Carlisle. For an energetic activity, try some bowling at the Hollywood Bowl or swimming at Annan or Dumfries. Offering all the fun of the farm and so much more, a stay at Grey Craig Cottage is certain to be memorable.
In East Dumfries and Galloway, on the banks of the River Annan, is the town of Annan, a former port. The area was previously the location of Roman camps and the novelist Thomas Carlyle's workplace. The town holds an annual event called the Riding of the Marches, which includes competitions, massed pipe bands, and parades, to commemorate the Royal Charter granted by King James V. The region surrounding Annan is home to numerous tiny towns, idyllic villages, and hamlets, as well as a stunning stretch of undeveloped coastline with sandy beaches and secret coves. Visit the adjacent Annandale Distillery or Caerlaverock Castle, one of Scotland's most beautiful ruined castles. Visit the northern Lake District and the historic Hadrian's Wall on a day excursion to awe at the grand abbeys of Melrose and Jedburgh's magnificent grandeur. Exploring this beautiful region from Annan is a great idea.
Accommodation
Single-storey.
Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x twin.
Bathroom with double-ended bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Living/dining room with woodburning stove
Central heating.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine and dishwasher.
Fuel and power included rent.
Bed linen and towels included rent.
Private parking for 2 cars.
Enclosed rear garden with lawn, patio, furniture and hot tub.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 3.1 miles, pub 3.8 miles.
Note: Check-in from 4pm, check-out by 10am.
Note: Starter pack of logs for woodburning stove supplied; further logs can be purchased from the farm
Reviews (6)
-
Karyna
if you want a lovely peaceful getaway in beautiful surroundings.
-
Julie
We booked the cottage in Jan and it was listed as dog friendly so we booked and paid for our small dog to come too. When I called to get key info the day before our arrival the owner said it would be ready for 4 and they would be in the door. (listing said ready for 3, but hey ho). She said she was busy and would come to see us on Mon morning. We arrived just after 4 and had just un packed the car when the owner turned up. On seeing our dog who was just sniffing around getting her bearings, the owner proceeded to tell us dogs not allowed in the bedrooms, hadn't we read their policy, had we brought blankets to cover the furniture at which point I said she doesn't go on the furniture. She then proceeded to tell us how much damage people and their dogs had caused and that was why she was no longer a dog friendly accommodation. All this time she stood with the patio door open, I asked twice if she wouldn't mind closing it so that our dog couldn't get out as the large gate onto the road was open. This was ignored and so I had to take my dog into the kitchen. We didn't receive any instructions on how to operate equipment at the property or how to find the badger cam that we'd read about. No friendly recommendations of nice places to go. The only info shared was negativity about our dog and how we must shower before using the hot tub. Just as well it is no longer dog friendly as the fields surrounding the cottage were beautiful and full of animals, but unfortunately no pavements on the road and no paths explained or found where we could walk the dog. On another subject we found it odd that there was a full sized dishwasher but only 4 cups, 4 plates 4 bowls 4 side plates. Very nice that the crockery was Denby, but again a negative note in the cupboard warning that any chips or cracks would be chargeable. Even worse that the kitchen sink was pot. Simple white crockery in abundance would have been preferable and more conducive to a relaxing break. We felt she had her priorities wrong and would have appreciated settees with more comfortable and supportive cushions. One of the seats in the jacuzzi was brown and the plastic coating was peeling off so we couldn't use it. It would have been helpful if there had been a folder with information about how to take the cover off the jacuzzi, how to turn it on and off, information about the area, the WiFi code, how to control the heating, restaurants to go to, the badger cam etc. Instead we were insulted and made to feel uncomfortable, tarred with a brush meant for others who had previously caused damage.
-
Robyn
The cottage was clean and well presented on arrival and had the owners contact number if we needed anything. The owner met us when we arrived and welcomed us back o the property which was nice. Overall it was a good experience and weâll definitely be back.