Coo Palace, Galloway
With its undulating coastline, charming woodlands and beautiful gardens, there is plenty to see and do in this part of lowland Scotland
Book a tour Open Gallery-
26 holiday properties in a converted eccentric dairy farming facility and new buildings
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Indoor heated swimming pool with swimjet and children’s area
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Games room, small shop and outdoor mini golf on site
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Ten pet-friendly properties
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Woodland walk accessible from Coo Palace
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‘Secret beach’ with stunning views nearby
Discover Coo Palace
Situated in the south-west of Scotland on the Galloway coast – a beautiful part of lowland Scotland with an undulating coastline of rocky shores and sandy beaches and acres of inland forest and green spaces – is The Coo Palace. Built in the early 20th century, Coo was once an eccentric dairy farming facility and has recently been converted and extended to provide 26 properties.
Rich in culture and history and a giant playground for the adventurer, this is the perfect area to enjoy the meandering coastline with outstanding scenery and unspoilt villages.
Golfers can choose to play a wide variety of courses nearby, from championship links to majestic upland. The picturesque views of the Galloway Hills and the stunning coastline offer beautiful views and there are courses for all abilities.
Southerness, Cally Palace and Colvend golf courses are all within easy reach of Coo Palace. The gatehouse of Fleet golf Course parkland course is ten minutes’ drive from Coo, and is always in good condition with stunning views. Kirkcudbright Golf Club is 15 minutes’ drive from Coo and the parkland course has views over ‘The Artist’s Town’ of Kirkcudbright.
Attractions for all the family
If you’re coming to Coo with the family, there are lots of visitor attractions nearby. Cream O’Galloway is a working dairy farm that’s famous with the locals for its ice cream and ice cream making workshop. If you enjoy rolling your sleeves up, make sure to visit the Cocoabean Company too, six miles from Coo Palace at Twynholm, where you can have a go at making chocolate. There are indoor and outdoor play areas too.
Coo puts you in the perfect position to explore some of Scotland’s best beaches too. Carrick beach is a local favourite and offers stunning views over Ardwall Isle and Fleet Bay. A short car drive away are Brighouse Bay and Mossyard, both of which have a long stretch of sand, depending on the tide, as well as plenty of sheltered rocky sections. Further afield by car is the absolutely stunning coastline and coastal inlets of Balcary Bay.
In fact, the Manager at Coo has a favourite beach that’s even closer. Just around the corner from Coo is the ‘Secret beach’ which boasts stunning views, lots of rocks to explore – even an old smuggler’s cave – and, depending on the tide, acres of soft sand. James Brown, the founder of Coo Palace, created a bathing hut here in the arts and crafts style, which looks like a mini castle.
Beautiful landscapes, including Threave Estate
If you prefer to explore inland, Coo puts you at the heart of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Lowlands. The Gatehouse of Fleet is set in the middle of a National Scenic Area and is surrounded by hills and forests. The Cally Woods here have many tracks and trails to explore, and you can wander amongst the hills of the Galloway Forest Park.
One of the most beautiful places to visit in the area is Threave Estate and Gardens. Voted one of the UK’s best gardens to visit, Threave has something for all seasons and is a haven for wildlife. Threave’s wonderful garden has been created over the years by students of the Trust’s School of Heritage Gardening. At the centre stands Threave House, designed in the Scottish Baronial style in 1871 for the Gordon family. Many of its rooms are displayed as they were in the 1930s.
Eating out and shopping
Kirkcudbright is less than eight miles from Coo Palace and has a range of shops and supermarkets, as well as a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes, such as the Selkirk Arms and Auld Alliance. Gatehouse of Fleet is seven miles from the site and also has a range of tourist facilities and eateries, including The Masonic Arms, No 1 Fleet Street and The Gather at Laggan.
The Lowlands are one of the Scottish regions renowned for their single malt whiskies, and you can visit breweries in the area to see the time-honoured craft of distilling. Bladnoch Whisky and the new Dark Art Distillery are based in Kirkcudbright, while the Sulwath Craft Brewery is in Castle Douglas. You can take a tour and sample the malts during your visit. Bladnoch is one of the oldest original distilleries and dates back to 1817. The region also has a programme of farmers’ and producers’ markets where you can explore the delicious food and drink of the region.
On-site recreation and facilities
- Indoor heated swimming pool with swimjet and children’s area
- Small gym / exercise room
- Sauna
- Clubroom: tourist information, DVD library, computer
- Games room: pool table, table tennis, mini football table
- Internet and WiFi facilities
- Bondholder laundry
- Small shop
- Outdoor mini golf
- Children’s outdoor wooden play castle and swings
- Woodland walk
Robert Burns’ House
In nearby Dumfries, the last home of the famous Scottish Poet, Robert (Rabbie) Burns, is open for visitors. Admission is free and on display are a few of his paintings and artefacts, giving a unique insight into the life this great man and his wife led there. The house is lovingly curated, and guests are shown a film of the poet’s life before being allowed to wander through and read some of his letters and papers.
Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle is set in the 120,000-acre Queensberry Estate and is considered one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Scotland. Built in the 17th Century, Drumlanrig has mountain bike trails, fishing, walking routes, a playground, castle tours, a country park and Victorian gardens, offering plenty to do for all the family. The interior of this great castle displays magnificent collections of French furniture, art, porcelain and silver, including Rembrandt’s Old Woman Reading. The rangers in the park can show you delights such as the Drumlanrig Sycamore, the very first Douglas Fir to be planted in the UK and one of the oldest in Scotland. There’s also a tearoom, shop and Stableyard Studios where local craftspeople make and sell their wares.
Gretna Green
The most well-known wedding venue in the country is on the eastern edge of Dumfries and Galloway, famously where young couples would elope to marry in secret! Alongside being the UK’s wedding destination, there’s a museum showing the original marriage room (still used for weddings today), and the oldest anvil (used in the wedding ceremonies) in existence. Legend has it that those who touch this ancient anvil will forever be blessed in good fortune in matters of the heart. Originally a smithy, the blacksmith’s cottage and workshop stand almost untouched, evoking romantic memories of lovers desperate to hear the words, “Under the ancient rights and laws of Scotland you are now man and wife”.
The Devil’s Porridge Museum
The “Devil’s Porridge” was the nickname given to Cordite by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote, “The nitroglycerine on the one side and the gun-cotton on the other are kneaded into a sort of devil’s porridge”. Cordite was manufactured here during WWI and WWII by women, at great personal risk, to be used in munitions. With friendly staff and a café this museum tells the story of a factory that was considered of as great importance as Bletchley Park, and “one of the greatest munitions factories on earth”.
Monreith Animal World
For families looking for some outdoor fun, Monreith Animal Farm, at Low Knock Farm, Monreith, is set in 12 acres of beautiful countryside including a picturesque pond walk. You walk a circular route through exhibits of waterfowl, belted Galloway cattle, degus, alpacas, owls, otters, donkeys, Shetland ponies, poultry, peacocks and pigs.
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
At the southern-most point of Dumfries and Galloway is the Mull of Galloway Experience, part of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Scotland Nature Reserve. The lighthouse itself boasts 115 steps to reach the top, where you can take in breath-taking coastal views across the Irish Sea to Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria. On a good day, visitors can see porpoises, dolphins and gannets. The café is the Southernmost coffee shop in Scotland.
Annandale Distillery
For those who love their food and drink, Annandale Distillery is the perfect place to take a tour. With Scotland’s finest food, wine, craft beers and ciders on offer, alongside a very extensive whisky selection, it’s the perfect place to while away an afternoon. Not only can you learn all about the distillery process, but you can take home your favourite picks to enjoy later.
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Read moreWalks around Coo Palace in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is a stunning place for a walking holiday. You’ll find yourself exploring miles of magnificent coastline, lush woodland, unspoilt countryside and charming traditional towns. No matter if you’re after a tranquil, relaxing stroll or a more challenging hike, this magnificent part of Scotland has walking routes that match all abilities.
Coo Palace is nested right on edge of the Galloway coastline, with amazing views over Wigtown Bay and Solway Firth. From our comfortable accommodation, you can enjoy all manner of beautiful walking routes, including coastal paths and country trails. We’ve collected together a selection of routes for you to enjoy during your visit.
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