The Outdoor Hotel
- Premier host
- Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway
- See on map
- Sleeps: 2 (bell tents) or 6 (bothy)
- Bedroom: Varies
- Bathroom: Varies
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
Living the simple life doesn’t get much more beautiful than in Dumfries and Galloway, an area that’s often referred to as Scotland’s “best-kept secret”.
Characterised by remote beaches, ancient castles, and majestic rolling hills, you can surround yourselves with all the dramatic beauty of the Highlands… yet you’ll be far away from the bustling crowds.
And it’s right here that you’ll discover the Outdoor Hotel, on the site of an organic, regenerative working farm that overlooks the magnificent Nith valley.
Choose from a rustic, stone-built bothy that sleeps up to six guests, or romantic bell tents for two, superbly positioned for you to watch the sun begin its blazing descent over the valley.
Whichever retreat you opt for, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast package – delivered to your bell tent in the morning, or waiting for your arrival in the bothy – consisting of bacon and sausages from the farm’s own organic home reared pigs, fresh eggs from their free range organic chickens and bread and mushrooms from local bakers and farm growers.
In an elevated position overlooking the wildflower meadow with excellent views across the valley, the bothy features exposed wooden beams and roaring fire (which doubles as an oven) to warm your evenings indoors. Along with your kitchenette, outside there’s a fire pit, grill and rustic seating – the perfect place to watch the sun set.
Equipped with hotel-standard mattresses and goose-feather duvets, you can snuggle up in a kingsize bed, two singles, and a pull-out double sofa bed. Meanwhile, the en-suite bathroom boasts an electric shower and a waterless compost loo.
Keep readingAt a glance
- A rustic, stone-built bothy and furnished bell tents, secluded on a picturesque organic working farm in Dumfries and Galloway, overlooking the Nith valley.
- Both featuring eco-friendly self-contained facilities, the bothy sleeps up to 6 guests, and the bell tents a romantic couple per tent.
- Rustle up a feast in your mini-kitchenette indoors, or your outdoor kitchen (bell tents) – you’ll also have the chance to order a delicious breakfast pack, including produce from the farm itself.
- Take a farm tour to meet the resident animals, and learn more about the farm’s sustainable and regenerative practices.
- Wander to the local inn, just five minutes away, for a hearty meal in historic surroundings. The farm sits within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, with plenty to explore in the surrounding area.
Features
Family Friendly
Off-Grid
Facilities
Bothy (6 guests): wood-burning stove and oven, seating, mini kitchenette with electric hob, toaster, microwave, fridge, cooking equipment, cold running water, kingsize bed, 2 single beds, pull-out sofa bed, bedding and mattresses provided, en-suite warm water shower room with eco-toilet and eco-hand-soaps. Outdoor cooking area with firepit and grill.
Bell tents (2 guests per tent): wood-burning stove, mini kitchenette, kingsize mattress with bedding and blankets, outdoor cooking area with firepit, shower room and eco toilet at main farm building.
Local Activities
Walking, cycling, local pubs, historic sites, beaches, wildlife-watching
More information
Each individually styled, the bell tents resemble canvas-walled hotel suites, with a soft-glowing wood-burning stove, and a sumptuously-dressed kingsize mattress covered with butter-soft cushions and blankets.
You’ll also have well-equipped indoor and outdoor cooking facilities, and just head back to the farm to freshen up in the shower room, equipped with eco hand-soaps and an eco-loo.
Once you’ve settled into your chosen accommodation, why not embark on a farm tour? Meet the friendly resident animals, and learn more about how the owners work in harmony with nature, to create a better environment.
If you don’t feel like cooking, you could also take a five-minute stroll to the 500-year-old, Michelin Guide-featured Auldgirth Inn, where Robert Burns is rumoured to have been a regular.
You’ll also find that the Outdoor Hotel sits within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, which is recognised as a world-class visitor destination. Explore the UNESCO Trail to create lasting memories of your stay in this incredible part of the world.
Things to note
Mid-week and weekend stays are available. Please note that there are no TVs or Wi-Fi on site, but you should receive good 4G mobile coverage. Farm tours can be arranged for a small additional cost.
Where you'll be staying
Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway
What the guests of The Outdoor Hotel say
“As a pair of re-wilding nerds, we could also see how much subtle, yet hard work was put in the conservation of habitats for native species in this magical place. It’s also a foragers’ heaven too, and we will be back to admire the landscape as it changes through the different seasons. We loved every second of our stay – it was a holiday that made us fall in love with our beautiful country again – thank you!”
“The bell tent is absolutely amazing. It is so clean and comfortable! It made our anniversary break so special, and it was everything we wanted. Beautiful location, lovely facilities and really welcoming hosts. We would definitely recommend staying here, and we will be back again soon, I am sure.”
“We really enjoyed our stay at The Bothy, we were made to feel at home from the moment we arrived. We came to stay at the Bothy as a 2-night sleep over on our way up to the highlands but wish we could have stayed longer! We were all in awe with the attention to detail. It was so rustic, comfortable, cosy and somewhere we would love to visit again. We all loved waking up to see the beautiful beams in the ceiling above our heads – feeling truly relaxed!”
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