Why visit Kirkennan, South West Scotland in Winter?

21st December - 19th March

At Kirkennan

  • Rates are at their lowest* in our 3 holiday cottages The Lodge, The Mews and Woodsedge and are all inclusive (no hidden costs like ‘winter heating supplements’).
  • All the holiday accommodation has full central heating and is cozy and warm.
  • Garden birds are active on the feeders, red squirrels are sometimes seen in Kirkennan gardens and the Urr river plays host to a variety of water birds.
  • All the holiday accommodation has either an open fire or a wood burning stove with an initial supply of fuel provided - and the long dark evenings are a great excuse to snuggle down by a real fire to read a book or watch a movie.
  • There is little light pollution so the night sky is dramatic, and the early nightfall means you don't have to stay up late to enjoy it.
  • The trees have lost their leaves and show the beauty of their branches.
  • From mid to late January onwards the flowers start to arrive and Kirkennan’s gardens are full of snowdrops, winter aconites, crocuses and then daffodils.
  • The 3 Kirkennan fields are empty of stock from 1st December to 28th February and guests are welcome to walk across them and use them to exercise dogs.
    * Except for Christmas and New Year

In South West Scotland

  • Beaches and walks are quiet – you may well have them to yourselves.
  • It is a great time for birdwatching as Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland plays host to internationally important populations of over-wintering birdlife:
    • Barnacle Geese arrive from Svalbard and are particularly dramatic during their dawn and dusk flights between feeding and roosting grounds at RSPB Mersehead and WWT Caerlaverock.
    • Whooper Swans mass at WWT Caerlaverock where they are fed twice daily.
    • Starling murmurations can be seen. Gretna Green is reknown as a key location to see this amazing site, but murmurations can also be seen in Castle Douglas, RSPB Mersehead and Kirkcudbright.
    • Greenland Whitefronts can often be found at Threave, Ken-Dee Marshes and Loch Ken and the Castle Kennedy area.
    • Waders can be seen at Southerness, Carsethorn, Powfoot, Newbie, Annan and Wigtown Bay.
  • It is a great time to visit The Galloway Dark Sky Park or to enjoy a Nocturnal Wildlife Experience.
  • Big Burns Supper – the world’s biggest Burns’ Night celebration takes place in Dumfries in January (24th Jan - 3rd Feb in 2019).
  • A number of local gardens open for Scotland’s Snowdrop Festival (end January – Mid March). For details see What's On.
  • Though some historic sites and attractions close for the winter others - particularly ones that are free to enter - are open all year round and again can be very quiet. Do check opening dates and times to be sure.

Contact us

Please contact us for more details about availability, prices or any other questions you have.