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Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate

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Barscobe House
Property grounds
Property grounds
Interior
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
11 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 188500 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Castle Douglas, SCT
  • Lock Ken
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Galloway Forest Park
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Clatteringshaws Loch
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

11 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 7

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 8

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 9

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 10

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 11

1 Single Bed

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate

Property Description:

Quietly situated within its own 800 acre private estate, Barscobe House is a large family home offering comfortable accommodation for a group of up to 18 guests, with an enclosed garden surrounded by beautiful countryside and fantastic westerly views over the rolling hills of the Glenkens.

Furnished in a traditional country house style, the house has a large reception hall with billiard table, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, play room and a large country style kitchen, so there is plenty of room for everyone! All the bedrooms and bathrooms are to be found on the first floor where there is a selection of double, twins and 5 single bedrooms.

With its own brown trout fishing loch, hills, ancient woodlands, river, waterfalls and historic listed castle all within its beautiful grounds, this secluded historic private estate is the perfect Scottish retreat.

There are also numerous other activities also locally available within 5-10 minutes of the house including sailing, canoeing, water skiing on Loch Ken; hill walking and mountain biking in the Galloway Forest Park; and the local golf course in New Galloway. Barscobe House is also within easy distance of sandy beaches and a range of nationally famous country houses open to the public, such as Drumlanrig Castle and Dumfries House.

PRICING: Minimum stay is 4 nights in low season and 7 nights in high season. Nightly rates vary according to season.

PLEASE NOTE: for families and couples only; stag parties, hen parties or the like are strictly forbidden and entry to the property will be refused.

Property manager

Sophie Emery
Premier Host
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
£20 per dog per stay (max 2)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Castle Douglas

Located in Castle Douglas, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. Threave Castle and Morton Castle are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Galloway Activity Centre and Cally Gardens. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Laggan Outdoor or Dumfries Ice Bowl. Waterskiing and sailing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking nearby.
Map
Castle Douglas, SCT

What's nearby

  • The Lane - 7 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Loch Ken Marina - 12 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Lock Ken - 13 min drive - 13.8 km
  • Galloway Forest Park - 15 min drive - 15.1 km
  • Clatteringshaws Loch - 17 min drive - 14.7 km

Getting around

  • Glasgow (PIK-Prestwick) - 82 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Clachan Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Smithy - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪CatStrand - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Clachan Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Smithy - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Large Family Country House Located In An Idyllic Private Estate located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of The Lane, Roods Loch and New Galloway Golf Club. Gills Loch and Dalry Town Hall are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Patrick H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Perfect Vacation

Every two years we plan a vacation for our entire family, 18 (soon to be 19) and therefore need to find properties which are large enough to accomodate us whilst also beinf dog friendly. It was universally agreed that Barscobe was, by far, the best property we have stayed at yet
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

David H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot

I think we’d all go back
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

David A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice house in a beautiful location

Nice house in a beautiful location, lots of space and the hall is a wonderful focal point for a group to spend time together
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Damian C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Damian Clapham

We have stayed in quite a lot of large houses over the years but this was by far the best we have been in. property was very clean and provided us with everything we needed from a property, snooker table was a huge bonus along with the daily walks around the private estate including the waterfalls. Brilliantly looked after by Duncan and Vicki who were able to help with any questions we had!! definitely recommend, we may well be back!!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Juliette D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful holiday

Barscobe House is a lovely old property tucked away down a private drive. We were there to celebrate a big birthday and the house was the perfect spot for a family get together. We spent most evenings in the main hall area, where there was space for everyone to sit, play snooker and socialise together. The large and well equipped kitchen was perfect for catering for a large group and the pantry and cool room were a great bonus for food and drink storage. The views from the garden were wonderful and we were lucky enough with the weather to be able to sit out and enjoy them. The garden offers plenty of space for children and dogs to run and we made the most of it. We had a lovely time at Barscobe and would consider returning next time we have a family get together.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house and location

Castle Douglas was a fabulous, interesting, retreat for our family of 9 adults and 5 children for 5 days. With magnificent views especially for bedrooms over gardens, woodlands, farmland (with sheep) streams and other water, all around. Look out for the massive old tree in the garden!! Plenty of space on the lawn for a quick game of football, cricket, or rounders! Unfortunately, we couldn’t let the dog off the lead as there were gaps in the fence so a little downside if you have a dog. The downstairs rooms were bigger than expected with loads of nooks and crannies to hide if you needed a quiet moment. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable with modern bedding. The bathrooms were good, 2 with baths and 2 with showers. We never felt cold at all as the heating was very efficient. The House was as expected for a very old building with massive, interesting, well furnished rooms, space for everyone. The modern kitchen was exceedingly well equipped with double oven, crockery, pots and utensils etc. The cold room housing the fridges and freezers was an interesting and useful space for food storage and of course the beer!! The boot room was great for the dog. The snooker table provided entertainment for all ages and we had some lovely evenings around the open fires which were lovely and atmospheric. Kids enjoyed playing hide and seek etc, and generally having space to be kids. The caretakers were kind in not rushing us out on moving out day, which we thank them for. All in all, a very different way to spend a few days with family and friends which we wouldn’t mind repeating!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family stay

Excellent house with very large garden in quiet countryside
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

w.y. b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tekort stoelen voor buiten.

Heerlijke huis maar slechte kwaliteit meubels, niet antiek maar versleten en doorgezakt. Voor de rest zalig.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Simon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

October Half Term 2021

Wonderful property for large family gatherings. Amazing living and entertaining space set within stunning surroundings. Lovely walks with the dog within the woodlands and rivers, which seem to be endless. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Elaine P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This is an excellent venue for families or large parties. Situated in a beautiful tranquil area

Great communication from the owner prior to stay and our onsite contact was excellent.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

Lovely joint family holiday.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Seonaid S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful country property!

We enjoyed a lovely 1 week stay at Barscobe House. I only wish it had been a bit longer! The house is a grand old country home which was very spacious indeed. We were a large family group of 17 ranging in age from 89 years old to 2 years old. There was plenty of space to spread out throughout the property. There was also plenty of space in the kitchen and boot room area to accommodate our Golden Retriever "Monty" on his first ever holiday. The bedrooms were large and well furnished. The walk in shower was convenient for the older members of the family. The garden is huge and was wonderful for the little ones to run around in. They particularly enjoyed exploring the woods nearby with a "den" for them to play in. The estate was wonderful for walks, especially the lovely walk to the nearby waterfall, which is definitely a must-see! A special thanks to Vicki and Duncan who were wonderful hosts, visiting every morning to check that we had everything we needed. The local area had plenty to see as well, ranging from beautiful beaches to quaint tea rooms. All in all, I would certainly recommend Barscobe House for a wonderfully relaxing holiday.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jean W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Castle Douglas

We appreciated the wonderful country setting and the beautiful gardens. The views and walks were spectacular. Duncan and Vickie cheerfully check on us each day. The critter house met all our needs. Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Duncan L.

Fantastic Home!

We had our annual family reunion here. The house has bags of character. Very memorable stay. We had 11 of us that swelled to 14 midweek and the house was never crowded - always spare rooms downstairs to relax and find quiet time. They installed a new walk in shower which was superb. The kitchen was very well equipped and I loved the AGA. Negatives were the windows - we were told that only one of them opened due to age - I'm not deducting a star for that - but we had a bit of a heat wave while we were there. Two dishwashers made for easy clean ups and two washing machines were great. Dryer needed fixing which I am sure has been taken care of. Overall 5 stars - would I stay here again? No question.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

David G.

The property was great everyone loved it.

We had a great time together even though the weather was not good, plenty of rain and wind and we could not really use the grounds, but enjoyed the snooker and darts every night, the loch was a bit remote but we did catch once I got my breath back, the internet was bad and I thought this would be a problem at first but was probably a blessing. Overall we had a great time.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Joseph S.

The perfect place!

For a group of 16 friends and family, with nine children between 10 and 6 years old, Barscobe was the perfect destination. The house is an exquisite blend of grandeur, comfort and beauty; the grounds and views breath-taking! Walking over the hills through a blizzard to show the kids the loch, arriving just as the sun came out, the snow stopped and the light seem to make the whole landscape glow, will be a memory to last a lifetime! Having space back at the house to dry clothes, warm up round three open fires, play together, eat together or disappear for a quiet read was priceless. The bar and snooker table was the icing on the cake! The kitchen was well stocked with culinary basics that we thought we'd have to buy and the cold room a god send for all our leftovers. Impressively, the entire house was spotlessly clean and constantly warm, we felt at home from the moment we arrived. Excellent, friendly communication from the caretakers and owners. The Clachan Inn in Dalry did great food with wonderful service for us. The water sports centre on Loch Ken were very helpful and knowledgeable. It all made for a truly wonderful holiday and the first of many trips back we hope. Thank you all.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Caroline R.

Grand but comfortable!

Lovely house, perfect for a large family get together and very well equipped, both in the kitchen and generally. Major plus was the lift, so my 89 year old father could get up and down to the bedrooms, the only minus was, no walk -in shower so he was unable to wash while there, and only one shower in the 4 bathrooms, over the bath. The other baths had shower attachment on the taps, but no screen or curtain.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca kelly W.

'Wedding Week' at Barscobe !

I can not recommend this house enough to people !!! We stopped at Barscobe House from the 13th-20th May 2017. It was amazing! from the start we had an extremely warm welcome from the house keeper which completely set the tone for the holiday! you couldn't help but not get excited about the house when you were around Vicky as her excitement was infectious! Vicky told us what were good walks for the area and how to get to the loch and waterfall. Our first day was lovely weather so we walked to the waterfall and then the loch were we had a play in the rowing boat that's in the boathouse down there ! It was a great hit with everyone and the dogs loved it too. We stopped at Barscobe for our wedding week as we wanted both our family's all under one roof, we had 16 people in total and 3 dogs, we were very apprehensive about everyone getting along and if people would be getting frustrated by not having their own space but because of the sheer size of the house this was never a worry it was more a case of trying to find people as everyone spread out and had their own space! The Snooker Table was a big hit also as everyone tended to chill on a night in the grand hall mainly with various snooker tournaments taking place (which was brill for bonding!). As for our wedding on the 18th we all got ready for the ceremony at the house we went to Gretna Green and had the service at the Anvil hall and had the reception back at the house after. We had brought our own garden gazebo and a big BBQ on the lawn the drawing room leads out on to, the weather was fab and the house and setting made for beautiful pictures. We owe our fantastic day to this house and for that we will be forever grateful! Cant wait to go back on one of our big anniversaries! Much love, the new MR & MRS Xxx
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Great location and a amazing house

Great location and a amazing house with lots of character. Would stay here again 100%
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carl W.

Fantastic place and great for a large family gathering. The house, estate and gardens are great.

Had a great time and would certainly go back. Great house and the snooker table was a big hit. The views are fantastic and was a really tranquil place. Loads to do in the surrounding area for adults and kids. We would book again. The wilds, jones and middletons
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

William H.

A family getaway

Barscobe is accurately described on the site, however the pantry is large, cold with large fridge, small fridge and chest freezer, excellent when ordering a single shop for ten. The idea for the holiday was to get away from the hustle and bustle of working life and Barscobe fitted the bill perfectly. Dry days spent on the lawn playing rounders, badminton etc, exploring the estate and taking the boat out in the middle of the loch. Evenings and rainy days playing darts, snooker or board games around the large kitchen table. Barscobe enabled us to have "family fun" in a beautiful house in a picturesque setting. Who could ask for more
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nigel H.

A taste of a bygone age with modern comforts

We had a memorable family gathering here through Easter Week 2016. We loved the utter peacefulness of the surroundings, the glorious views, but above all the house itself. To enter it feels like stepping back into a bygone age. Where necessary, modern comforts of a high standard have been introduced, and these have been chosen carefully to fit in with the Edwardian/1920s style. Thus there is efficient central heating, a bright kitchen with modern appliances, excellent beds in every room (including the former servants' ones), etc. But the original layout and much original furniture remains, as well as the books, photographs and memorabilia of the family who have owned the house for over 60 years. If you feel like stepping back in time to a more leisured age then come here. We saw only 2 cars pass the house all week, and yet by Scottish standards it is not remote. There are 3 village stores and two inns within 5 miles, and Castle Douglas is 12 miles away down a fast road. Our grandchildren loved the freedom to roam, the red squirrels outside the front door, etc. Within the estate are beautiful woods, fine waterfalls and a good-sized trout loch. Barscobe is a truly enchanting place to stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2016

About the host

Hosted by Sophie Emery

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Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests