Local Dumfries and Galloway Activities

Gatehouse of Fleet is the ideal location for short breaks whether you enjoy golf, fishing, mountain biking, road cycling, walking or horse riding – you name it!

With loads of activities available to you for short breaks in Dumfries and Galloway and many of them being just a short distance from the hotel, we thought we’d outline our top selections for activity breaks in Galloway - perhaps one of the best opportunities to experience activity and weekend breaks in Scotland.

World-class mountain biking at the 7stanes
A few miles away is Kirroughtree - one of the key elements of the internationally renowned 7stanes project. The 7stanes are seven mountain bike centres spanning the south of Scotland. There are trails suitable for the novice to the expert.

There are also several trails which start right at our front door if you feel like a half day warm-up or one last burst before heading home. We provide special facilities and biking packages including bike hire for all the family keen on mountain biking.
www.7stanes.gov.uk

Golf - for all handicaps
With some of the finest courses in Scotland, there is certainly no shortage of golf in Dumfries and Galloway. As a guest of the hotel you will receive preferential green fees at Gatehouse of Fleet Golf Club which was formerly part of the Cally Estate.

Some of our other favourite courses within the region are Kirkcudbright Golf Club, Brighouse Bay Golf and Leisure Club, Newton Stewart Golf Club, Castle Douglas Golf Club and Southerness Golf Club. www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/golf

Tennis
Free tennis is available to hotel residents at the Gatehouse of Fleet tennis club.

National cycle route
Even more for bike enthusiasts, for those who enjoy a more ‘level’ approach to cycling, the national cycle route passes by the hotel’s front door, making the hotel the perfect resting spot on your cycling holiday!
www.sustrans.org

Fishing
Free salmon and sea trout fishing is available to residents of the hotel on the river Fleet. Trout fishing is also available locally in lochs and rivers. Sea fishing is also very popular off the Solway coast. We’ve even created special fishing break packages for our guests.
www.fishscotland.co.uk

Walking, wild life and bird watching
With forests, woodlands, mountains, the Solway Coast and stretches of unspoilt beaches to enjoy, we are ideally located for those who love walking, wildlife and bird watching. There are a number of trails and walks which start right at the hotel’s front door, including a walk to Sandgreen, the Cally Estate’s own private beach. The Dumfries and Galloway area is famed for its red squirrels in particular – look out for them in the hotels' garden.

Why not make use of our Farm Wildlife Box; follow a specially created wild life trail through the Cally Estate. All the family can enjoy information sheets, children’s colouring sheets and word searches and enter our competitions. We are working in partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and have created a special country package to give all the family the chance to enjoy the unique and diverse wildlife on the Cally Estate.

Bird watchers can hope to see Golden Eagles, Ospreys, Buzzards, Peregrines or Hen Harriers in the wild around Gatehouse of Fleet! Or, follow the Red Kite Trail, and witness the success of this repatriation project in Dumfries and Galloway.
www.gallowaykitetrail.com

Falconry
We are very fortunate to be working as partners with one of Scotlands foremost Falconry Centres – we can arrange a days falconry on your behalf. Why not book one of our special falconry break packages to experience one of life’s “must do” experiences. It really is magical. http://www.gallowayfalconry.co.uk

Horse riding and pony trekking
Perhaps one of the best ways to fully appreciate the stunning scenery of Dumfries and Galloway is on horse back. There are a number of centres within easy reach of the hotel which offer lessons and also treks both up in the hills and along the coast.

Shooting
Lairdmannoch Estate provides quality shooting in the Galloway Hills, is currently managed in 4 "beats", each comprising approximately three drives per half - day, so as to present where possible tailor-made sport to suit parties. www.lairdmannochestate.co.uk They can provide days made up of the following:

  • driven pheasant and partridge (full day or half of full day),
  • driven partridge, like grouse (half of full day),
  • walked up pheasant, partridge, woodcock, snipe, duck (full day),
  • duck flighting