Troston,
Near New Abbey,
Kirkcudbrightshire.
Sleeps 8
Troston is a delightful architect designed house in the countryside midway (7 miles approx.) between the busy town of Dumfries to the north and the sands of Southerness on the Solway Firth to the south. It stands high and proud, in its own grounds (barbecue), on a low hill overlooking a vast landscape of hills and farmlands mostly given over to forestry and grazing but with some sheep, hens and a pet cockerel, one mile by private tarmac road from an un-numbered sideroad lined with foxgloves and meadowsweet that tracks the Glensone Burn to the memorably pretty village of New Abbey (shop, 2 pubs, famous Sweetheart Abbey). It has been converted from an old stone barn (one stone marked 1680), and the 2ft thick walls conceal a warm, extremely comfortable, well-appointed, tastefully-furnished, really excellent house built on several levels internally, and whitewashed externally in the true Galloway style.
This is the countryside where Robbie Burns lived and died. In Dumfries you can visit his favourite howff 'The Globe' and see the verses he etched on the windowpanes. You can visit the houses in which he wrote some of his best-known works. You can explore the then notorious sheltered waters of the Colvend coast (views of the Lake District) where, as an Exciseman, he had to pursue the smugglers of brandy, tobacco and silk; and where, in later times, numerous emigrants were shipped off to The New World. Here too, in the hamlet of Kirkbean, John Paul Jones - one of the founding fathers of the US Navy was born - Annie Laurie lived near Moniaive - Robert the Bruce began his long fight for Scottish freedom here - there is too much history in the area, and too many opportunities for walking, golf, bird-watching, sailing - all the sports - to list in this description.
Heating is by central-heating and electricity (both
included), and open-fire. Bed-linen
included and towels are available for hire. Pets are welcome but sorry, no cats or hamsters. A refundable householders deposit is required for all bookings.
Accommodation (sleeps 8):
Lower ground-floor:
- Utility/playroom with stainless-steel sink, washing-machine, tumble-drier, and small snooker table.
- Shower, WC and basin.
Ground-floor:
- Kitchen/dining-room with cooker,thermomix, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, etc., and door onto a patio (furniture) over the original mill-race.
- Sitting-room (4 steps up) with open-fire, TV/DVD (TV reception can be poor), CD player, and French doors onto a deck facing the Galloway hills, and telephone for incoming and emergency calls;
- Two bedrooms (3 steps up) - one with one single-bed, and another twin bed-room;
- Shower, WC and basin.
Upstairs:
- Double-bed room with en-suite shower;
- Bed room with one double- and one single-bed.
- Bathroom with bath, WC and basin.
