Local Information

Drumlanrig Castle a few miles away is well worth a visit with adventure playground for children, marked cycle and walking trails, a visitor centre, craft shops and a cycle museum. Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the world's first pedal cycle in the nearby village of Keir.

The world's first steamboat propelled its way across nearby Dalswinton Loch.

Robert Burns was tenant on Ellisland Farm near Dumfries where he wrote Auld Lang Syne and Tam O' Shanter. Burns died in Dumfries at the early age of 37 and is buried in St Michaels churchyard.

Joseph Thomson a native of the village of Penpont was a world famous explorer of the African continent. The antelope named after him - Thomson's gazelle, commemorates his name and there is a monument in his memory in Thornhill

Sanquhar village has the oldest post office in the world and Ruthwell on the other side of Dumfries is home to the world's first bank.

The nearby Solway coast with delightful towns like Kirkcudbright provides an alternative day out. If you fancy a day shopping or to get back to city life for a day, an hour in the car or even the train can get you to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Carlisle or Ayr.

Thornhill itself has an amazing range of specialist and exclusive fashion shops that attract people from far and wide. When feeling less inclined to cook Drumlanrig Cafe and Jade Garden provide a range of takeaway food whilst many pubs in Thornhill and surrounding villages like Moniaive do good pub grub.A hidden gem providing excellent food both in the bar and the restaurant is the Trigony Hotel about one mile outside Thornhill.

Casa Mia and Hullabaloo in Dumfries are also to be recommended for an evening meal (booking essential).

Plenty to see, plenty to explore and plenty to do in any weather for all the family. With peace and tranquillity back at Hope Cottage if it is a restful holiday that you require or just somewhere to rest up after a hard day being a tourist or hill-walking then this could be the perfect place for your holiday or short break.