Colvend coast and beyond
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-> Colvend coast and beyond
The Colvend coast, twenty miles or so southwest of Dumfries, is probably one of the finest stretches of coastline along the so-called "Scottish Riviera". The best approach is via the A710, which heads south through New Abbey, before cutting across a handsome landscape of rolling farmland to the aptly named Sandyhills, and, beyond, to ROCKCLIFFE, a beguiling little place of comfortable villas sheltered beneath wooded hills and nestled around a beautiful rocky, sand and shell bay. Excellent B&B accommodation is available at Millbrae House (tel 01556/630217; £40-50; March-Oct), a whitewashed cottage a short stroll from the bay. For camping, the Castle Point Caravan Site (tel 01556/630248; March-Oct) is in a secluded spot, just south of the village, a stone's throw from the seashore. The Garden House tearoom (closed Mon & Tues), at the entrance to the village, can give you simple sustenance and has a garden at the back.
For vehicles, Rockcliffe is a dead end, but it's the start of a pleasant half-hour's walk along the Jubilee Path to neighbouring KIPPFORD, a tiny, lively yachting centre strung out along the east bank of the Urr estuary. En route, the path passes the Celtic hill fort of the Mote of Mark, a useful craggy viewpoint. At low tide you can walk over the Rough Firth causeway from the shore below across the mud flats to Rough Island, a humpy twenty-acre bird sanctuary owned by the National Trust for Scotland - it's out of bounds in May and June when the resident terns and oystercatchers are nesting. The reward for your gentle stroll is a drink and a bite to eat at the ever-popular Anchor Hotel (tel 01556/620205; £50-60), on Kippford's waterfront, which serves excellent bar meals - be sure to check the specials board. If you need to stay the night, though, you might find it more peaceful at the Rosemount (tel 1556/620214; £40-50; Feb-Nov), an excellent guest house close by on the seafront.
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