The Auldgirth Inn

Once the watering hole of Robert Burns, The Auldgirth Inn in Dumfriesshire has welcomed weary travellers for over 500 years.

Now guests can soak up the building’s history with the comfort of plush surroundings and a restaurant helmed by a Gordon Ramsay trained chef.

h3.Six cosy bedrooms

The Auldgirth Inn has six cosy rooms with modern fittings and luxury surroundings. The decor is peppered with tasteful references to Scotland, such as framed stag portraits, hare embroidered cushions and wallpaper printed with Scottish wildlife.

Each room has an ensuite bathroom with a bath and shower, a desk, an electric kettle and a television.

h3.Restaurant and bar

The restaurant at The Auldgirth Inn is helmed by chef Arran Seymour who has worked at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants in London.

The menu uses locally sourced ingredients to create a wide variety of dishes to suit every taste.

Dishes on the main menu include: roast chicken with black pudding and greens; pork belly with puy lentils and pickled cabbage; and mushroom and leek pie with buttered greens.

Before or after dinner guests can relax by the open fire in the lounge bar which boasts an extensive range of whiskies.

h3.Things to do

Nestled in deep rural Dumfriesshire, The Auldgirth Inn is ideal for those who enjoy country pursuits such as shooting trips at the nearby Drumlanrig Estate or fishing for salmon on the River Nith which flows a few years from the front door. The surrounding region also offers excellent hillwalking opportunities.

The area also offers a wealth of castles and fortresses to explore. Nearby is Dalswinton Castle where John Comy stayed the night before he was stabbed to death by his jealous cousin Robert the Bruce. Robert Burns, who farmed at nearby Ellisland, was also a guest at the inn.

The nearby loch at Dalswinton House was the scene of the first ever steam powered boat trip and a short distance from the hotel is where blacksmith Kirkpatrick McMillan invented the bicycle.