Cavens
Kirkbean, Dumfries and Galloway
Good Hotel Guide Review
Guests feel ‘very cared for’ at Jane and Angus Fordyce’s Georgian country house, which stands in mature grounds close to the empty beaches of the Solway coast. ‘It is a genuine oasis of tranquillity.’ Public rooms are filled with antiques, portraits, clocks, ornaments … all the trappings of an elegant but lived-in private home. ‘We had a lovely stay in this fabulous hotel,’ wrote readers who had probably the grandest room, Criffel. Light-filled Oswald room has toile de Jouy wallpaper and a separate sitting room. Both of these rooms have a sofa that converts to a bed for a child. If you would like direct garden access, go for ground-floor Solway, with bath and wet-room shower. All rooms are supplied with locally made biscuits and good china for tea and coffee. Angus’s ‘very tasty’, nightly, no-choice menu (let them know if you have dietary requirements) might include hand-dived scallops, venison, wild Solway salmon or a terrific steak. At breakfast there are local sausages and black pudding, locally smoked fish, organic eggs from Mrs McMyn’s Lohmann browns – or from happy hens at the bottom of the garden. (David Sowden, CA)
Hotel details
Address
Kirkbean
Dumfries
Dumfries and Galloway
DG2 8AA
Scotland
Telephone
01387 880234
Bedrooms
6. 1 on ground floor.
Open
Mar–Nov, exclusive use by groups at New Year.
Facilities
2 sitting rooms, dining room, wine cellar, meeting facilities, in-room TV (Freeview), 10-acre grounds.
Background music
light classical all day in 1 sitting room, dining room.
Children
all ages welcomed, free cots, sofa beds in some rooms.
Dogs
allowed by arrangement, not in public rooms or unattended in bedrooms.
Credit cards
MC, Visa.
Prices
D,B&B doubles from £290, singles from £232, family from £425. Dinner £35 for non-residents. 1-night bookings may be refused Easter, bank holidays.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Cavens
- Sunday Post: Seven beautiful hotels in Dumfries and Galloway
- USA Today: 20 of the most beautiful hotels in Scotland
We had a lovely two-night stay in this fabulous hotel in a lovely part of Scotland. We were made to feel very much at home by Angus and Jane. The food by Angus was first class, and we both particularly enjoyed the local rib-eye steak . As for the room (Criffel) ,it was stunning and so comfortable.
- Colin Arthur - March 2020
A rare combination of relaxed professionalism with high standards. Angus and Jane Fordyce made us feel very cared for. The decor is Scottish country house with good paintings and interesting objects. We especially enjoyed the very fresh plaice and the crunchy lemon brulee.The wine list is fairly extensive but there are no halves and few glasses. There is a fine choice of gins, whiskies and particularly brandies.
- Frances and David Thomas - July 2018
Last updated:
October, 2019. Information from the 2020 Good Hotel Guide
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