Blackaddie House

Traditional hospitality, home comforts and creative modern cooking are a winning combination at this mellow-stone manse with the River Nith surging past the garden. On arrival you’ll find home-made shortbread, Scottish mineral water and a fruit basket in your bedroom, with maybe grapes from the greenhouse. The River Suite has a king-size bed, its own small kitchen and a lounge with French doors to a waterside patio. Dual-aspect Grouse has an antique four-poster. One reader found the ‘beige, khaki and eau de nil’ decor made her room with ‘large beige bathroom’ seem ‘awfully dingy’. Her spirits were restored with the set dinner, ‘excellent on both nights’. Ian McAndrew’s nightly-changing menu offers either/or choices such as slow-braised then roast pork belly, pulled pork, roast apple purée. One reader’s beetroot sorbet was the ‘first star of the show’, followed by ‘extremely fresh and delicious’ trout with pea purée. Produce is locally sourced or home grown. The hotel is very dog-friendly,. You can fish for salmon or take a 20-minute drive to Drumlanrig Castle. NOTE: As the Guide went to press, the hotel was in the process of being sold.