STAY : Craigmount Bed & Breakfast, Wigtown
The reason for our stay at Craigmount Bed & Breakfast - we were ‘bagging’ our 30th or so Whisky Distillery!
Bladnoch Distillery is located in Wigtown and is the most southerly distillery in Scotland. We were also there for the Bladnoch Waterfall Series. Bladnoch have released Waterfall 2 but you have to visit the distillery and take the tour to be eligible to purchase a bottle.
Wigtown is a three hour drive from Edinburgh, and yes, you could complete a round trip in a day but it’s such a lovely part of the world that we decided to stay overnight and I am delighted that we chose Craigmount Bed & Breakfast.
REVIEW OF CRAIGMOUNT B&B, WIGTOWN, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Wigtown is known as Scotland’s National Book Town boasting around 20 book related businesses and home to the annual 10 day Book Festival hosting over 200 literary events for adults and kids and welcoming some literary giants such as Ian Rankin, Joanna Lumley and Sally Magnusson.
Besides the distillery and the book shops, there really isn’t much else in this wee town but they do have fantastic beaches, a golf course, the beautiful Galloway Forrest and plenty of Scottish wildlife. It is a ramblers paradise.
Craigmount B&B is a four bedroomed Manse house spread over 3 floors (there is no elevator). It is owned by Nicole and Malcolm whom I can only described as super friendly, helpful and truly wonderful hosts. Each room’s decor is literary themed and we stayed in the Galloway Childhood Room.
Greeted by Nicole at the door, she went through all the Covid regulations of the B&B, pointing out the hand sanitising stations (present at the front door, in every room and on each landing). Handing us track and trace guest information cards to complete, she then showed us the guest sitting room and the dining room.
The guest sitting room is at the front of the house and is welcoming and cosy. Beautifully decorated with a large fire, there are protocols in place should you use the room and what to do on vacating the sitting room - ie you place a ‘please clean me’ sign on the closed door, our hosts then disinfect the room and keep it closed for 30 minutes until they can reopen it for other guests to use.
Nicole showed us to our room and provided us with information on restaurants for dinner and breakfast the following morning (breakfast is pre-ordered).
The room was spotless. There was a strong smell of disinfectant in the bathroom but under the current circumstances I can understand why, and I didn’t mind at all. In fact it was re-assuring that our hosts were taking cleaniness, disinfecting and our safety seriously.
The beds were super comfortable, with Egyptian cotton linen on all the beds. Each room comes equipped with a TV, tea and coffee making facilities and complimentary toiletries.
Unfortunately, there are not many places to eat in Wigtown with the local pub having shut during lockdown and not due to reopen until January 2022. There is a small bistro called Cobwebs on Wigtown High Street (a 3 minute walk from the B&B) or its a trip into Newton Stewart. Craigmount B&B offer dinner but you have to pre-book.
After a great nights sleep, breakfast was most welcome and if you are going for the Full Scottish, you are in for a treat. The bread is thick and fresh, a true sign of it being homemade; their eggs are from a local supplier, Ollie, a 10yo entrepreneur; meats are from a local butcher in Creetown and they can cater for gluten freebies, vegetarians and vegans.
Believe me, nothing is too much for Nicole and Malcolm, and they will do anything to make your stay memorable and perfect.
Check out was smooth and easy, with payment being made online when we booked. We left with smiles on our faces, full bellies and a wee broon bag of farewell homemade brownies and apples!
What an absolute joy to have stayed here and I wouldn’t hesitate to book again. See you next year when we’re back for Waterfall No3.
Craigmount Bed & Breakfast, High Street, Wigtown, DG8 9EQ. Tel : 01988 402178 www.craigmount.info
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10
