[[File:E2AE9231-3629-444A-B3BB-E7B651D4464B.jpeg]][[File:E2AE9231-3629-444A-B3BB-E7B651D4464B.jpeg]][[File:03929179-5700-481A-9815-E933E582AC72.jpeg]]A five pitch, adults-only site set amongst some of the most majestic rolling scenery in the UK. Five nights here and only one beset by an evening of nippy midges and on our first night a sultry 29 Degrees C. We loved this site and learnt a few things.

1. Technology combined with incomplete thinking.
The reading lights in our 540 GT have dimmers (although the lights are at wrong end of the bed!)

2. Cycling and History.
That this part of the world, about 8 miles north of Dumfries is blessed with outstanding cycling and it makes a couple of claims to being the home of the inventor of the Bicycle: Kirkpatric MacMillan at Keir ,Gavin Dalzell 50 miles up the path in Kilmarnock and Thomas McCall in Lesmahago further up what is now the M74

3. Art. Kircudbright in the frame
If cycling and walking doesn't interest you the trot down to Kircudbright (an hour in the car) will swell your knowledge of art. Having been a long standing artistic community including some of the Glasgow Boys and Girls and a number of big name artists all represented in the local Town hall in an exhibition that matches anything the big city galleries can muster up.

4. Measures of happiness.
It passed through my mind how you can objectively measure the success of your break. My happy could be your misery... - so what are the measures that make for a perfect break?

Here is my starter for ten.

1. Peace and tranquility - you can only hear nature's noises. Thunder beats loud voices anyday and sheep talking away to each other in the neighbouring fields always puts a smile on my face.

What is your measure for the perfect break?


Cheers

Stuppa

Hi Colin

Despite living in Scotland to my shame I have yet to visit Hill House.

Kircudbright is one of those places that makes you ask yourself if you would like to live there and I'd say it's a yes.

If you are there before it closes on 12th September this is well worth the view

[URL=https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk/event/the-glasgow-girls-and-boys/] There is even a landscape of CRM's to see.

I've got red squirrel envy now!

Hi Randa
Yes I can see why they rebranded to Red Squirrel!

If you’re interested in Mackintosh, a visit to ‘House for an Art Lover’, in Bellahouston Park Glasgow is well worth the time. The history of its creation is quite interesting if you Google. Mackintosh entered a competition in a German magazine to design a country house for an art lover, but unfortunately some of his drawings arrived too late and he entry was rejected. An engineer who worked for Glasgow Council came across the drawings, and with much effort from fellow architects, surveyors, designers etc, the house was built in 1996.
As a Chartered Surveyor, I’ve always had a fondness for Mackintosh’s designs, particularly his furniture and wood carvings. Blackwell House on Windermere is another excellent example of the Arts and Craft Movement.

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a worthwhile trip to me and a great back story. At some point I'd like to get back to the Burrell collection once it re-opens after its re-furb and I notice both are within a couple of miles of each other. I can see a wee a plan coming together. Now to find a good local site...

What a masterpiece sir and a real compliment to your home's pedigree. Thank you for sharing