Lennox is a cedarwood chalet, which we had built on the edge of a beautiful beach on the Solway Coast in 1973 for our own family use. It is situated about a quarter of a mile from the holiday village of Southerness along a rather bumpy Sandy Lane to the beach. A feature of the building is the great use of glass in the living room to be able to take advantage of the beautiful views over to the Lak
e District of England and east up the Solway Firth towards Annan. The Chalet
Within the available space of the chalet, we decided to make the living area as big as possible, so the bedrooms are quite small. We have aimed our chalet at families looking for a base to explore the Galloway countryside and have furnished, not in a luxurious style, but in a way, which we feel is suitable for a comfortable family holiday. The living/dining area (approx 18'x18') has a comfortable settee and chairs, with pine dining table and chairs. The kitchen, divided from the living room by a worktop, is small but well equipped with units, fridge, electric cooker, washer, microwave oven and all the crockery etc. Maps, tourist information books, jigsaws and a few games are also part of the furnishings, as well as a TV. There are three bedrooms, one with a double bed, one with bunk beds and one with twin beds. The settee can also be pulled out to form a wide single/narrow double bed
The bathroom is also small but has the three essential parts, plus an electric shower. Heating is provided by a wood/coal-burning stove, which gives off a good heat and is easy to use following the instruction book. Wood is easily collected from the beach and their are various coal merchants in Dumfries. Since putting the stove in we have found it has made a tremendous difference to the comfort of people living in the chalet at early and late season. The stove has a fireguard in permanent position and it is the responsibility of the occupier to see that the gate is kept closed when children are about. The Village
Southerness is a holiday village on the Scottish Solway Coast about 17 miles south west of Dumfries, catering for the entire family holiday with residential caravan and holiday chalet areas. It is completely self-contained. Although a car is most useful there is a bus service to and from Dumfries which continues on to Rockcliffe. There are three shops in the area which sell almost everything needed, three pubs and a fish and chip restaurant for eating out and live music in the pubs on most evenings in the season. There are miles of sandy and rocky beaches where children can paddle and play in safety and on which you can walk in either direction. Supervision is essential, however, especially, when there is an incoming tide. Good fishing can be obtained in nearby rivers and lochs while sea anglers catch plaice and flounders from the beach. The RSPB reserve at Mersehead is in the next bay and the estuary birdlife can be seen from the living room. On the edge of the village is a championship 18 hole golf course with the usual club facilities and there is also The Links course where you can 'pay and play'. The surrounding countryside is excellent for rambling and walking along country lanes and over moorland and through the Galloway forests. Although it is not advisable to sail or canoe from Southerness, Solway Yacht Club is just along the coast at Kipford. The historian is well catered for in the area from Robert Burn's house in Dumfries, through Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey to Mary Queen of Scots' last resting place in Scotland at Dundrennan. Many visitors from the USA want to see the birthplace of the founder of the American navy, John Paul Jones at Arbigland. The genealogist is surrounded by excellent record offices in Dumfries and Dalbeattie. The Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society has a shop in the centre of Dumfries where family research can be done with a small fee for non-members.
