The Pend

First entering the property I found it to be very dark.

Overall it was clean except for rhe kitchen - cooker/grill. We advised all our concerns to the property owner next door but one and she was very friendly and helpful. As the week went on I found the property to be comfortable and charming.The bed was most comfortable. If you are a walker,all the main walks are a drive away.

Our stay at The Pend was beautiful, a very well thought out and presented property, larger than we expected and very comfortable.

Location-wise it’s perfect to explore the local Galloway area. There are nearby shops, chemist and a pub all in easy walking distance. There’s lots to do in the area, and The Pend is a perfect base from which to start.

Our stay was very comfortable, but memorable most of all for the character of this historic house.

What an amazing place!

This property is beautiful, we've been twice now and it's a true home from home.

You've everything you need and a bit of history to boot, plus so much to do on your doorstep or a short drive away.

This is a magical place to stay!

We loved all the historical features and the wonderful fire in the downstairs living room. All the crockery, cutlery and kitchen equipment that we wanted to use needed a wash but I would do that anyway. The beds were very comfortable and the shower was amazing! The village of Whithorn is very friendly and interesting, with convenient shops - we didn't need to leave the peninsula as there was so much to explore locally. We will definitely return!

An amazing property and the pictures and description don’t do it justice.

We felt wonderfully at home here and had the best week relaxing. The little kitchen has everything you need. The bathroom description needs updating as it now has a proper over bath shower with a screen not a hand held one. The seats downstairs were not the comfiest but the upstairs TV room was really comfy- we used it as a reading room. It is dark but that’s in keeping with the time period and there are plenty of lamps. Whithorn itself is quiet but the few shops have everything you need. A great place to escape the world and just relax.

A really good place for a quiet break.

Warm, comfortable and cosy. We enjoyed just sitting and reading (and snoozing) in the armchairs by the a peat fire on an evening - but the TV room upstairs is just as comfortable. The main bed is great - maybe a bit on the small size but warm and snuggly under the duvet. Kitchen is adequate for a week and the bathroom is fine. Parked the car outside every night, no issues there. Slight problem with one of the cupboard doors though - it fell out completely (no hinges of fastener) when we moved a lamp beside it. Crashed to the floor and broke - gave us a real shock.

Our family's five-day holiday at The Pend in Whithorn was a truly delightful experience.

The cottage itself is a charming and characterful retreat, providing the perfect base for exploring this beautiful part of Scotland. The location is excellent, right in the heart of Whithorn, making it easy to stroll to the local shops and historical sites. The accommodation was spotless, well-equipped, and felt incredibly cosy. We particularly appreciated the comfortable beds and the lovely little garden, which was a great spot for a morning coffee. The owners have clearly put a lot of thought into making The Pend a home away from home, with all the necessary amenities and some thoughtful extra touches. Whithorn itself is a fascinating place, steeped in history, and we enjoyed visiting the Whithorn Priory and the Machars. We also took several trips to the stunning nearby beaches, which were a real highlight. The kids loved exploring the rock pools, and we all enjoyed the peaceful coastal walks. Overall, we would highly recommend The Pend for a family holiday. It's a wonderful, relaxing place to stay and a fantastic starting point for discovering the wonders of Dumfries and Galloway. We hope to return again in the future.

If you are looking for a fairy tale vacation, this is it.

Our family of four, two adults and two kids ages 10 and 11, stayed here for a week. I mention their ages because preteens can be picky, but even they had a magical time. When we opened the door, all four of us were instantly excited, wandering through the house to check out every room. The master bedroom had a very comfortable bed, the second bedroom had two comfy twins, and a third room my kids called the Jacobite room. It was full of beautiful old furniture, antiques, and even a TV. The kitchen was great, with a stove, oven, microwave, small fridge and freezer, and a dishwasher, plus all the dishes, pots, pans, and utensils you could possibly need. The living and dining rooms were cozy and fun, with a big old trunk full of games, a radio, and a CD player with some CDs to choose from. The peat moss fireplace was such a highlight. It was set up for our first fire when we arrived, with plenty of supplies for the week. Out back, there was a small washing machine and dryer, which was a game changer for us. We could pack lighter for our two-week UK trip knowing we could do laundry here. We were lucky to have rain and chilly weather most of the time, which was a dream for us since we live in the Sonoran Desert. The heating was already set, and the whole house stayed perfectly warm and comfortable. The bathroom was lovely, with a full shower and a deep tub. At night, we could see the ancient priory right from the bedroom window. We even looked for ghosts. There were sheep behind it, and a walking trail through cow fields to the Rispain Camp Roman fort. Walking through the open pasture was a little nerve-wracking for us, but if you are used to cows, you will be fine. There is a nice playground in town about five minutes away. A tiny grocery store is close by for basics, but we made a trip into Newton Stewart for a full grocery run, which I definitely recommend for the week. We also ate several times at The Central Cafe down the street, and the food was great every time. This house is the perfect base for exploring the area. Within an hour driving distance or less, we visited stone circles, cairns, standing stones, Roman sites, early Christian pilgrimage spots, and even the Irish Sea. It was freezing, but the kids still swam in it. One of the best surprises was the price. For what we paid here, we could never have found anything even close to this size, comfort, and charm in the US. It was an incredible value for such a memorable experience. We loved every minute here and would come back in a heartbeat.

Wonderful experience staying in this historic property

Absolutely stunning property.

Felt I'd stepped back in time( but with all the benefits of modernity) I most definitely did not want to leave

A comfortable cottage, found watching tv a trifle difficult as set(s) are on the floor.

A pity the owner did not contact us personally. An email would have been sufficiënt and felt more welcoming than all communication regarding booking going via Sykes Ronald Cramer

Beautiful property full of history and character!

Very comfy beds, well appointed and spacious property in a great location. Will definitely book a return visit. We had a blast!

Full of character - lovely house in the town.

Easy access to area. Enjoyed the open fire.

The cottage was well equipped and bedding clean and comfortable.

However, we found the cottage to be too dark for our liking and struggled on the stairs and to read. The cottage had a quietness about it that made it comfortable but for us we found the furniture rather uncomfortable although we understand that it is all in keeping with the history of the building. It was a good base for a couple of nights but we would prefer something brighter with more comfortable sofas to stay longer.

The Pend combines comfort with tradition: it has all the mod cons - such as a microwave and wifi modem - within a house that has been lovingly restored and furnished to reflect 16th/17th century interiors.

I will definitely come back for visits in the future.

We loved the house and area.

Bathroom was cold was the only problem. Kitchen is small but effort made to make it work and great pub nearby. Great value and would go again.

A unique house to stay in, the antiquarian decor and age of the house makes it a very special place.

We were impressed by how clean and comfortable it was. Very easy to book and the arrangements for key pick up were easy and convenient. Whithorn itself is a charming, friendly and fascinating place.

We left after a few hours as the place was mouldy, damp, wind blowing in from the bedroom, furniture broken and the place dirty.

It shouldn’t be being rented out and needs repairs, deep clean and updating. I raised a case and have not received a refund and Sykes are not helping. Don’t book here or any property through Sykes cottages!

Overall a lovely place to relax and spend a holiday, genuinely feels like you're in a piece of history whilst being warm and cosy.

Only slight drawbacks, which in no way marred the experience - more quality of life issues - were that the bathroom/shower situation needs some thought, and the kitchen is tiny and has seen better days. That said the living areas and bed rooms were sumptuous and well worth the price.

Very interesting old building.

The bathroom is an issue with a handheld shower that is impossible to use without flooding the room

The cottage was wonderful, it was like stepping back in time.

One of the best holiday and not only because of the sacred area in Scotland-Whithorn but also by us staying in this beautiful, great decorated property.

We will be back soon

Property is interesting and atmospheric.

Furnished with antiques and old furniture it is like stepping back in time. However much we enjoyed our stay, there are a few things that are not to an acceptable standard: 1. The bath/shower arrangement is very poor. There is no shower curtain to the rear of the bath so that it is almost impossible to use the shower without water cascading down the wall onto the floor behind the bath. This is not good in a house that is hundreds of years old. There is also no extract fan which would help stop condensation and mould becoming a problem (there is one in the kitchen). 2. The kitchen units are falling apart. There is evidence of mice/ droppings in the low cupboard by the door. 3. Is there any need for the level of lighting to be so low? I appreciate that some people may feel that it adds to the atmosphere but brighter bulbs could be considered. 4. There is no broom to sweep the floors, only a dustpan and brush. The mop does not have a head in it.

The welcome pack was very much appreciated, the cottage was well provided and very clean and comfortable.

Loved the enclosed garden. The historic feel was wonderful. Excellent property.

Lovely place to stay.

.very comfortable whilst retaining a feel of history. Excellent facilities, easy parking in a lovely little place.

Stepping back in time but all the modern day comforts.

Unbelievable place. Thank you for an unforgettable experience.Alan and Elaine

We had a wonderful stay in this delightful period property which was exceptionally clean and well presented.

The furnishings were all in keeping and evocative of the history of the building. We appreciated the thoughtful extras: a bottle of milk in the fridge, well stocked hospitality tray and fresh flowers. We were blessed with a week of fabulous weather which was a real bonus, especially as at this point in the season many amenities were not open. We were sad not to be able to access the visitor centre and museum as those facilities open April 1st. Due to covid constraints there were no reference books or information leaflets available and we did not have the wherewithal to use the internet. Apart from this minor issues The Pend was all that we would wish for in a holiday let.

So good we’ve booked it again!

We loved this accommodation, it’s the best we’ve stayed in with Sykes.

The decor and location were both great. We’ve recommend it to anyone.

The Pend is a step back in time ,with all mod cons .

All facilities in the cottage were spot on . Nothing was missing . Welcome pack was good to arrive to . Lovely village location , with no parking problems and shops for anything you'd need .

The Pend is a beautiful historical house.

Warm, cosy and very comfortable. The listing does not say that there is dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, which was a very welcome surprise. The location is brilliant; shops, chemist, post office, takeaway, museum and church all walking distance. Parking was never an issue. Local people were very welcoming to us. We are very sad to leave and can't wait to book to come again! Thank you!

The history and sense of time and place of the venue.

It was an extraordinary place to stay - like stepping back in time. If only walls could talk!!

We had a brilliant time in this fascinating property.

The furnishings have to be experienced to be believed, the photo's on line do great justice butit's even better when you arrive. It's a definite time warp.

We had a really great week at the Pend and became absorbed in the history of the place, wondering that so many Scottish monarchs had travelled underneath our bedroom!

The house was sensitively restored and had all you needed for a week away. It was beautifully clean, warm and atmospheric. We especially enjoyed the upstairs reading room. The coastal and woodland walks were stunning, the local towns and villages interesting and welcoming and we found several places to enjoy coffee or an evening meal. The area was peaceful and the roads were quiet. Intend to return

As soon as I walked into the house I just loved it and new I was going to enjoy my time there Unfortunately due to the time of year and Covid we did not manage to get out and about to some places Under normal circumstances I would definitely recommend The Pend as somewhere to stay as a good base for that part of Scotland I look forward to returning in the foreseeable future

This is a very unique property almost like living in museum, the period furniture and decor are spot on.

The property was remarkably warm and comfortable considering the age the type of walls and flooring (stone tiles). There were a couple small things that could be improved, the back door lock is exceptionally stiff to use this could potentially be a hazard if the property had to be exited in a hurry (easy fix) The other one is the under floor heating can be noisy in the main bedroom, the floor creaked all night which kept me awake the first couple of nights. The fix is to ensure the heating is switched of about 2 hours before retiring. Other than the above the property offered very good value and a high level of cleanliness, Highly recommended......

The house was absolutely amazing - full of period features and very comfortable.

The smell of peat fire reminded me of my time in Orkney and helped me to feel at home. In addition, weather behaved very nicely and after a day of exploring, coming back to a nice and warm place was a great experience.

Fabulous accommodation - quirky and unusual whilst still providing all the home comforts we needed.

It was great to have the courtyard to sit in and the fire being laid was a lovely touch. Enjoyed the complimentary tea tray and thank you for providing all we needed to have real fires every evening.

A special place everything was explained well and reassuring about the cleaning regime at this time.

Warm and cosy, unfortunately we couldn't get the stove going it was too warm! We would like to return.