Ernie's Adventures

What’s Trigony House like?

Trigony House is one of the UK’s most dog-friendly hotels – and it has lots of awards to prove it. The wonderfully-relaxed country house has a great vibe with friendly local staff, delicious food and a perfectly manicured garden that’s best enjoyed from the outdoor hot tub.

When we visited, there were ten pooches soaking up the hotel’s posh but not pretentious atmosphere, from Border Terriers to Greyhounds. It’s a very special place that both dogs and their owners will want to return to, again and again.

How dog-friendly is Trigony House?

Oooh, they love dogs here! Not only is Trigony one of Britain’s most dog-friendly hotels but you won’t have to worry about muddy paws. Staff are used to wet weather here and there’s an outdoor dog wash with towels and dog-friendly shampoo available on request.

Dogs get a Trigony-branded bowl in their room, plus Bonios, poo bags and walk suggestions. Sausages also come as standard for breakfast. You can even treat your pooch to a pamper session – check out our review of the dog reiki. As far as I’m aware, Trigony House is one of the only UK hotels where you can do this.

Pets can go pretty much everywhere in the hotel, aside from the formal dining room and kitchen area. This means that when it comes to mealtimes, you can choose to dine with your dog in either the bar area or cosy lounge. Alternatively, staff are happy for well-behaved pooches to be left in the room. Overnight stays cost £9.50 per night per dog.

Before you visit, check out the really helpful “dog-friendly directory” on the Trigony House website. It has plenty of suggestions for places to visit with your pet from historic castles to delicious ice creameries. It’s really handy as it tells you how far each attraction is from the hotel and the resident Golden Retriever has also given them a “Roxy Rating” (keep reading to see a picture of her!)

Tell me more about Trigony House

You’ll sleep like a baby in any one of the hotel’s nine dog-friendly bedrooms. Each has been individually decorated and ours – Room 4 – was on the first floor with views over the manicured garden. We stayed in a Classic room although you can upgrade to Superior or the Garden Suite (keep reading for more details).

Our room had everything we needed for a short stay from a flatscreen TV to information about the local attractions. The huge mugs that came with the tea and coffee facilities helped feed our caffeine addiction and the little jar of sugary homemade shortbread was delicious. Thankfully, it was replenished on a daily basis!

The en-suite shower room was small but perfectly formed and the Ishga toiletries smelled lush. They were made from organic seaweed and the same brand is used in the Trigony Garden Spa, where you can indulge in a spot of pampering.

Room 4 was also close to the DVD library at the top of the stairs, which was handy on rainy days. We loved snuggling up in the cosy throws to watch a film and there was a hot water bottle in the wardrobe too, for extra warmth. Board games and books were also available to borrow.

What’s the food like at Trigony House?

The “rustic cuisine” is award-winning – and very tasty. The seasonal menu also changes regularly so even if you’ve stayed before, there will probably be something new to try.

Expect popular classic dishes such as fish and chips and steak, served with a modern twist. There great veggie and vegan options too, if you fancy going meat-free. The morning menu is well worth getting up for too, with everything from haggis and black pudding to homemade potato cakes.

Local produce is championed here and during the summer, all vegetables, herbs and fruit come from the hotel’s walled garden. Many other ingredients are also locally sourced but whatever you choose to eat, it’s unlikely to have come from outside Scotland.

As mentioned earlier, dogs are not allowed in the restaurant but they are welcome in the bar and lounge areas. Both are great places to relax with a wee dram of Scottish whisky.

Are there resident dogs at Trigony House?

Yes, resident Golden Retriever Roxy will be on hand to check you in. She’ll probably dine by your side at breakfast too, in the hope you might drop some food!

Where are the best dog walks near Trigony House?

The hotel has lots of suggestions for good walks ranging from 20-minute leg stretches to full-day yomps. There’s a woodland area just moments away and if you wander down the road next to the hotel, you can do a three-mile circular walk via an atmospheric churchyard.

If you’re feeling energetic, drive to nearby Penpont, where you can pick up the Southern Upland Way. This 212-mile trail is the first coast-to-coast footpath in Britain, running from Portpatrick on the south-west coast to Cockburnspath in the east.

The Forest of Ae makes for a great day out, too. Interestingly, it is one of the largest forests in Scotland but has the shortest place name in Britain. There are a range of marked trails around the forest, which is a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

We opted for the green route, which took around two hours. It’s a good place to visit on a rainy day too, as the trees will shelter you from the worst of the wet weather. For more inspiration when it comes to dog-friendly things to see and do, check out my Ruff Guide to Dumfries & Galloway.

What Ernie loved about Trigony House

Meeting the other guests (both human and canine), being pampered during his dog reiki session, the sausage at breakfast

What I loved about Trigony House

The fact dogs were allowed almost everywhere, the friendly staff, the treatments at the Trigony Garden Spa (especially the reiki)

How to book Trigony House

Classic double rooms start from £125 per night on a B&B basis. If you would like to include dinner (and you really should!), rates start from £195. Superior rooms cost £20 more per night or the Garden Suite – which has its own private garden – starts from £170.

A range of packages – such as spa breaks and falconry experiences – are also available. For more information or to book, call 01848 331211 or visit the hotel website.