Ryehill House, Estate & Fishing on the River Nith

History

Ryehill House is well appointed throughout and has a magnificent position, perched above the river Nith and looking onto the hills beyond, that has made it a much-favoured residence for over nine hundred years. This historic location was once home to a Chancellor of Scotland. The house sits on the site of his medieval fortified tower house, the heavy masonry of which can still be spotted within the walls of the adjoining out-buildings. Immediately in front of the house and within the grounds of the Estate are the remains of its predecessor, the platform for the Motte and Bailey Castle which was once the Baronial home the de Roos family, who ruled in the area with ‘gallows and pit’ in the feudal days of the mid twelfth century. Ryehill sits on the Robbie Burns trail between his home at Ellisland farm and his birthplace in Ayr, the university town to the North, whose beaches look across to the Isle of Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. Burns travelled past Ryehill on his journey between these two locations and often overnighted in nearby Sanquhar, and he enshrined in verse that you’ll find here “Friendship, virtue, every grace, dwelling in this happy place” (from “At Wighams Inn, Sanquhar"), something as true today as it was when this poem was written in 1789!

Food & beverage

Ryehill is a self catering property. Nearby Sanquhar has pubs, cafes, shops, small supermarkets, restaurant and take aways.

Grounds & Gardens

Ryehill House has great local walks and trails in the surrounding area. Less than a mile away you’ll find historic small town of Sanquhar, capital of the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar. It is home to the world’s first post office, the Tollbooth Museum, the dramatic Crawick Multiverse art installation and venue, a popular nine hole golf course, family swimming baths and a ruined medieval castle. There is also a railway station. The nearby much visited stately and historic Drumlanrig castle with its parks, walks and gardens is a tourist magnet. There is also the popular Museum of Lead Mining at Scotland’s Highest village of Warnlockhead, reached by driving a few miles along the dramatic Mennock pass which meets the main A76 road a mile south of Ryehill House. A few miles further south is Thornhill, a picturesque village with quaint pubs, restaurants and shops. A short drive further takes you into you the Forest of Ae which has cycle hire and some great trails for all ages. Slightly further by car, the magnificent Galloway Forest area (soon to become a new National Park) offers lochs and hiking trails, and the Solway Firth lies still further South with it’s beaches and quaint fishing villages. Less than an hours drive North takes you to the university town of Ayr or the major Scottish city of Glasgow with its fine architecture, galleries, shopping centres and museums and that beyond lies Loch Lomond and the dramatic Trossachs National Park.

Other facilities

Ryehill has a large screen TV in the Living Room and a woodburning stove. The Games Room with Pool and Table Football also has. awood burnung stove. There is also a travel cot (bedding not supplied). and a high chair. There is a fully equipped kitchen wityh cooker and microwave and a washing machine and a separate dryer. There is plenty of private off road parkihg.