Rockcliffe, Dumfries and Galloway

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Rockcliffe
Rockcliffe, Dumfries & Galloway.jpg
Looking across the Rough Firth to Rockcliffe
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
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Rockcliffe
Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Population137 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference NX837546
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Dalbeattie
Postcode district DG5
Dialling code 01556 630
Police Scotland
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
54°51′54″N3°47′46″W / 54.865°N 3.796°W / 54.865; -3.796

Rockcliffe is a small, coastal village in Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, with a view of Rough Island, Hestan Island, the Solway Firth and sometimes the Cumbrian coast.

Rockcliffe lies on the eastern side of the River Urr estuary, and gives access to Rough Island [1] by way of both firm mud exposed at low tide and a natural, tidal causeway.

Road access is from Dalbeattie (six miles or ten kilometres) and Dumfries (twenty miles or thirty kilometres); although Kippford is nearby there is no direct road route.

Rockcliffe is also linked to Castle Point (site of a Roman fort), Glenstocken, Portling and Sandyhills by footpath.

The village is a combination of both residential and holiday let properties. Local business in Rockcliffe is mainly holiday lets, though the village also has one tea room, a caravan site and the surrounding farming industry. Salmon fishing with nets at Rough Island and cockle fishing are both occasionally based from the beach.

The village has a car park and a public toilet, now including a defibrillator, but no other facilities to speak of. An ice cream van can usually be relied upon to be open for business in the bay on even the cloudiest days.

The site of the 5th century Dark Ages hill fort called the Mote of Mark adjoins Rockcliffe. [2] Furthermore this site is an example of a vitrified fort. [3]

Baron's Craig Baron's Craig Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 536743.jpg
Baron's Craig

Baron's Craig is a Victorian country house designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1879. It was in use for much of the 20th century as an hotel and known as the Baron's Craig Hotel. [4] Hotel extensions were added by architects Sutherland, Dickie and Copland in the early 1970s. [5] The Rockliffe Gallery occupies part of the building and organises a series of annual exhibitions.

Small parts of Rockcliffe were bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in the 1930s. [6]

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References

  1. "National Trust for Scotland". National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  2. "Mote of Mark | History & Heritage". Scotland Starts Here. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. Mote of Mark entry on Canmore
  4. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (April 14, 2024, 5:29 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. "Sutherland Dickie & Copland". www.scottisharchitects.co.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  6. "Colvend & Southwick Community Council". www.colvendcommunity.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2024.