We have just returned after a two night's stay at Cavens. We love this area and were
delighted to find this quiet retreat with just the right amount of faded grandeur,a step
into another world. But our most pleasant and delightful surprise was the evening
meals prepared by the owner; local ingredients cooked beautifully and with a flair
which was a cut above the usual formulas for this kind of food

Cavens looked great on the website. The stting rooms were lovely but the lilies in a vase were dead. Our room was very nice (we had paid for the best) but the worn and grubby valance on the bed spoilt the effect. the chair at the dressing table was covered in hairs - I brushed them onto the floor - they were still there the next day as was the grass on the carpet that we had brought in on our shoes. Dinner was disappointing - not much choice - the first night, the two starters and one of the mains was salmon. the food itself was pleasant but not "restaurant" standard - more like home cooking.The breakfast was excellent but for the fact that the tablecloth was stained from the night before and crumbs remained from the dinner bread. Yes, we could have made a fuss about the shortcomings at the time but we did not wish to marr our all too short 48 hour break with confrontation. I am not sure out host would have been very sympathetic as I am not convinced that he liked sharing his "home" with strangers!! What a pity.

Two couples, four business people who happen to be friends, decided to try Cavens Country House Hotel for a Birthday celebration. We booked a table via telephone. We arrived at the beginning of the driveway up to the hotel to see an "A" board advertising Sea Bass, Salmon and Galloway Beef. Our appetites and anticipation were suitably wetted. We drove up to the Hotel which is set amidst beautiful scenery. We entered but there was no one in reception. We wandered through some corridors and eventually found the housekeeper. We decided to sit on the terrace for drinks. The gardens were excellent but it appeared that the hotel itself was in urgent need of redecoration both inside and out. The housekeeper was unaware which beers she could offer. Once the drinks did arrive the waitress attempted to pour a bottle of sparkling water into a glass of wine instead of the soda water requested. When this was pointed out the reasoning given was they had no soda water. We perused the set menu, 4 courses set price £35. There were only two choices of main course, Fish or Lamb, none of the choices advertised on the "A" board. We enquired if there was an A La Carte menu to be told that the set menu was the only choice. The owner arrived to speak to us and spent 10 minutes trying to justify why there was limited choice because he couldnt afford to throw away unused food, his was the only establishment within an hours drive that served "fresh" food. One couple enquired about the sea bass and the owner offered to serve last nights "fresh" sea bass! The owner left us to deliberate having succeeded in meerly detering us instead of attracting us to eat his food. We advised the housekeeper that we would pay for our drinks and would be leaving. The owner reappeared, eyes bulging and started ranting at us. he said he would charge us £50 to leave! He threatened to call the police to us if we didnt pay. All this was carried out in front of the few, approximately 5 or 6 guests he did have. We paid for the drinks £20 and went to the car ready to leave. The owner came out to the car park and said "off you go you look like you prefer frozen chips anyway"! When asked what his problem was he replied "tossers like you tonight". If it hadnt been so farcical the situation had the potential to become out of hand. As mentioned the owner must model himself on Basil Fawlty. On a more serious note we felt there was a real possibility that the Owner may have resorted to physical violence. Our suggestion steer well clear!

We had business in Dumfries , but wanted to stay in the country not too far away,the hotel is set very nicely in very nice grounds, the staff very attentive and friendly , nothing is too much for them to help, the room we stayed at the Bute,was large very comfortable with fruit and bottled water, sweets every day, a fridge would have been nice.the hotel room and public areas all very clean.
Breakfast was excellent , dinner menu changed every day during our 3 day stay, on the expensive side but well worth it.
All in all a very lovely hotel to stay in and relax, would go back again, once in the area.