The easy way to describe where we are is to start at Dumfries, head west towards Ireland until you are level with the end of England, turn left and head South until you get to the sea. You won't be far away.

In other words, Sandyhills is on the North coast of the Solway Firth just about opposite that bit of Cumbria beyond the Lake District.

Glen Rhuad Lodge, a genuine old fashioned log cabin made of genuine old fashioned logs, can be found on a small private site at the far end of a track that takes you across the back nine of Colvend Golf Course.

You get to the track by taking the road that hugs the coast between Dumfries and Dalbeattie - the A710 - and stop when you find yourself right in the middle of one of the country's best kept secrets. An area people often rush through on the way to somewhere else, the Stewartry of Kirkudbrightshire holds many hidden delights often overlooked by passing strangers or even fellow Scots and relative locals.

Follow the brown signs for the Solway Coast or Colvend Coast and when you get here you will more then likely become yet another convert to the many attractions of this quietly popular corner of Scotland.