Gatehouse of Fleet Hotels – No.1 on Tripadvisor
What type of holiday are you looking for in Dumfries and Galloway?
If you want a holiday in Scotland without the crowds, on quiet well maintained roads with pleasant coastal and forest landscapes close by then we are a perfect fit. A car is recommended otherwise it will take a long time to get round this vast and expansive region. If you are seeking out a vibrant shopping scene or glitzy visitor attractions then while we can offer you a taste of everything we probably dont have the depth of experience you are looking for. If you enjoy the great outdoors, don’t mind a slower pace of life and love the peace and quiet then you will fall in love with our region and its welcoming friendly people. Our whole team are efficient and very welcoming to ensure you have a relaxing stay and we hope this type of break is for you.
But to be clear you don’t need to enjoy hiking to enjoy this area!!!
Is The Ship Inn, Gatehouse of Fleet a good base for exploring Dumfries and Galloway?
Yes, The Ship Inn’s location in the heart of Galloway makes it easy to explore forests, coastline, countryside walks, and scenic drives throughout the region. The rooms are modern, the food is excellent and the welcome always friendly. Our town has a vibrant coffee shop and restaurant scene.
Is this hotel suitable for a quiet break?
Absolutely. Many guests choose our business specifically as we have a relaxed and friendly team that allows our guests to wind down and enjoy their stay. Gatehouse of Fleet is a quiet town and even when it is busy it never feels that way with plenty of areas to find peace and tranquility.
Is the Ship Inn, Gatehouse of Fleet dog friendly?
Yes The Ship Inn is a dog friendly coastal hotel with plenty sandy beaches close by. We offer only certain rooms for pets – Rooms 1,2 and 7 are suitable for those who are allergic. We provide a unique doggy bag for all our four legged friends. Dogs are also welcome to join you for a drink in the bar area or for breakfast and dinner each night.
Does the Ship Inn offer any discounts or last minute deals?
Yes we do run off season offers and last minute website deals but check this page for all our latest offers including our current Winter Offer from just £99 a night until 31st March 2026.
What is the best restaurant in Gatehouse of Fleet?
The top rated restaurant on TripAdvisor is No.1 Fleet Street@The Ship Inn. We focus on local provenance and sustainability as a Biosphere certified business. There are other 2 other excellent restaurants within walking distance but most guests dine in with us.Dining is relaxed, informal and unpretentious with a diverse menu all homecooked.
For the perfect stay: Book The Ship Inn
No.1 rated Gatehouse of Fleet Hotel
Stay and dine at one of the best Gatehouse of Fleet hotels with our award winning restaurant and warm hospitality. The Ship Inn is by the coast and close to sandy beaches yet we are also on the edge of the Galloway Forest Park. We are ideally located for all the attractions in Galloway being near Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart & Kirkcudbright.
The Ship Inn won the Best Hotel Experience (Thistle Awards) 2024 and Best Small hotel Scotland (SME News 2025). We are unique in the region as we help provide bespoke online itineraries for your trip to our area based on your interests. Just ask and we will provide?
Furthermore of all the places to stay Gatehouse of Fleet offers a number of options as it is convenient for those seeking a stop-over, short break or longer term holiday. For those travelling to Ireland via Cairnryan we offer early check-ins / late checkouts and early breakfasts.
Boutique Hotel with Excellent Restaurant
If you are looking for hotels in Gatehouse of Fleet then look no further. Whether you’re a lover of the great outdoors, a food lover, or simply seeking a romantic break we have it covered. Furthermore we have a blissful riverside terrace garden and summer house for relaxed dining and drinking in the warmer months.
Luxury Gatehouse of Fleet Bed & Breakfast
We believe The Ship Inn Hotel offers the most competitive rates for B&B in Gatehouse of Fleet.
At breakfast we offer traditional Scottish fayre including local free range eggs, Butcher Sausages & Bacon, Stornoway Black Pudding and haggis including vegetarian. Our potato scones are home made and we offer the best porridge, fruit salads and other lighter options. In addition we offer a range of alternatives to meet most dietary requirements or preferences just let us know when booking.
Our rooms are all bespoke with the latest OLED TVs and are spacious and soundproofed. All our sanitary ware is supplied by Villeroy & Boch and are modern with mains pressure hot water across all the rooms. Wifi is fast and stable throughout.
Eco-Friendly Boutique hotel
Hold on before someone screams greenwashing we are pursuing progress not perfection. Having carefully assessed costs against the environmental benefits we try our best in pursuing an achievable climate action plan. Much of what we do is about creating the conditions for biodiversity rather than achieving net zero which is at this stage out of our reach.
As a UNESCO certified business we are focused on improving sustainability of your hotel stay minimising our environmental impact and maximising our positive contribution. The hotel’s restaurant serves fantastic local produce much of which we are proud to source locally from our amazing suppliers. Moreover, across our operations we try to minimise our carbon footprint as a business through a series of measures – read about our sustainability initiatives in Eco Friendly Stays Dumfries and Galloway.
Dog Friendly Hotel in Dumfries and Galloway with holiday cottages
At The Ship Inn we provide a range of short stay accommodation in Gatehouse of Fleet including charming self-catering facilities located close by. We have The Ship’s Cabin which is ideal for those with limited mobility & the Ship’s Mill cottage our 18C listed mill cottage.
Traveling with your furry companion? We consider ourselves the best dog friendly hotel, ensuring a comfortable stay for you and your four-legged friend. Experience the warm hospitality of The Ship Inn while enjoying the company of your furry friend. While being Dog friendly, hotel pets are only allowed in certain rooms (as advertised see our FAQs page) to balance all our guest expectations.
We pride ourselves on maintaining cleaning standards regardless of the room being dog friendly or otherwise. Your dogs can eat breakfast and dinner with you but just let us know in advance so we can ensure that we balance the needs of everyone.
Excellent Location for exploring Galloway Forest & Solway Coast
Our Gatehouse of Fleet hotel is located right in the heart of Galloway offering easy access to a variety of attractions as detailed in Things to See & Do.
Take advantage of the excellent walking & cycling trails that start right at the hotel’s doorstep. Lose yourself in the enchanting forest, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up the unique landscapes of the South of Scotland. Our beautifully landscaped gardens with a summer house and riverside terrace provide a peaceful retreat where you can relax and enjoy nature.
We have Cardoness Castle the ancestral home of the McCullochs at the end of the road. Close by we also have Threave Castle and Threave Gardens which is operated by the National Trust for Scotland.
If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, the hotel’s location makes it an ideal choice being conveniently near to Cairnryan ferry port. We offer early breakfasts and packed lunches.
Click below for information around things to see and do or for further inspiration visit our TRAVEL GUIDE
Dumfries & Galloway | VisitScotland
Of all the hotels across Dumfries we are one of the best come visit and enjoy our award winning restaurant please click the booking links above. Any questions please see our Contact Us page or email or call us.
“It’s worth staying simply for the Ship Inn, a delightful boutique hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet. “
THE TIMES NEWSPAPER 2023 (REVIEW OF THE 10 MOST UNDERRATED ESCAPES IN SCOTLAND)
Gatehouse of Fleet Accommodation
In terms of Gatehouse of Fleet accommodation, we offer a mix of options. You are assured a warm welcome at the Best Gatehouse of Fleet Hotel. We are family-owned and so we try our best to serve up a fantastic stay.
Within the Dumfries region our Hotel is near Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright & Newton Stewart. We are perfectly located for a romantic break in relaxed coastal surroundings yet on the doorstep of the Galloway Forest.
Award Winning Restaurant
As a UNESCO Biosphere certified business we focus on sourcing local.
Grobdale of Girthon supply pork reared through low intensity farming
Ballards butchers supply our meats while & Galloway Smokehouse our smoked produce.
Fresh fish from Fleet Fish. Cream o’ Galloway ethical dairy supplies our cheese while the bakery in Castle Douglas provides amazing potato scones.
Laggan provide our farm fresh eggs.
Things to See and Do
Galloway is a walking & cycling paradise.
The 7 Stanes mountain bike trails and more recently the creation of The Gralloch has made Gatehouse a cycling mecca.
Located on the Solway coast close to some amazing sandy beaches accessible from the Ship Inn by bike or on foot. Stunning castles and historic sites brought to life by our national bard Robert Burns, Walter Scott, John Buchan and our very own Dorothy L Sayers.
