Garden Room Teashop

Rockcliffe is a quiet, picturesque, residential village on the Solway, a couple of miles down a side road from Colvend on the A170 road between Dalbeattie and Dumfries. The Garden Room tearoom is part of a whitewashed house 50 meters above the small beach of pebbles, shells and sand, which fronts the village. You enter down the side through a low wooden gate, to the garden at the back of the house.

I chose to sit outside (under an apple tree!) at one of the six tables with parasols, on the south facing, stone-paved patio. There is a small, well-stocked garden below the patio and through the trees are views down to the water and across to Rough Island in the bay. The scene is almost rustic, and you can just about envisage your granny, sitting on a rocking chair beside the door!

Inside, in the Garden Room itself, there is a mix of old wooden tables and chairs on a stone tiled floor, with an enclosed stove sitting in the fireplace. The walls feature paintings by local artists and china plates are on display. There is a small selection books and so forth, which are for sale.

You order at the counter. The Menu offers a choice of savouries or ‘something sweet’, and ‘Delicious home-baking’ and ‘light lunches’. There is a wide selection of soups, filled croissants, baguettes, and French bread pizza (there seems to be a French theme).

Home made cakes are on display on lace-covered tables. Mr. B favoured the apple and cinnamon cake. Incidentally, the Garden Room will sell whole cakes to order. To follow there are yoghurts, desserts and Cream O' Galloway luxury ice cream. There is a good selection of hot and cold drinks, including iced teas and fruit and herbal teas, but, the premises is not licensed.

Finally we suggest you visit the loos. Yes, to see the coloured and transparent loo seats!

Why would I go there? The combination of pretty village, attractive tearoom and good cooking. Unfortunately my experience elsewhere is that too rarely do we get all three!

Any Negatives?  What's wrong with Mondays and Tuesdays?

Before or After:
1. The beach and the views.
2. Walk to Castle Point (2 mile round trip)
3. Walk across the tidal causeway (check times of tides!) to the NTS Bird Sanctuary at Rough Island.

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