The Willow Tree

41 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

March, 2015

Product name

The Willow Tree

Product country

Palnackie

Product city

Palnackie

Travelled with

Reasons for trip

The Willow Tree can be found in the small and very sleepy village of Palnackie, close to the Solway coast in South West Scotland. The wooden, single story building stands beside the community village shop on the main road through the village – Glen Road.

We first visited The Willow Tree one cold but sunny morning during our holiday in South West Scotland. Stepping inside the warmth greeted us – lots of windows allow sunlight to stream in, which not only creates a nice light environment it provides warmth too. The Willow Tree is decorated and furnished in white and wood which creates a homely atmosphere. The restaurant is ground floor and level, making it suitable for those with reduced mobility.

Not only did the warmth welcome us, but so did the smell of delicious home baking. We ordered some coffee and scones, the scones were straight out of the oven, warm and melt in the mouth. The quality coffee was good too!. The café started to get busy and we noticed how nicely presented the meals were.

We were staying at a nearby holiday cottage on the Kirkennan Estate and so decided to visit The Willow Tree again, the next morning for Breakfast before travelling further on to our next location.

The Willow Tree opens at 10am. Breakfasts are conveniently served until midday . My husband enjoyed a full Scottish breakfast, with sausage, bacon, eggs, haggis, potatoe scone, beans black pudding and mushrooms, priced at £7.25. I selected the vegetarian option – Mushrooms, tomato, eggs, vegetarian sausage, potato scone, beans for £6.50. Included in the price for both meals was toast and tea (we could have had coffee if we had wished). The quality of the food was good, the presentation good, the quantity good and the service good too! Had we wanted a light breakfast – some eggs or some toast, then we could have selected this, for of course a lower price.

The Willow Tree serves breakfasts, lunches snacks and dinner. For a small restaurant in a very rural community it has a good and varied menu. The Willow Tree prides its self on its freshly cooked meals prepared from quality ingredients.

After breakfast we wandered down the harbour to enjoy the views of the meandering river, then we continued our journey along the Solway coast.

Palnackie lies beside the Urr Water. If you want peace and quiet, then this is the place to visit! It has quaint cottages, a thriving community shop (which sells just about everything!) The Willow Tree, The Glen Isle Pub (which also sells food) and a little harbour. The village is surrounded by forests, streams, the river and the coast.The artists town of Kirkcudbright, the foodie town of Castle Douglas and the historical town of Dumfries are all within easy travelling distance from the village.

Palnackie is around three and a half miles south of Dalbeattie in the county of Dumfries and Galloway. When travelling south from Dalbeattie towards the coast, take the A711 and look for the turn off for Palnackie.

Pamela Walker

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