Discover some of the best campsites and holiday parks in Dumfries and Galloway and what makes them so special.
Once the scenic home of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, Dumfries and Galloway is a picturesque part of south-west Scotland with sandy beaches, a rocky coastline and acres of tranquil ancient forests.
Now a holiday destination with something for everyone, from families with small children to dog-owners and sports enthusiasts or simply anyone looking for a beautiful place with breathtaking views.
1. Best for Families: Coastal Kippford
Coastal Kippford is one of the most beautiful holiday parks in Dumfries and Galloway located in private woodland by the lovely seaside village of Kippford on the Solway Firth, often referred to as Scotland’s Riviera Coast.
Winners of the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for 20 years, this is a family and pet-friendly holiday park with pitches for tents and tourers. There are also holiday lodges and static caravans for sale and rent, a children's play area for toddlers and young children and a separate adventure playground for older children.
Set in a picturesque forest with coastal trails, amazing views and an 8,000-year-old bluebell area filled with darting red squirrels, this is a wonderful family-run holiday park full of wildlife that’s great for families.
2. Best for Activities: Loch Ken Holiday Park
Overlooking the banks of Loch Ken and offering a choice of luxurious waterfront holiday homes for hire and pitches for tents and tourers, Loch Ken Holiday Park is an award-winning family-friendly park with so much to do. From sailing and kayaking to stand-up paddleboarding and pedalos on Loch Ken, there is something for everyone including an on-site football pitch, a cricket green, a table tennis table, giant draughts and chess!
The nearby water-ski and wakeboard centre and activity centre with a waterpark offers archery, outdoor laser quest, zip-lining and climbing. Loch Ken Holiday Park also runs kids club activities in the busy summer months and for anyone just wanting to relax and eat amazing food, there is a park herb garden filled with savoury and aromatic herbs.
3. Best for Boating: Sandgreen Caravan Park
Sandgreen is a lovely dog-friendly holiday park by an excellent shallow sandy beach in Gatehouse of Fleet that is ideal for boat launches and not far from one of Scotland's best remote beaches.
Alongside the camping pitches for tents and tourers are timber lodges and static caravans for sale, both brand new and pre-loved. You can design your own holiday home with timber decking on which to sit outside and enjoy the clear dark skies so perfect for stargazing. There is an outdoor gym and children’s bike track so the whole family can have fun. Set in a stunning location with close proximity to the sea, this is the ideal park for keen sailors since it also offers boat storage.
4. Best for Glamping: Hoddom Castle Caravan Park
The award-winning Hoddom Castle Caravan and Camping Park is set in the grounds of a 16th century Border Keep in wooded parkland that forms part of the 10,000-acre Hoddom and Kinmount Estates. Surrounded by history, this park is pet-friendly with a children’s play area and disabled access to all facilities.
Close to the River Annan and Hoddom Castle Golf Course, the park offers pitches for tents and tourers plus they have designed and built their own unusual glamping accommodation in the form of the very interesting looking Chill Pods and the super comfortable Kelo Lodges with King sized beds that look like giant luxury fairytale Wendy houses!
5. Best for Swimming: Burrowhead Holiday Village
Burrowhead Holiday Village is a serene family-owned holiday park in a remote location on the Dumfries and Galloway coast. Offering amazing views across the Irish Sea, the Solway Firth and the Isle of Man, there are pitches for tents and tourers, chalet/apartments for hire and holiday homes and lodges for sale.
Near to several lovely beaches, the park has a children’s play area, crazy golf and an amusement arcade plus a toddler’s soft play area with a ball pit playroom. There’s pitch and putt golf, a putting green, a licensed bar with a snooker room and an adults-only function room.
This is a great family and pet-friendly holiday park for swimmers or anyone who loves the water since it has an on-site 25 metre heated outdoor swimming pool and a separate toddlers splash pool with fun slide plus a lovely indoor heated Jacuzzi and sauna for adults.
6. Best for Dog-Lovers: Barnsoul Caravan and Camping
Barnsoul Caravan Park is set in 80 acres of woodlands and farmland with ponds and paddocks for family-friendly adventures.
The wonderful natural setting is brought to life by an abundance of wildlife, including deer, red squirrels and otters. Known as the most dog-friendly holiday park in Dumfries and Galloway, there is a large fully-enclosed dog exercise area.
As well as pitches for tents and tourers, Barnsoul Caravan Park offers a variety of lovely glamping accommodation. The couple’s retreat offers pretty Gypsy caravan style glamping with amazing views over the fields to an ancient fort.
The Star Pods are large enough for a family of six and are so named because of the skylights built into the roof, giving stunning night-time views of Galloway’s Dark Skies for avid stargazers.
Things to do in Dumfries and Galloway
Alongside the lovely beaches, woodland and wide green spaces of Dumfries and Galloway there is plenty to see and do. Visit Castle Kennedy on the shores of Loch Ryan in the town of Stranraer, home to one of Scotland’s finest gardens covering an impressive 75 acres of fascinating land sculptures that were created in the 1730s forming stunning patterns in the landscape.
At Threave Garden and Estate, one of Scotland’s most biodiverse nature reserves, you can take in incredible views and see peregrine falcons, red kites and ospreys in flight while anyone young at heart should visit Mabie Farm Park, a wonderful family fun park with a boating pond.
Keen cyclists should head to 7Stanes, a series of world-class mountain biking centres and award-winning trails which also offers a variety of routes for beginners and families.
Finally, don’t miss the Robert Burns Centre and the house where he lived in the historic market town of Dumfries, also once home to the famous author JM Barrie who wrote Peter Pan, and, more recently, David Coulthard, the British Formula One racing driver.
A holiday in Dumfries and Galloway has something for everyone – from a tranquil time of relaxation beside awe-inspiring views to high-energy adventures on land, loch or sea to simply a wonderful family holiday in the stunning surroundings of the natural beauty of Scotland.
