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Subject Topic: Stranraer Festival on countryfile Post Reply Post New Topic
14/10/2024 at 6:53pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bailey Approach Compact
View Fiznlil's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiznlil Reply   Quote Fiznlil Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2014

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   326

Site Reviews Total: 45
Site Reviews 2024: 3  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 3  
Site Reviews 2018: 12 
Site Nights 2024: 10
Site Nights 2023: 3
Site Nights 2022: 9
Site Nights 2021: 4
Site Nights 2020: 2
Site Nights 2019: 3
Site Nights 2018: 12

The oyster festival in Stranraer was the main report on last night's Countryfile programme.
Anybody been? Any good for someone who doesn't like oysters?
We've not been to that area so thinking of looking for some sites around there and doing a week or so mini-tour

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Be as you would be done by!


15/10/2024 at 8:39am
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View daveyjp's Profile View Profile   Reply to daveyjp Reply   Quote daveyjp Quote  
Joined: 02/6/2010

Platinum Member
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Forum Posts:   596
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 2
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Its about 20 years since we visited the area, but well worth it as its much quieter than the other Scottish hotspots.

Stranraer still had the ferry service back then, but since that ended its become like many places you have no need to visit or pass through, run down in areas, as per the report, hence the festival, but it still has some attraction.

The Rhinns of Galloway, Isle of Whithorn, Wigtown for the many bookshops, Castle Douglas, the Forest Park are all worth a trip and its on my last for another visit.


via mobile 15/10/2024 at 9:31am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   5144
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 234
Site Reviews 2024: 18 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 37
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30

Stranraer town isn’t a destination: it’s a sad place now since both Irish ferry companies moved to new terminals up the coast of Loch Ryan at Cairnryan.
You could come for the Skiffie festival instead (it’s a type of coastal rowing boat), but there are many ways to eat oysters (they can be lightly cooked but still expensive) & there are other things going on - as far as I know, not been.
Dumfries & Galloway is very varied. The Rhins is the peninsula west of Stranraer, mostly rolling green grazing land & sea cliffs with sea birds - read reviews of Sands of Luce site & New England Bay site & Castle Point (Portpatrick) for ideas about what’s in the area. So mild that there are Cabbage Palms at Logan Botanic Gardens, very tropical.
For hill walking, look up Glen Trool area on Site Search, east & inland from Stranraer. It’s currently being proposed for Scotland’s third National Park, currently Britain’s first Dark Sky Park. If you’re properly equipped, walk up The Merrick: on a clear day, you can see Snowdonia.
My favourite site at the west end ie Galloway is Drumroamin & Garlieston by the harbour is popular too.
On the way across, I’d recommend stopping at Silvercraigs because Kirkcudbright is a bonny town, “the artists town” with the excellent Town Galleries (national exhibitions) & pretty harbour. If you’re a CAMC member, there are CLs for when you’re coming over the border eg near Powfoot or New Abbey, to get to the coast to see the Lake District & off the A75.
D&G has a lot of walking, cycling (several of the Seven Stanes mountain biking centres of South Scotland are in D&G), abbeys, fascinating castles (my favourite is the triangular moated Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries, or getting a boat across to Threave Castle near Castle Douglas), gardens, some huge beaches & beautiful hidden ones (eg at Ross Bay site), inexpensive but excellent golf courses, important Christian places (eg Whithorn Priory dig) associated with St Ninian, Wigtown (the Book Town) has dozens of books shops & an annual book festival.
Easier to explore in a car than a MH because there are many minor roads away from the main A75 - avoid A75 if you can, it’s a fast road with HGVs heading to the ferry terminals; I used to visit two offices in D&G and every person in both had been involved in road accidents on that road. Mild weather. Check out the SWC300 (south west coastal) - although it’s a strange circular route coming up into Ayrshire, it has lots of suggestions for the area.
I hope that helps. Site Search is invaluable, reviews very helpful, as always.
Sorry for a long post but I don’t know what your interests are (apart from oysters…) I’d suggest a staged route to Stranraer area & back, rather than dashing over there in 3 hours from Carlisle & staying local, as you’d miss so much.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


17/10/2024 at 6:59pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bailey Approach Compact
View Fiznlil's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiznlil Reply   Quote Fiznlil Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2014

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   326

Site Reviews Total: 45
Site Reviews 2024: 3  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 3  
Site Reviews 2018: 12 
Site Nights 2024: 10
Site Nights 2023: 3
Site Nights 2022: 9
Site Nights 2021: 4
Site Nights 2020: 2
Site Nights 2019: 3
Site Nights 2018: 12

My post got moved, only just found it!
Thanks so much for those really helpful replies. It's an area we don't know and so will look into a week or more in the area with overnighters on the way there and back. We're in C&CC, not the other one but use private sites as well.
Presume we will be fairly safe from midges? Probably September.
Thanks!

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Be as you would be done by!


via mobile 18/10/2024 at 9:56am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   5144
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 234
Site Reviews 2024: 18 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 37
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30

No CCC club sites in Galloway. Some CSs, not as many as CLs. Nearest is Culzean in Ayrshire or Moffat way up the M74. Plenty of excellent independent sites.
As for midges, I got more bites in my back garden this year than on any sites. Just pack antihistamine tablets (cheap ones from Aldi are fine), antihistamine cream & your repellent of choice, in case they do come out.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.



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