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Quote: Originally posted by Hedgehugger on 04/2/2024

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I found Drumroamin near Kirkinner very pleasant, though maybe a bit too far west for your present requirements. It was open, clean, dark skies, nearest town Wigtown (books!) then Newton Stewart.

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 04/2/2024

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It’s an area we visit a great deal, but I’m in NZ for a few more weeks & I can’t check my usual maps etc. TBH, the site search has pretty accurate reviews.
Favourite castle (& there are many castles) is Caerlaverock, east of Dumfries which is triangular in plan with a moat. HS (Historic Scotland). Second would be the walk out to Threave Castle on its island, even if it’s still closed. Too many gardens to pick out a favourite: Threave NTS is good, as is Logan Botanics near Stranraer (outpost of RBGE, full of tropical plants because of the Gulf Stream. But that’s too far for your 3 hour limit.) Plenty of walks in Forestry Commission woods. Plenty of beaches - be aware of the tides (there’s an app for tides) because the tide comes in extremely quickly, like Morecambe Bay.
First decent site is the CL at Moss Side Farm near Powfoot, £20 or so. (There’s a CS with a similar name nearby). Nothing much scenery or walking but “the devils porridge” museum at nearby Annan is interesting. The CL at New Abbey SW of Dumfries (Lindis Farm???) is a prize winner; it’s got a matched area (possibly ex CS) if you’re not CAMC. Loos etc., informative website.
Sandyhills is ok for exploring locally, eg walking to or around Kippford & Rockcliffe (not great loos but the super beach). The small site at Rockcliffe is basic but we like it, overlooks the bay, but not much nearby if it’s raining.
Castle Douglas site comes in for some criticism as you’re on tarmac or grass, but the town is “the food town”, it’s by a Loch & walking distance from Threave Gardens NTS and short drive to Threave Castle which is being rewilded: has Ospreys in season & a boat over the river to the castle (if its masonry has been repaired); plenty of walks.
Silvercraigs is my favourite site in Dumfries & Galloway: community run, looks over the town, dark skies, excellent value, pick your pitch when you book, woods with red squirrels; its “the Artists Town”, has galleries, a harbour with fishing boats, and a good walk around St Mary’s Isle (site of the house where Robert Burns delivered the Selkirk Grace). That’s where we get our sloes.
I’d say that Kirkcudbright was your limit for travelling west & may indeed be too far for this trip.
(If you enjoy the area & come back…. Heading west, Glenearly at Dalbeattie is a good base for mountain biking or lots of walking in one of the “Seven Stanes” (forests across D&G and The Borders). Dunroamin near Newton Stewart is excellent, hotel standard facilities, you can walk on a path to Wigtown (the Book Town: loads of book shops, plus the nearby Covenanters Monument out in the merse or salt marsh). Nearby Garlieston has a CAMC site right by the bay and walks in both directions along the shore. Sites at the west end of D&G include the CAMC site at New England and there are plenty of CLs on the lush diary farms at the Rhins of Galloway but many don’t have loos.
Good hillwalking from a site inland near Glentrool & it’s in the Dark Sky Park; up The Merrick or along part of the Southern Upland way beside Loch Trool.
Yes, Moffat CCC is good but it’s very big now & rules mean you’ll have to stay 2 nights or more; walk up Gallows Hill for great views. And Hoddom Castle was ok, it’s big & somewhat regimented, good value cheap wee golf course attached to it; we stay there when Moffat is full. But once you’ve committed to going up the A74 (quieter than the parallel M74 that replaced it), you’re maybe better heading over to The Borders; however, Melrose CAMC (expensive!) is 3 hours from Moffat, too far. Not much to see either. You can do a loop if you head west - along the coast, back on the fast A75 heading back east.
I’ll leave the Borders & east D&G for others, but for good value you can’t beat the site at Langholm; iso many walks that you can get a booklet at Tourist Info. Day trip up to Hawick. (Don’t go during the Common Riding though, as it’s full. Otherwise, turn up & pay the man who cuts the grass on the rugby pitch.)
Apologies for the long post.

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