Balkenna Caravan Park

View prices & book 8.3 195 reviews
Sea view
Sea view
Grass pitches
Pitches
Play park
Climbing frames and slide
Fenced-off play park
Tearoom and play park
Camping and caravan field
1/229
Grass pitches
Pitches
Play park

  • Small Ayrshire camping and tourer site with Ailsa Craig views
  • Turnberry Beach and Trump Turnberry golf course five minutes’ walk
  • Family-friendly with an all-day tearoom, picnic tables and a play park
Whether you’re passing through on the way up north or down south, or hanging out in Ayrshire to explore the area’s many attractions, Balkenna Caravan Park is a handy little biker, camping and tourer site with easy access directly off the A77 (please note there may be some traffic noise). Welcoming dogs and kids, this low-key spot has a small play park safely fenced off for the latter, while Turnberry Beach is right across the road for families and their canine companions to stretch their legs. And the park has three more USPs up its metaphorical sleeve. First is the on-site Balkenna Tearoom, where you can grab a constant supply of hot drinks, breakfasts, snacks, main meals, vegetarian dishes, desserts and ice cream throughout the day. Secondly, the views out over the Firth of Clyde to the rocky bluff of Ailsa Craig are truly spectacular, and you get to see them from all over the pitches – and finally, the Trump Turnberry is five minutes’ walk away, a bucket-list attraction for any golfers among you. Some practical stuff too: there’s drinking water on site, as well as a chemical toilet disposal point and hot showers.

Site type

Tent pitches 21
Motorhome pitches 21
Touring caravan pitches 21
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • Firepits must be raised off the grass.

Languages spoken

English

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent pitchesTouring caravan pitchesMotorhome pitchesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children

Reviews

8.3

Overall rating from 195 Pitchup.com customers

  • 45%
    10
  • 8%
    9
  • 24%
    8
  • 5%
    7
  • 7%
    6
  • 1%
    5
  • 4%
    4
  • 1%
    3
  • 2%
    2
  • 0%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 7
Spectacular scenery

83% would recommend this site to a friend

81% would stay here again

What customers say

This campsite offers beautiful views, particularly of Ailsa Craig, and is conveniently located near the beach. Visitors frequently praise the friendly and helpful staff, and the on-site tea room receives consistent positive mentions for its food. Facilities are generally described as clean, though some reviews suggest they could benefit from updating. A primary drawback noted by many is the noise from the adjacent busy road, which can be disruptive, especially at night. Despite this, many guests found it a good stopover or base for exploring the area and would return.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 20
Arrival date (latest first)

Really enjoyed the break

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 4
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Loved the location, everyone there was very friendly and helpful.

Disliked Maybe the owners could open a wee shop for basic groceries, as it was a half hour drive to the nearest asda.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Small site with a lovely cafe…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Mel W.

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked Small site with a lovely cafe and right over the road from the beach. The covered area for use by campers is great.
The small field had level pitches, check in was very easy.

Disliked Showers needed a clean and road noise overnight

Recommend to friends Visit again

Balkenna is on

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great pitch looking over to Ailsa Craig. Carpark close to camping area is very convenient. Balkenna is on the south Ayrshire coast, the south Ayrshire coast is the best. Convenient for Cuzlean Counrty park, the Electric Brae, and great roads and locations to explore.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great wee site & will be back on my bike travels

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 No rating
Jim R.

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked Friendly staff on arrival, great views to Ailsa Craig. As a camper I really enjoyed using the outdoor covered cafe seating area once it shut.

Disliked Only minor negative is the A77 , but it does get quiter after 6pm.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Food great in the cafe...…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 5
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 5
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 1
Janet S.

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked Food great in the cafe...

Disliked No where to empty grey water...

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good value for money and great…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 No rating
Cari H.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Good value for money and great having cafe there to use, great showers, I had a great stay

Disliked I'm a heavy sleeper and was fine but light sleeper may struggle with road noise

Recommend to friends Visit again

Well run and friendly business.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 No rating
Mark H.

Non-electric grass tent pitch

Liked Staff were super helpful and down to earth. Had a good laugh. (Lyndsey)
Views over to Ailsa Craig were stunning.
The Cafe is brilliant, will be stopping by for sure.

Disliked Camping maybe a little too close to the road for most people’s comfort. Pack them earplugs.
Initial pitch (15) wasn’t the best, we moved to no.5 which was way better and next to shower block/ toilets.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice and clean

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
andrew f.

Electric grass tent pitch

Liked Great little campsite. Great views

Recommend to friends Visit again

Fantastic views. Facilities were more than…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Craig B.

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked Fantastic views.
Facilities were more than adequate.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A bit expensive charge for dogs nothing

Overall

6 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 3
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 3
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 1
Brenda C.

Electric grass touring pitch

Liked Site was nice and clean but very small

Disliked Payment of 45 pounds for my dogs. Nothing not even a dog field or dog shower. Felt it was quite expensive for what you got.
If you are going to charge for dogs you should at least have something for them

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Covered terrace area Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Baby-changing facilities Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Budget/backpacker Gastronomic delight Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Balkenna Caravan Park

Balkenna Tearoom and Caravan Park

Girvan Road

Turnberry

Ayrshire

Scotland

KA26 9LN

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

55.30898°N
4.83385°W

Nearest transport

Coach
13.2 mi Bus Station
28.1 mi Dashwood Square
28.9 mi Port Rodie
Rail
4.4 mi Girvan Rail Station
6.7 mi Maybole Rail Station
13.2 mi Ayr Rail Station
Ferry
4.6 mi Girvan Harbour Ferry Terminal
13.4 mi Ayr Compass Pier
17.6 mi Troon Ferry Terminal
Airport
16.4 mi Glasgow Prestwick International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

The whole family will enjoy the proximity of sandy Turnberry Beach (five minutes’ walk) for strolls along the dunes or a section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, all backed by views out to Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde. Take a boat trip from Girvan (10 minutes’ drive) to this dumpy, rocky islet to see the puffin and gannet colonies on its cliffs. Back on dry land, Culzean Castle and Country Park (15 minutes) sits on cliffs high above the Firth of Clyde; tour opulent rooms packed with priceless antiques and have a stroll around the formal gardens. Any culture vultures among you can also visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (20 minutes) to learn more about Scotland’s favourite bard in his childhood home; displays include original manuscripts and period furnishing. If it’s time to treat the kids, Heads of Ayr Farm Park (25 minutes) has cuddly sheep, llamas, ponies and donkeys to keep them smiling, as well as mini-train and go-kart rides. Galloway Forest Park (half an hour) is the spot for woodland walks and games of hide and seek, and when younger kids need a bit of downtime, you can all chuff through wooded hills on the Doon Valley Railway (35 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Maidens 2.2 mi Sea N/AN/AN/AGood
Culzean 2.9 mi Sea N/AN/AN/AN/A
Girvan 5.2 mi Sea N/AN/AN/AN/A
Heads Of Ayr 10.4 mi Sea N/AExcellentPoorPoor
Ayr (South Beach) 12.1 mi Sea N/APoorPoorPoor

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Culzean Castle & Country Park 3.6 mi

Burns National Heritage Park 11.3 mi

Scottish Maritime Museum 21.6 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Turnberry Bay - Bruce's Castle 0.1 mi

From Croy Bay at Goatsgreen to Culzean Park and back 4.4 mi

Dailly to Viewpoint in Kilgrammie Wood 4.7 mi

From Dailly to the Barony Hill and back via Falfar 4.8 mi

Curling-Stone Walk 5 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Ayrshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Balkenna Caravan Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Balkenna Caravan Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Balkenna Caravan Park? The whole family will enjoy the proximity of sandy Turnberry Beach (five minutes’ walk) for strolls along the dunes or a section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, all backed by views out … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Balkenna Caravan Park?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  12 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Balkenna Caravan Park? From £17 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.