Lochside Caravan Park

View prices & book 8.4 21 reviews
Aerial view of the lochside pitches
Grass pitches
Hardstanding pitches
Caravan pitch

  • Dog-friendly site in Castle Douglas, an 18th-century market town
  • Overlooking Carlingwark Loch and five minutes’ drive from Loch Ken
  • A short walk from shops and food venues with quality local produce
Foodies who appreciate a good view just as much as a good dinner will surely want to flock to Lochside Caravan Park. Overlooking Carlingwark Loch, this site is in Castle Douglas, a small 18th-century market town self-appointed as Scotland’s first ‘food town’. Just half an hour’s drive from Dumfries, it’s also easy to reach… The main part of the town is just a five-minute walk away and your ticket to browsing independent shops, eating out and attending local events such as the annual Stewartry Agricultural Show. Castle Douglas is particularly known for its quality local food and drinks, so you should have plenty of energy for trips to Loch Ken (just five minutes’ drive north), Threave Garden (five minutes south) and Threave Castle (10 minutes). There are also several supermarkets, a post office and a petrol station in town, so it’s easy to get practical matters (snacks and such) out of the way. That leaves more time to explore Carlingwark Loch, which is dotted with islands and excellent for boating, learning to sail or picnicking. There is a lochside kids' playground within walking distance. If you’re still looking for extra things to fill your time, there are also swimming pools and tennis courts in Castle Douglas. The A75 runs past the town, providing an easy route out to sights around Dumfries and Galloway including Kirkcudbright 20 minutes’ drive away.

Site type

Travel trailer sites 20
Tent sites 50
Open now
Opens March 1

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 21 consecutive nights.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Sat, Mar 1 2025 to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

76%

would recommend this site to a friend

76%

would stay here again

  • 66%
    10
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

The park had plenty of nice walking paths, was very handy to…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: The park had plenty of nice walking paths, was very handy to get to the town centre. Lovely views over the Loch, staff very friendly and informative and great for families and dogs had a lovely stay

Disliked: None

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly, clean, level, beautiful location

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service No rating
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass travel trailer campsite

Liked: Location and facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good site on the shores of a loch ,we stayed in a…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Good site on the shores of a loch ,we stayed in a tent and the toilet and shower facilities were spotless.On arrival a member of staff talked us through everything and was easy to understand.Site was also close to the town centre with lots of amenities.Two good play parks for the kids and also a skate park.

Disliked: Some loud noises in the morning but that’s what you expect in a rural environment with tractors and livestock.The site was not to blame.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Filthy and Chaotic

Overall 2/10
Location 8
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness 2
Cleanliness 2
Wifi No rating
Wilf B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass travel trailer campsite

Liked: The location near a lake is good

Disliked: Probably the worst site we have visited in 20 years of touring. The hardstanding pitches are nothing more than a tarmac carpark, the grass pitches are actually in the public park so the whole area is shared with the public. The nearby water point was absolutely filthy with bags of rubbish laid next to the tap and full dog waste bags. There were children all round our motorhome kicking footballs and riding bikes and scooters, this in addition to the locals doing the same. There was a constant influx of locals bringing there dogs to the park, they immediately released them from there leads and let them run around the campers and tents one relieving itself on my motorhome step. During this time some other local teenagers arrived on foot and set up a tent opposite our pitch, they were wandering around collecting armfuls of tree branches intent on having a fire. At this point I had to call the warden out who arrived and said something to them but didn't move them on, he did not stop the ball games. I could not leave the van because of the chaos going on. When we left the next morning I spoke to the manager in reception who was totally disinterested in what I was saying and the only words he did speak was "we don't give refunds" when I requested the £28 quid back he had ripped me off for. £28 for a days parking without electric in total chaos.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved the outlook over the Loch. Handy for a few short…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Wendy M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: Loved the outlook over the Loch. Handy for a few short walks.
Was very quiet as it was winter.
Peter was friendly and very helpful. Facilities wonderfully warm and clean.
Will definitely need to return in the summer.
Five minutes walk and you are in Castle Douglas for local shops, cafes. Great staff in the Kings Arms Hotel.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Central and very clean

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Karl Z. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: Liked everything about it. The site is smack bang in Castle Doughless only 5 minutes walk into town. The site itself is placed in a park next to a lovely lake.
It’s a small council run place with all the required facilities to function.
Absolutely spotless the showers and toilets with big cubicles and constant running hot water.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

If you take part in Parkruns perfect site

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Andy M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: Great location beside the Loch, very clean toilets and showers, staff very helpful, definitely visit again

Disliked: As previously mentioned the pitches do feel like you’re in a car park

Recommend to friends Visit again

Manager was very pleasant and showers near reception very good and very…

Overall 4/10
Location 6
Value for money 4
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 8
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 6
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: Manager was very pleasant and showers near reception very good and very clean
View over Loch was lovely

Disliked: Many caravans looked like permanent occupants especially near bigger shower block all looked like it was a travellers site did not use those showers

Recommend to friends Visit again

Atmosphere of camp site, clean showers, clean toilets walking distance to the…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Andrew H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent campsite

Liked: Atmosphere of camp site, clean showers, clean toilets walking distance to the town center. Very helpful and friendly staff

Disliked: Local youth making noise until around 10 but was okay after

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very good sight with level pitches and clean facilities

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive cement/asphalt travel trailer campsite

Liked: Very clean everywhere .
Very good toilets and showers

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports Wild swimming

Amenities on park

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Themes

Hikers’ paradise Lake and/or mountain Leave the car at home Peaceful Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transportation nearby

Type

Large (51-200 sites)

Accessibility

Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet Level campground, no steep slopes Site close to accessible bathrooms Smooth, hard roads e.g. tarmac

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal sites

Location

Lochside Caravan Park

Castle Douglas

Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland

DG7 1EZ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

54.93628°N
-3.92987°W

Nearest transport

Coach
0.3 km Carlingwark Street
0.3 km Carlingwark Street
12.4 km Village
Rail
25.8 km Dumfries Rail Station
37.6 km Maryport Rail Station
38 km Flimby Rail Station

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

Attractions and activities nearby include: - Threave Nature Reserve (birdwatching; wintering wildfowl): five minutes’ drive - Threave Castle (14th-century castle on an island on the river Dee, accessed by ferry): 10 minutes - Red Kite Centre, Laurieston (live feedings): 10 minutes - Dalbeattie Forest Town Wood (walking): 15 minutes - Galloway Forest Park (outdoor activities): 25 minutes - Dumfries (market town): half an hour.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Rockcliffe 11.7 km Estuary N/APoorPoorPoor
Sandyhills 14.6 km Sea N/AN/APoorPoor
Dhoon Bay 16.9 km Estuary N/APoorPoorPoor
Brighouse Bay 20.9 km Sea N/APoorPoorPoor
Southerness 22.2 km Sea N/AGoodGoodExcellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

John Paul Jones Cottage Museum & Visitor Centre 22.5 km

Robert Burns Centre 24.7 km

National Trust

Wordsworth House and Garden 47 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

Around Castle Douglas 0.7 km

Threave Estate, Castle, House and Garden 1.6 km

The Doach Wood Circuit 5.1 km

Dalbeattie - Colvend - Rockcliffe - Kippford - Dalbeattie 7 km

Screel Hill 8 km

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.

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Dumfries and Galloway?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Lochside Caravan Park have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Lochside Caravan Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Lochside Caravan Park? Attractions and activities nearby include: - Threave Nature Reserve (birdwatching; wintering wildfowl): five minutes’ drive - Threave Castle (14th-century castle on an island on the river Dee, accessed by ferry): 10 minutes … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Lochside Caravan Park?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  noon –  6:30 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Lochside Caravan Park? From $44.25 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.