Off The Beaten Track: Dumfries & Galloway – Auchenlarie

The coastline of Dumfries and Galloway, on Scotland’s west coast is beautiful and luckily for us, Best of British has a large family friendly holiday park which is open all year and has direct access to a secluded beach. Not far from the English border, Auchenlarie Holiday Park offers many opportunities to explore this picturesque area. Here are some suggestions for going ‘off the beaten track’ near Auchenlarie in Scotland.

Galloway Forest

A vast expanse of land, Galloway Forest spans 300 square miles in Dumfries and Galloway. You can explore the rolling Galloway glens and hills to discover picturesque forest trails, two friendly cafés with visitor information, wonderful wildlife and a long and colourful history. Here you can enjoy great walking, easy family cycling, exhilarating mountain biking or just sit back and soak up breathtaking loch and mountain views and starry night skies. The wildlife, dramatic scenery and magnificent woodland makes this a haven for amateur and professional photographers alike.

Established in 1947, the Galloway Forest Park is often referred to as ‘the Highlands of the Lowlands’ and attracts around 800,000 thousand visitors each year. Whether walking, cycling, fishing, driving through the woods or just relaxing in the tearooms, the Galloway Forest Park has something for everyone. We cover many areas of the park in the suggestions below.

Clatteringshaws Loch and Dam

The glittering loch is a haven for waterbirds in summer and a variety of wildlife during the colder months. You can enjoy the view via several roadside stops along the adjacent road, so finding viewpoints is easy. Take a wander around the loch and look for Bruce’s stone, one of two stones dedicated to the Scottish King in the forest park. This is a freshwater reservoir was created by damming the Galloway River Dee as part of the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme. A walkway along the top of the dam provides a superb viewing platform. The Forestry Commission maintain a visitors’ centre by the loch to welcome visitors.

Dark Sky Park – Dark Sky Photography

Scotland has some of the darkest skies in Europe, and Galloway Forest Park is one of the darkest places in Scotland – which is why it’s the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. Clatteringshaws is a brilliant place to enjoy the night sky with many great vantage points. Galloway Forest Park became one of the first in the world to earn this designation in 2009. It was also awarded a Gold Tier Park for its breath-taking and rare stargazing conditions. An International Dark Sky Park is an area committed to protecting dark skies by controlling light pollution. There are now over 100 Dark Sky Places worldwide, all committed to preserving the night sky.

Galloway is special due to its remoteness. On a clear night, over 7000 stars and planets are visible with the naked eye, and the bright band of the Milky Way is usually easy to see arching across the sky.

Portpatrick Town

Portpatrick is a pretty town of pastel-coloured houses, set around a small bay with cliffs forming the backdrop. A former port for transportation to and from Northern Ireland, Portpatrick is now a peaceful holiday resort. Sea angling is a popular pastime in these parts, as is walking. The Southern Upland Way starts here and continues for 212 miles, all the way to the east coast.

Gatehouse of Fleet Viaduct

A large granite viaduct near Portpatrick and standing at 36 feet high, Big Water of Fleet was once a railway that played an integral part in Scotland’s war effort during WWII. The viaduct was even featured in the seminal Hitchcock film ‘The 39 Steps’ (1935). If you enjoy both walking and photography, this is a perfect spot to visit all year round. It looks picture perfect with both blue skies and a sprinkling of snow!

Threave Castle

Situated on an island in the middle of the River Dee, this formidable castle is only reachable by boat. While the island and grounds are open, conservation work is currently taking place at the castle and therefore it is not accessible.

Now under the care of Historic Scotland, this massive tower house was built in the late 14th century by Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway. It became the stronghold of the Black Douglases and still today, round its base you can see the artillery fortification, an innovative defence years ahead of its time, built before 1455 when James II besieged the castle. Begin your journey to the castle at Kelton Mains farm and from there follow the picturesque 10-minute walk through fields and past woods until you arrive at the shore of the River Dee. Here you will find a small jetty and a brass bell with a rope pull. Ring the bell loudly – little adventurers love this bit – and the boatman will come across from the island to take you to the castle.

Southerness and Powillimount Beaches

With its combination of sand and rocks, the beach at Southerness is popular for its clean white sands, and is a great spot for paddling at high tide. At low tide, mud flats and rock pools reveal themselves and are ideal for exploring. The beach is well recognised due to the tall white lighthouse that sits at the western end of the beach. Built in 1749, it is unusually square in shape. Although no longer a working lighthouse it is sometimes open to visit.

Southerness Beach is very popular with families and walkers. The dog-friendly beach stretches either side of Southerness point, offering fantastic views over the Solway Firth. It sits beside the small village of Southerness, which can be reached by turning off the main A710, a mile south of Kirkbean. At the eastern end of the beach is Powillimount Beach, with its outstanding rock formations, it is worth the half and hour stroll from the lighthouse. Parking and public toilets are available at Southerness Point.

Powfoot Village

Powfoot is a coastal village in Scotland’s Dumfries and Galloway that lies on the northern shore of the Solway Firth. It is located approximately 4 miles south west of the town of Annan and is only 12.5 miles from Gretna Green. If you’re looking to explore a traditional Scottish village, take a drive to Powfoot. Try The Del Amitri restaurant for lunch or dinner, an eaterie that has won high recognition from leading Scottish food critics since opening in 2007.

…and back to Auchenlarie for the evening!

When you are ready retire back to your caravan, motorhome or tent, set your course for Auchenlarie Holiday Park. This is an award-winning park is situated on the beautiful coastline of Dumfries and Galloway, with direct access to a secluded beach overlooking picturesque Wigtown Bay and only a short drive from the stunning Galloway Hills.

There are many ways to enjoy a holiday at Auchenlarie Holiday Park, with caravans, lodges, camping and touring. They also offer caravan and lodge ownership. With its indoor heated pool, sauna, arcade, daily entertainment, children’s indoor and outdoor play areas, Auchenlarie is the perfect base for a fun filled family holiday or a relaxing break away.

They also have the superb Tide & Table Restaurant and Tides Takeaway plus a choice of three different bars and our well stocked Premier convenience store. Alternatively you can simply relax in the comfort of your own holiday home and savour the superb sea views and beautiful scenery.

We hope this post has given you inspiration of what you could see and experience in magnificent Dumfries and Galloway. South West Scotland has so much to offer, and sometimes it takes a little inspiration to help you shape your holiday and inspire you to try somewhere different, somewhere off the beaten track

View all our 5 star family owned holiday parks here.