camping in Dumfries & Gallloway

We got back from our 10 day camping trip two days ago. The laundry is done and all is good. I am not looking forward to returning to work on Tuesday....

Camping in Scotland can be a bit of a gamble, the weather is fickle and the midges are fierce. I am pleased to report that we were lucky on both fronts. The weather was largely good with a couple of really windy days and very little rain. It rained on our first and last days only. There were very few midges. We knew from experience that our campsite is not generally plagued by those hungry beasts but you just never know.

We stayed at Solway View, which is one of our all time favourite campsites. You should visit if you can, you'll like it. There are a few wigwams as well should you prefer a more permanent structure to stay in. There are two camping fields, the main one and the summer field. We stayed on the summer field, which has great views. The pitches are very generous and include a wooden table and benches and a fire pit. There is a lot of empty space to play rounders and other games.  It never feels crowded, even when the campsite is full. It is an eco-cite with lots of wild areas that offer habitats for invertebrates and birds. The facilities are clean and practical, the water really hot and there is as much of it as you need. The one thing there isn't is anywhere to charge your phones, unless you have a hook-up. We don't and promptly ran our car battery flat when charging our phones to stay in touch with the big kids at home... There is a charging point for electric cars.

We didn't really do anything particularly exciting or costly. We enjoyed walks and picnics on the beach, strolls through the woods and a few visits to nearby sleepy towns (Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet and Castle Douglas). James and Alistair made lots of new friends. They cycled around the campsite, played hidey tig, swung on the rope swing and explored the areas on the campsite that are left to be wild. We watched the swallows dive for invisible bugs, read books and I knitted a fair bit, too. Richard explored the area on his bike, I went for jogs (never far). The boys were allowed to cycle on their own along the country lanes, too. Not far but exciting for them, new independence is always appreciated. Jack made sure our pitch was safe. He kept a close eye on the cows and rabbits and played fetching sticks for as long as we could face it.

Sam and Annie joined us on Sunday evening for two nights. I think they enjoyed Richard's company but not so much mine and the boys.... I am hugely annoying and get easily annoyed. Sam took his own little tent and pitched right next to our mansion. We returned a day early because Sam remembered an appointment on Wednesday 9 am. We didn't mind, it started to rain on Tuesday and the forecast was for heavy rains on Wednesday. There was no rush to pack up so we packed all the inside stuff and then left for a dog walk and a visit to the Cocobean Factory respectively. I took the boys for a chocolate workshop, which they liked. It was mildly yucky to watch, so much gooey chocolate and so many little hands being licked. Upon our return to the campsite the tent was magically dry. We packed it up as quick as we could and managed to get it in the bag all dry. Always a bonus.

I am so happy that we went camping, one of the most relaxing ways to holiday if you ask me!

Thanks for visiting. I shall be visiting you all over the next few days, in between keeping youngsters entertained....