Advice on these Scottish campsites

[Tim2]

Hi Folks

My wife and I are about to choose a site for our 3-4 week Summer holidays - departing in the next few days. Redundancy and other uncertainties have delayed our choice until now. We have 5 possible sites with vacancies lined up. We'd be grateful if anyone with experience of any of these sites could comment asap.

(1) Carradale BayCC - Kintyre Peninsula

(2) Castle Point, Rockcliffe, Dumfries and Galloway

(3) New England BayCC, Dumfries and Galloway

(4) Garlieston CC, Dumfries and Galloway

(4) Auchenlarrie, Dumfries and Galloway

These are are "ideal" site features. We like peaceful, seaview sites with beach access and good views but not too exposed weather wise. Not too regimented and crowded pitches. Easy acess to calm sea for launching 2 metre inflatable - we don't have a trailer for latter and have to lug it by hand. A games room with table tennis. Reasonable road acess for our 7.5 metre twin axle van. LPG selling service station nearby would be useful as car is "converted" to LPG. We are travelling from St Helens, Merseyside.

We have already searched this site for past reports/reviews.

Thanks in anticipation

Tim

 

[Moonstone1]

We used Auchenlarie about 5 years ago. It is my most favourite 'commercial' site. The site is on a cliff top with the most wonderful views of the Isle of Man, and the touring area is set out in circles and a few odd pitches dotted about. On entry to the site, the booking office/shop etc is at the top of the hill. To the right is the Hoseasons static part of the site. To the left is the camping area with a stream running through. Down the hill in front is the slipway to the beach (quite a small beach, more rockpools etc than sand). The toilet block is also here. Back up the hill, quite steep, is the touring area, like I say the tourers are set in circles which we particularly like as we also don't like regimented lines. Away from the touring area, but down a hill is the clubhouse so no noise on a night, which had a pub area, family area with cabaret/bingo etc, meals provided and a small amusement arcade. SInce we went I believe they have extended this and included a swimming pool.

It is a hilly site, but nothing an average car/van cannot cope with. In the area, there is lots of cycling, walking and watersports. Stranraer is not so far away for a trip over to Ireland, and the nearby forests offer lots to do.

Have put this on CT1 too.

 

[LadyMaureen]

Hi,keep in mind that Carradale is a commercially owned site which allows Club members on site.

New England Bay CC site has the caravans scattered in groups with gorse bushes dotted about.

It is very much a family site,so if you don't like children,don't go in the summer holidays.

Access is very easy for the beach,the bay is lovely and flat.Don't know where the nearest gas would be....you aren't too far from Stranraer.You could maybe get that info from the web.

There is a games room but I can't remember whether there is table tennis.

There are plenty of outings around the area and we enjoyed it there.

Garlieston CC site is divided into 2 areas.1 is by the sea ( which tends to be a muddy estuary when the tide is out ) and the 2nd area is across a road with no views at all,(so if all the pitches are taken at the sea-side when you arrive,that might be a problem for you.Hope this is of some use to you.

 

[Tim2]

Hi Folks

Thanks Janet and Maureenfor all the very useful advice.

We're now booked as follows

(1) Castle Point, Rockcliffe - 4 nights

(2) Auchenlarrie - 6 nights

(3) New England Bay - 14 nights

So the advice was very helpful.

Looking forward to finishing the packing and leaving on Wednesday next.

Looking forward to Galloway very much. I worked at the Murray Arms in Gatehouse of Fleet (porter) and Barons Craig Rockcliffe (restuarant waiter) before college in 1972-74. They didn't call them "gap years" in those days!!!

Thanks again for the advice.

Regards

Tim

 

[papafulton]

Have a nice holiday at your choice of scottish campsites. Mind and take your credit card if going to Barons Craig for a meal. New England Bay is one of our favoutite sites. If the weather is good you won't want to leave.