Camping in Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve

This ever-changing landscape of mudflats and saltmarsh is a paradise for waterfowl.

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  1. Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve
98% (269 reviews)

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12 top campsites in Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve

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King Garth

1 unit · Glamping2 acres · Carlisle, England
Built in 1733, King Garth is also known as The Old Customs House, reflecting its role in these fraught times of smuggling. Its strategic position on the banks of The Eden served as the perfect lookout for a bailiff employed by Carlisle Corporation to protect the very important salmon fishery. The plaques on the building which commemorate the visits by Mayors date back to the 1700s. These visits no doubt involved indulgent banquets centring around freshly caught salmon I grew up on the opposite side of the river. On family walks along the Eden I was always fascinated by the house on the other side sited in such an amazing position. In 2010, when I returned to Cumbria I was amazed to hear that this house was for sale. It was a ruin and everyone told me I was mad..... I probably was a little! But I soon realised that I wasn’t alone in my love of this house, everyone I met from the surrounding villages had a tale to tell about this iconic place. King Garth is for sharing - with locals, (we have an annual barbecue), with wildlife and with people like you. The aim when renovating King Garth was to celebrate and embrace its history. King Garth is off grid and has no running water. It is furnished in a style to reflect its history. It isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of tea’: you have to drive a mile down a muddy lane, there is no hot shower, no electric lighting, and a compost toilet. BUT we offer beautiful evenings of candle light, log burner, hot tub under the stars and bathing in the river. My priority with King Garth and the land attached was to manage in a way to protect the abundant wildlife. There are also alpacas who you can look after during your stay. You will be astounded by the din the birds make at dawn and dusk! Inside the house there is an owl box where one summer a pair of barn owls successfully raised chicks. Since then a kestrel frequents the box and has twice laid there. This part of the Eden is tidal so both estuarine and river species co exist. Kingfishers and otters are often spotted And even the occasional seal! Kinggarth comes with fishing rights and if you want to fish this can be arranged with the host. The bird feeders are frequented by tree sparrows, yellow hammers, wood peckers, nut hatches and in winter red poll.
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£80
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Cleghorn Farm

15 units · Glamping, Tents250 acres · Lanark, Scotland
*PLEASE NOTE THE CABIN IS AVAILABLE FOR MIDWEEK AND WEEKEND BOOKINGS. CAMPING IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT WEEKENDS. WE REQUIRE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE FOR CABIN BOOKINGS* Cleghorn Farm is a mixed farm just north east of the market town of Lanark. Comprised of 250 acres of fields and woodland and bounded to the south by Mouse Water, it is a beautiful spot to get away from it all without having to leave it all behind if you don't want to. The fields are grazed and cultivated but the woodlands are much as they were at the end of the last ice age with spectacular walks along Cleghorn Glen with the chance to see badgers, bats, deer and all manner of birds among the towering pine and beech trees. The Mouse Water (pronounced moose) tumbles down along the edge of the farm and has some glorious pools for swimming, shallows for paddling and some spectacular water falls before it joins the River Clyde.
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£10
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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve guide

Overview

The dramatic coastal scenery of Caerlaverock, its mudflats and saltmarsh, supports a rich range of wildlife, from birds such as barnacle geese, bar-tailed godwit and knot, as well as natterjack toads, Scotland’s rarest amphibian. Situated where the River Nith meets the Solway Firth, a network of paths with raised boardwalks lead visitors through the reserve and there’s also a viewing platform, picnic areas and a viewing hide. While there are no organized campsites within the nature reserve, private spots sit just minutes away with spaces for campervans and motorhomes.

When to go

Winter is the best time for birdwatching in Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve. From late September to early May, huge numbers of barnacle geese and pink-footed geese arrive from their Arctic summer homes—try to visit at sunrise or sunset for the spectacle of thousands of geese in the sky. During the summer months a variety of open water habitats support invertebrates and amphibians and you may hear a croaking natterjack toad or the sound of rutting red deer.

Know before you go

  • The nature reserve is important for wildlife so visitors should visit responsibly, following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
  • Keep dogs under control at all times, particularly between March and August during the bird breeding season. 
  • Avoid any cattle you see—they are not accustomed to people so may be dangerous.
  • During high tides, the paths may flood: check the local tide tables, which are displayed in the reserve.
  • The closest bus stop is at Caerlaverock 1.3 miles (2 kilometres) away, on the Dumfries to Caerlaverock route. The closest railway station is Dumfries, eight miles (13 kilometres) away, on the Kilmarnock to Carlisle line.