Riverside camping near Castle Douglas

The historic town of Castle Douglas appeals to foodies and adventurers alike.

100% (26 reviews)

United Kingdom
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Scotland
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South Scotland
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Dumfries
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Castle Douglas

100% (26 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Castle Douglas

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Stories from the community

Kyle & Sarah

3 weeks ago

4 m Class B

1 night at West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

It was amazing! The view of the surrounding fells and farms was so tranquil and peaceful. Andrew was a friendly and helpful host. The property was beautiful and there was a good community of campers there that socialized over breakfast. There were also trails on the property that we didn't get to. I would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone that is going to Scotland

Mandi

April 2025

1 night at West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

Very friendly staff. Easy to find. Great facilities. Lovely walks right at back of premises. Only downside for me was the noise off other campers. People turning up and setting stuff up after 10 pm. Also loud group of lads. But I’m use to wild camping so maybe noise would be acceptable for most.

Darcey

April 2025

2 nights at The Black Swan

This was such an amazing place to say! It was so accommodating! Teas and coffees, a cosy bed and fire, It was such bliss after a day of hiking. Lovely time

Weekend Trip to The Black Swan

Great experience, lovely comfortable Yurt and super close to the Pub for luxury. Great combo! Plus we saw red squirrels in the ground! The kids loved this trip.

Weekend Trip to Camping at Cardewlees

Really friendly greeting from the owner and the pitch was excellent.

6 top river, stream, or creek campsites near Castle Douglas

80%

(33)

West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

46 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Glasgow, Lanarkshire, South Scotland

A welcoming campsite on the West Highland Way

100%

(8)

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.

99%

(38)

Camping at Cardewlees

37 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Carlisle, England

A welcoming, family-run farm campsite between the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall

100%

(23)

The Black Swan

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kirkby Stephen, England

Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore. The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members. Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself). We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay. All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.

Booked 1 time

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.

Booked 2 times

Lake District Herdwick Huts

5 units · Glamping2 acres · Rydal, England

You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. These beautiful huts are nestled underneath the Fairfield horseshoe mountain range and Nab scar, so there is no need to drive anywhere for the finest mountain hikes. With Rydal Lake, a wild swimmers hot spot, and waterfalls and plunge pools on site, it really is hard to beat! You will not find a more stunning place to stay and explore within the UK. Set in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, there is good reason why this magnificent location inspired the poet William Wordsworth to commit some of his most world-renowned poetry to paper. Grasmere is on the doorstep, voted one of the top places to visit in the Lake District, with the famous '‘Coffin route’ walk offering a spectacular lake and mountain view stroll straight from your hut door. With low level to high level walks exploring the Lakes from Rydal caters for everyone. Ambleside and Grasmere are both walking distance for cafes, restaurants and cinemas and Rydal offers scenic off-road strolls to arrive by. Each with fresh linen, wood burning stove and cast iron gas hob, you are sure to be comfortable even in the thick of winter.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Riverside camping near Castle Douglas guide

Overview

The old market town of Castle Douglas lies at the northern tip of the island-dotted Carlingwark Loch and close to such attractions as Threave Castle, Cardoness Castle, Sweetheart Abbey, and Galloway Forest Park, which is a designated Dark Sky Park. The town itself is a designated Food Town, with many shops selling excellent local produce, which foodies will love exploring, while outdoor enthusiasts can explore the loch’s islands by boat and the nearby Threave Wildfowl Reserve, an important place for wintering wildfowl. Find your pitch at one of these campsites around Castle Douglas.

Where to go

Loch Ken

On the shores of Loch Ken, around a 15-minute drive north of Castle Douglas, Galloway Activity Centre offers a bounty of activities, from windsurfing and paddleboarding to zip lining, archery and mountain biking. The centre’s campsite has grass pitches for tents and tourers, as well as a variety of glamping options.

Dalbeattie

Around 15 minutes east of Castle Douglas, the charming town of Dalbeattie is rich in history and a handy base for the 7stanes Mountain Bike Trail in Dalbeattie Forest, known for its challenging granite slabs. Next to the town’s Colliston Park, Islecroft Caravan and Camping Park has sheltered pitches.

Galloway Forest Park

A 25-minute drive north of Castle Douglas, Galloway Forest Park offers a landscape of forest, hills and lochs that is ideal for hillwalking, mountain biking and rock climbing. It’s best-known feature, however, is its dark skies that are perfect for stargazing. On the western side of the park, Glentrool Camping and Caravan Site has a tranquil setting and pitches for tents and tourers.

When to go

From May through August long daylight hours means you can pack more activities into your day—this period also offers your best chance of enjoying dry, sunny weather. Some areas can get busy during the summer months, however, especially on weekends and during the school summer holidays. Those planning to do some stargazing in Galloway Forest Park should visit between October and March, when the skies are at their clearest and most crisp.

Know before you go

Wild camping is legal throughout Scotland as long as you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Local buses can get you to most places of interest. The closest railway station is in Dumfries (40 minutes by bus) which has direct connections to Glasgow and over the border to Carlisle.
There are plenty of places to buy groceries in Castle Douglas, including a Tesco Superstore to the east of town. Make sure to also visit independent shops and try some local produce for which the town is known.