Van Miles

Back in March we decided to head to Kippford for a weekend away in the campervan. I wanted somewhere scenic with fairly flat walks for the dogs, so I asked Chat GPT for recommendations and Kippford kept coming up as a good option. Once I’d settled on the area, it also suggested a few campsites nearby and we decided to book two nights at Coastal Kippford.

We set off from Blackpool expecting around a three-hour drive, which is a little further than we’d normally travel for just a weekend. Because of the dogs, we decided to break the journey up with a stop at Lowther Castle.

It turned out to be a really pleasant start to the trip with the sun shining for most of the day. The grounds at Lowther Castle were perfect for stretching our legs after the drive, and the dogs loved exploring the open space and woodland paths. It’s an ideal stop-off if you’re travelling north and want somewhere relaxed to break up the journey without feeling rushed.

On arrival at Coastal Kippford we had a really warm welcome from the receptionist, who gave us plenty of information about the park and the local area. The pitch itself was fairly basic but luckily we had a nice sunny spot, which always makes a difference when setting up for the weekend.

Once we’d got the awning up, we spent a while just relaxing outside while I cooked tea. One of the best things about campervan trips is slowing down and enjoying the simple evenings without rushing around.

Later on we walked down towards the coast, although unfortunately the mist had rolled in by then so the views were quite limited. Even so, it still had a lovely calm atmosphere around the harbour area. We stopped for a drink at a dog-friendly pub on the front before heading back.

One thing worth mentioning if you stay at the site is that the walk back involves quite a long uphill stretch. It wasn’t too bad, but you definitely notice it on the way back after a relaxing drink by the water!

Day 2 Forest walk and Coastal views

The next morning we woke up freezing after temperatures had dropped quite a bit overnight, so our first job was driving the couple of miles into Dalbeattie town centre in search of a heater for the van!

After warming ourselves up, we headed over to Dalbeattie Forest where parking was very reasonable at around £3 for the day. We spent a few hours walking around the beautiful Plantain loch, the walk was approx 2 mile circular which could be extended. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful even though it was a Saturday, exactly the kind of place we enjoy with the dogs. We stopped for a picnic lunch overlooking the water and just enjoyed the scenery and fresh air.

Later that afternoon we drove back down to the harbour at Kippford. Thankfully the mist had completely lifted and the views across the water were absolutely stunning. There’s a gorgeous flat walk along the promenade and it’s easy to see why the area is sometimes referred to as the “Scottish Riviera”.

The walk takes you past two small beaches, including one covered in shells which would be perfect for families spending the day there. Along the front there’s also a lovely café as well as the dog-friendly pub we’d visited the night before. We stopped for an ice cream before heading back towards the van.

The walk there and back was around 2.5 miles in total, although there were plenty of other walking routes branching off along the coast. Some of them looked beautiful but were unfortunately a bit too steep for our older dog.

That evening we headed over to the golf club bar opposite the campsite for a drink. Unfortunately they weren’t serving food, but the landlady was incredibly helpful and arranged for a Chinese takeaway for us to take back to the van — one of those little touches that makes a trip memorable.

Heading home

Sunday morning was a slow and easy start with breakfast and coffee before packing everything away. Before leaving the area we stopped at Sandyhills Beach and let the dogs have a good run along the sand.

We attempted part of the coastal path afterwards, but again it became a little too steep for our dog, so we decided not to push it and instead started the journey home. We broke the drive up with lunch at Tebay Services, which is always worth a stop when travelling north.

One thing I have to mention about Coastal Kippford is how immaculate the facilities were. The toilets, showers, and washing-up areas were spotless throughout our stay. The site itself is quite hilly depending on where your pitch is located, so that’s worth bearing in mind when booking.

Overall, Kippford turned out to be a fantastic find and somewhere we’ll definitely return to. It feels like we only scratched the surface of the area and there’s still so much more to explore.

Weekend Spends

• Campsite with EHU (2 nights) – £50
• Fuel & parking – £63
• Food, drinks & takeaway – £78

Total weekend spend: £210