Great site
Lovely coastal site and really enjoyed are stay. Booked initial 2 nights but stayed a third, really loved our first visit to this site.
Garlieston Club Campsite
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Our favourite site
This was our fourth visit in two years to Garlieston, our favourite site. We love to pitch beside the harbour wall and watch the tide go in and out. Ann and Martin, the wardens, keep the site immaculate, with amazing floral displays, and are always willing to provide information about the area. This is a beautiful, unspoiled area of Scotland, missed by campers who carry on up the M74 instead of turning left at Gretna. Garlieston village has a great, dog friendly pub, the Harbour Inn, with good value food and friendly locals. The bus stop outside the site has regular buses to Newton Stewart, Wigtown, Whithorn and Isle of Whithorn. Our favourites are Wigtown, Scotland’s book town, with a great variety of bookshops and cafes, and Isle of Whithorn, which has an award winning pub with it’s own brewery (Five Kingdoms). There are loads of good walks from the site, which, along with the sandy beach, makes this a great site for dogs (and their staff). We are already looking forward to going back again next year.
Favourite site!
We're not the most experienced caravaners but Garlieston is our all-time favourite site. The location is beautiful and peaceful and the owners have done a superb job in every aspect of the business. The shower/toilet/washroom block is immaculate and we were particularly impressed by the information centre which has a hugely impressive array of attractions and things to do. We ate at the Harbour Inn in front of a roaring log fire enjoying freshly caught cod with all the trimmings. Garlieston may be a long drive from Bolton but we will definitely be back!
Very relaxing
I love this site at the end of our holiday for a few days of relaxation. It is lovely in the walled garden. We met lots of friendly folk and the Harbour Inn is great for food and very dog friendly - always dogs in. Tyson, our rottie, wants to go in every time he passes the door! The walks are good in the area and it is easy to get bus to Wigtown and other places.
The facilities were very clean and warm but the showers are tight for washing and could probably be updated.
Love coming here and hope to be back again.
Harbour Highlight
Visited this site for 4 nights mid October. The main attraction was the harbour view and a pitch on the railings was our aim. Upon arrival, there was one pitch by the railing available, which was perfect, despite the warden trying to convince us to take other pitches (really not sure why as no bad weather was forecast!). We were delighted with our spot. The view is magnificent at high and low tide.
Note: only the hard standing pitches were in use, so this significantly reduces the availability of railing pitches.
The site was very peaceful, but we can imagine that would be somewhat different in high season as when the grass pitches are in use and they do seem quite close together. The facilities were clean and accessible, although only two shower cubicles in each of the women and men sections is very limited for the number of units which can be accommodated. However, I do wish that the Club would upgrade these sites with a more useful/powerful hair drying facility.
Unfortunately, there was no fish and chip van on Friday night, as advertised but not notified until our arrival - perhaps we will be in luck on our next visit!
Garlieston itself is a very quiet fishing harbour village. There are two rows of cottages, one along the harbour wall and the other in Forteviot Gardens. The only eatery and watering hole is The Harbour Inn which is a 100 yard walk from the site, along the harbour wall. It offers a cosy, friendly and warm atmosphere with good food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Supported by locals and visitors, there is always plenty of banter - and its very dog friendly.
The beach is great for running the dog at low tide, as there is no dog walking/exercise facility onsite, which means that the beach is popular. There is also a WWII museum open Friday and Saturday detailing the history of Garlieston, which is well worth a pop in.
The bus stop right outside the site entrance enables easy access to Newton Stewart, Isle of Whithorn, and Wigtown. The drivers were very helpful regarding timetables, fares and pick up points etc.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Garlieston and will be returning next year before the high season starts, to explore further afield around Dumfries and Galloway.
Excellent site
I so love this site and area. Warm welcome from lady warden and all explained. Lots of cycling and walking in this area. Great beaches for exploring. Pub sells great meals. Garage has plenty of selection for cooking. Large freezer so mince pork chicken. Or if you feel lazy he has lots of ready meals or pop round to rusty for his pork as he breeds pigs. Excellent established site well maintained. Down side the toilet block was frozen in the mornings and at night. Radiators cold. Plenty hot water but cold block. Stayed in van to get washed as it was warmer. This year I noticed and spoke to day visitors at garlieston who wandered around site with dogs and used the facilities. They where just out for a day trip. Public taking short cuts through the site. But will be back hopefully heating working.
scottie dog
Reviewed on 17/10/2019 19:53
Peaceful Perfection
Beautiful location, brilliant wardens & the tranquility we desired in the Walled Garden. Perfect.
the Cuthies
Reviewed on 10/10/2019 12:07
1 st visit Joyce and David robertson Ayrshire
We have just returned from a 5 night visit at the park and we really enjoined it. Ann and Martin who look after the park are a lovely and helpful couple nothing was to much trouble to them with helping with imfofmation on local walks places to eat. The park is in a lovely condition as Martin was always about doing things around the park. We were in the the walled garden area and it was so quiet and peaceful. We will definitely return Ann and Martin work so hard to keep the lovely place .
Farewell to 'Vans'
Alas, our caravan adventures have to cease, as Mo has problems with arthritis, and can no longer get comfy in the van. We chose to spend our last trip at Garlieston, which I think is the cream of the crop, for peace and quiet. Our visits have always been enhanced by the kindness and good humour of Anne and Martin, with a good measure of N.I. craic! Always neat and tidy, with the best tended flower beds anywhere. Suffice to say there was a tear in the eye on leaving.Thanks to the Club and all those who made being a member a pleasure. To Anne and Martin, Lang may your Lum reek! Best wishes, Bob and Mo Assur.
Slrbob
Reviewed on 30/09/2019 19:57
A well-run gem
This was our first visit to Garlieston and we are planning to return for another week next year. The site and the location are both great, in the village, next to the beach and harbour, along the great coastline, and in a corner of quiet Galloway. Anne and Martin were on duty for most of our stay and were very welcoming and helpful. The standards they maintain for the site are second to none. The visit of Prince Charles and Camilla to Garlieston took place during our stay, and it was great to see that they presented the Caravan Club at its best on that proud occasion.
