Loch Doon Caravan and Camping Park

Loch Doon Caravan and Camping Park has a semi-wild character, with elevated views across the loch from its banks in Ayrshire. Run by a small committee, this family- and dog-friendly site has 50 hardstanding pitches for campervans and a grass area for tents. Electric hook-up is available on all touring pitches, alongside drinking water and waste disposal. Facilities are otherwise basic: there are no toilets or showers, an important consideration for tent campers and anyone travelling without their own facilities. Booking is available online.

For an outing around the loch, Loch Doon Castle offers an unusual piece of medieval history. Its eleven-sided curtain wall originally stood on an island, but was dismantled and rebuilt on the shore in 1935 as water levels rose for a hydroelectric scheme. The surviving walls date from a castle probably built in the late 1200s. Walking options include Ness Glen, where a path follows the River Doon through a steep-sided rock gorge below Loch Doon’s dam; this is a separate destination rather than a route described as starting at the campsite.

The park’s setting within Galloway Forest Park’s International Dark Sky Park adds another reason to spend time outdoors after sunset, weather permitting. Designated dark-sky viewing points at Loch Doon’s car parks offer places to watch the night sky away from the campsite, while clear, moonless nights give the best conditions for seeing stars.