Email Lighthouse Leisure enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Dalbeattie
Welcome
to Lighthouse Leisure Caravan Park, Dumfries!
Thousands of acres of sky and buckets of glorious fresh air! You’ll never forget our sunrises over the glittering Solway Firth, or walking on the beach at dusk.
Try a romantic tryst at night by the lighthouse with the full moon reflecting a path of silver over the water. And in the winter the crystal clear views across the sea to the snow capped mountains of the Lake District are times to savour.
Set in well-maintained lawns with tarred roads, our caravan park is less than two minutes' walk from the beach and lighthouse. We’re so close too – less than an hour’s drive across the English border!
The Caravan Park
Set in well-maintained lawns with tarred roads, the park is less than two minutes' walk from the beach and lighthouse. Immediately adjacent is a fully stocked shop and a regular bus service from the village to Dumfries and intermediate villages.
On site we have an adventure playground and leisure complex offering plenty of fun and relaxation for all the family. The Park has been in operation for nearly 40 years and being family-owned, has built up a well-established warm and friendly atmosphere.
Leisure Facilities
The leisure complex with its heated indoor pool, Fluvo multi-jet
and sauna is a popular venue. After your swim relax and
enjoy a mouth-watering meal or snack at our Dunes Restaurant.
Under the same roof is the sunny Mermaid Bar with its distinctive and unusual Mediterranean design managed by the effervescent Rosemarie. Here we have a wide selection of music and excellent live entertainment for you to dance the night away to plus a constant variety of family activities such as camel racing nights, Kwizoke, Cash Bingo, fashion shows and quizzes.
For the children there is an adjoining family room and over the holiday periods there is a kiddies programme of, for example, scavenger hunts, prize bingo, pool competitions, Easter egg hunts, junior karaoke etc. Our adventure play-park is conveniently close to the Mermaid and the children’s Toy Town is a minute’s walk away.
Close by is our 10-pin bowling – great fun for all the family. Alternatively try your luck on the amusement machines or browse around our delightful craft and shell shop.
Southerness Village
Originally named Salterness by the Vikings, the village was first officially
recorded in a 12th century charter giving monks the right to work the
saltpans.
The historic lighthouse, the oldest extant in Scotland, is a reminder of bygone days of piracy, smuggling and sea-trading when the Solway and River Nith abounded with ocean-going vessels for centuries.
Southerness still holds its old day charm, with many of the original stone cottages and lighthouse. As there is only one road in and out of the village, there is only minimal local traffic.
The beach is a two minute walk away and as well as having many interesting rock pools for children to investigate, there are miles of sandy beach to paddle in or stroll along – perfect for the dogs too!
Local Attractions
Golf:
The park is situated next to the championship Southerness Golf Club and
there are seven other courses of varying size within a 15 mile radius
of Southerness.
Fishing:
There is sea fishing along the coast and a selection of Loch fishing inland.
As well as the sandy and rocky beaches to explore there are wonderful walks and cycling tracks around the forests of Mabie and Dalbeattie.
Rik’s Bike Shed at Mabie Forest hire out mountain bikes. The delightful Mabie Farm Park with lots of animals, play barn and grass sledging for the children and adults is close by and is a must for all families!
The historic Sweetheart Abbey and the working Corn Mill are set in the picturesque village of New Abbey, close to the costume museum and gardens of Shambellie House. The cottage of John Paul Jones (the local pirate who became the Founder of the American Navy) is close by and well worth a visit.
A few miles to the west are the secluded coastal villages of Rockcliffe and Kippford (our “Scottish Riviera”) with its yachting marina plus some excellent restaurants.
For the bird enthusiasts there is the Mersehead Bird Sanctuary just a couple of miles along the coast from us. Further to the west is the Cream o’ Galloway Ice-cream factory.
Perfect day out for all! Dumfries is a short 20 minute drive away where there is the Ice Bowl, Museum and Camera Obscura, Aviation Museum , Robert Burns Centre, Caerlaveroch Castle, Britain’s only triangular castle and of course the many high street shops in the town centre.
Drumlanrig Castle and Country Park is just 18 miles north of Dumfries and offers something for all the family with an outstanding adventure play park, castle tours, craft workshops, cycle hire, walks and trails. Less than an hour's drive away is the world famous Blacksmith’s Shop at Gretna Green where romantic runaway marriages were forged in past times.
DIRECTIONS
By Train:
There is a frequent train service to Dumfries from Glasgow. Coming from
the south one would usually need to change train in Carlisle with a pleasant
40-minute onward journey to Dumfries.
By Bus:
There is a regular bus service to Dumfries from most directions. The local
McEwans bus service (number 137) runs from Dumfries to Southerness nearly
every hour. This can be boarded from the main bus terminal, Whitesands,
next to the river.
By Road:
From Dumfries follow the A710 Solway Coast Road for about 15
miles, turn left at the turn off to Southerness. Once in Southerness keep
on the main road heading towards the lighthouse. Our reception is on the
right hand side just before the 19th Hole Pub. There is only one road
in and out of the village so there is no chance of you missing us!
Email Lighthouse Leisure enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
