Balloch O Dee Campsite is situated on the edge of the Galloway National Forest Park in Dumfries and Galloway. Surrounded by trees and mountains, this tranquil site offers a real chance to get away from it all. It has a unique feel with free range hens, ducks and chicks wandering around the site, all waiting to meet you. Glampers are spoiled with a range of unique options too.

Winner of Best Campsite Central and Lowland Scotland in our 2023 Camping and Glamping Awards

Featured in our 2024 Outstanding Sites list of reliably excellent camping, glamping, and touring sites

Immersed with nature by the Galloway National Forest and roaming animals

Family friendly site with great facilities including a cookhouse and candlelit tables

Range of glamping options for a more unique stay

About Balloch O Dee

This welcoming site includes free range hens and ducks and is a relaxed, interesting and safe place where everyone can experience getting away from it all. 'Proper' camping is available in the main field with plenty of space so you won't be crammed in, with five pitches offering the added bonus of an electric hook up too. There are plenty of purpose built stone fire pits in the main field and you are welcome to have a campfire whenever you like. Firewood is always available onsite. As well as sleeping under canvas there are six different types of indoor accommodation to choose from. Old converted barns, a bothy, vintage caravan and a roundhouse are all available to hire, each totally unique with its own individual charm and character. Beautiful Bluebell sleeps four in vintage style or the roundhouse offers relaxed glamping for four with a handmade oak king-size bed and fold away camp beds. The stylish ranch house sleeps six with its own facilities, plenty of warmth provided by a log burner and a log burning range cooker, along with comfy sleeping in a hand-built super king size six poster bed, double bed upstairs and two sets of bunk beds downstairs. The site is also home to an outdoor covered stage for live music events, and communal covered shelters for campers to gather in to cook, chat and have a campfire. Please note, this is a quiet site.

Balloch O Dee is open from 01/03 to 31/12 in 2024 and from 01/01 to 04/01 and 01/03 to 31/12 in 2025.

Best Campsite

Facilities and amenities

Site facilities include shared showers with rainfall heads and toilets. The ranch house includes self contained facilities.

Guests also have the use of a range cooker, hotplate, BBQ and a large dining table and chairs. A shelter in the main camping field is also great for groups with chairs and sofas, a long dining table and benches.

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Adult only

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Allow commercial vans

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Allow pets

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Bike hire

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Café / restaurant

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Communal BBQ

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Disabled facilities

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Drinking water

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Electric hookups

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Entertainment

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Family friendly

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Fires allowed

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Fishing

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Games room

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Glamping

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Golf

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Horse riding

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Hot tub

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Internet access

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Kids club

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Kids playground

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Laundry

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Near beach

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Near pub

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Open year round

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Peaceful

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RV pitches

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Shop

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Showers

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Swimming pool

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Toilets

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TV room

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Vineyard

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Water hookups

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Watersports

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W.C. disposal


A note from the site themselves...

Balloch O Dee has been a labour of love over the last 14 years. As a family, we have done a lot of camping so when we decided to set up here we wanted to create a site that we would enjoy camping on. We didn't have a lengthy list of requirements when we were looking for a site to stay on but a few things were important to us.

Firstly, the location. As much as possible, we wanted to feel as though we were out in the middle of nowhere, we wanted a 'proper camping' experience.

Next was a campfire. I personally would never go camping unless we could have a campfire as to me it's an essential part of the camp. We use it as the hub of our camp and all of our food is cooked over the open fire and obviously to keep warm on the cool evenings.

After that, we were not at all fussy campers, but a sparklingly clean toilet and nice hot shower were very welcome!

We were always looking for something a bit different too, something away from the sterile, formulated set-up.

So, all of the above is here at Balloch O Dee.

Best wishes, James and Hazel


Map and address

Park address

Balloch O Dee,

Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, DG8 0ET

Coordinates

54.9533, -4.6626 | NX 29 65

View on Google Maps

Balloch O Dee is ideal for...

Couples

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Older children (13+)

Peace and quiet

Rallies

Young children


There are 30 accommodation options on-site

Bookable pitches and accommodation options

20 x Non Electric Grass Pitches

Max 6 people

Four acres with plenty of space for guests to pitch tents where they like and designated fire pits for campfires.


5 x Electric Hardstanding Pitches

Max 8 people

Electric hardstanding pitches to suit tents and tourers. There are designated fire pits for campfires.

Bluebell Vintage Caravan

Max 2 people

Vintage caravan (off-grid) built from scratch on an old caravan chassis. Includes a double bed, and a small fold-out mattress underneath the main bed ideal for kids or could sleep another adult or couple. Access to shared WC and shower facilities nearby.

Rose Hippy Vintage Caravan

Max 2 people

A vintage caravan sleeping up to two adults. This caravan features wide double doors, electricity and plenty of seating. Outside, a deck area with a table and chairs and firepit. Access to cooking and shared facilities nearby. Sorry, no pets.

The Bothy

Max 5 people

Once a cow shed and rebuilt as a labour of love, the bothy has a double bed with a single bunk above and two single bunks. There's a log-burning range cooker, rustic furniture, kettle and toaster. Sleeps five with dogs welcome. Shared facilities nearby.


Balloch O Dee reviews

98%

would recommend

Overall
4.9
Location
4.85
Value for money
4.93
Service
4.93
Facilities
4.87
Cleanliness
4.89

"Everything you want from a Scottish campsite"

Luke B - Jul 2024

"The campsite is in an absolutely stunning location with unbelievable views"

Martin D - Jul 2024

"Lovely clean toilets and showers and stunning location. Nothing I didn't like"

Sharon S - Jun 2024

"It was in a beautiful area amongst the hills and you hear nothing but nature"

Iain S - Oct 2023

"A peaceful campsite where you can relax and unwind with great touches"

Kirsty G - Aug 2023


Amazing!

Corrie O

0

1

Medium Tent - Non Electric Grass Pitches Sep 2024

Had an amazing time at this little campsite. Was very quiet even though there were quite a few other campers there. The toilets and showers were lovely. Will definitely be back!

Camping not Glamping!

Kathryn W

0

1

Glamping - The Round HouseAug 2024

We had a fantastic stay at Balloch O' Dee in the lovely Roundhouse. It may look at first glance like a Glamping location, however, it is much more like camping (not that it is a bad thing). The Roundhouse is an off-grid accommodation, which is perfect for a weekend getaway. It was really cosy, with plenty of wood for the log burner. Bring candles and torches as there are no other lights! The site facilities are a little walk from the Roundhouse, and are very good by camping standards. The showers run hot and there was ample water. Washing up facilities and toilets were also decent. The site is very quiet, it is definitely somewhere for a rest and relax, not for a party. We slept very well in the huge bed and were plenty warm enough with our duvet (which we brought with us) and the wood burning stove. You will need your own cooking and eating equipment as they aren't provided. There is a freezer for ice blocks if needed. Our only suggestion would be that we could have done with a poker for the fire! All in all, a great place to stay in a beautiful location.

Great place to stay!

Donne W

0

1

Small Tent - Non Electric Grass Pitches Aug 2024

We loved our stay at Balloch O Dee! The campsite was easy to find and the staff member was really helpful on arrival. The grounds were well-maintained and the facilities were clean. We really enjoyed having a campfire one of the nights. Would definitely come back!

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FAQ

Check-in is from 1pm-10pm and you must check-out by 11am on departure day.

Yes, up to two dogs are welcome to join you here, whether you're camping or glamping, provided they are kept on a lead whilst onsite and are not a breed/crossbreed listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Outdoor campfires are encouraged, with stone fire pits available on site and a number of cooking stations which are free to guests - sustainable hardwood also on site. Guests can also enjoy access to the site's cookhouse equipped with BBQ, hot plate, oven and cooker.

Awnings and gazebos are allowed, but pup tents are not permitted onsite.


Guests are welcome to help with the animals and get to know real country life. There's always something to do around the campfire, whether its roasting marshmallows, strumming away on a guitar or just stargazing.

This area is perfect for mountain biking, particularly around the Galloway National Forest Park and 7stanes trails, and there are great hiking trails at Cairnsmore of Fleet. Time your visit to find exciting music festivals nearby, such as Electric Fields, in the summer and many tasty food festivals.

Head to Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town, to get a literary fix or enjoy the Newton Stewart and Minnigaff Traditional Music and Dance Festival for a taste of local culture, held every July.

The listing for Balloch O Dee was last updated on November 5th, 2024 at 7:11 AM

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