Clashwhannon Caravan Park

Set in a spot of Scotland where the Gulf Stream flows past, the Rhins has a warm mild climate, making it a green haven for green-fingered types: the award-winning RHS Botanic Garden is at nearby Logan, with the Logan House gardens next door, and Glenwhan Gardens at Stranraer has been carefully crafted over 20 years to include all sorts of exotic plant species in its wet and dry areas. The Rhins area has habitats galore, with woodlands and hills to amble around as well as the coastline and peaceful beaches. If you want to tee off too, there four golf courses in the area: Stranraer Golf Course on Loch Ryan, Lagganmore outside the village of Portpatrick, and Dunskey and Portpatrick Golf Course to the west; take a trip around Portpatrick afterwards to see the harbour and the ruins of sixteenth century Dunskey Castle. Closer to home, the village of Drummore, a short stroll from Clashwhannon, is Scotland’s most southerly village: get sand between your toes and mind the remains of the minesweeper HMS Pagham at Drummore Bay, before puffin’ off on a day trip to the cliffs at the Mull of Galloway, the most southerly part of Scotland and home to thousands of birds including peregrine falcons, razorbills, guillemots and puffins; keep an offshore eye out for seals, dolphins and whales too. The site is an RSPB reserve so if cliff-clambering isn’t your thing, you can watch a video stream of the nesting sites in the nearby visitor centre. Much more interesting than Big Brother… Galloway’s also known for its gourmet touch, with food from many different cultures available to all budgets, and the area has cracking coastal walks and the long safe beach at Sandhead to check out as well as more fishing spots, cantering on horseback, mountain biking and local villages to explore. Finally, if you’re going to Clashwhannon over the summer, try and make it for Sharkatag, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network’s angling trip in areas including Luce Bay to catch, tag and release toothy members of the tope, the local shark species.