Galloway holidays with teens

There is lots to do on holiday in Dumfries and Galloway. From adrenaline-fuelled challenges, to white-knuckle mountain-biking, tough walks, water sports and top tucker for refuelling afterwards, either in one of many friendly eateries or at our cosy holiday cottage, Burnside. As our children grow up we find new ways to interest and challenge them, and ourselves, in the great outdoors. Here is our guide to what to do with tweens and teens in Galloway.

THINGS TO DO WITH TEENS IN DUMFRIES AND gALLOWAY

Galloway Activity Centre

There are many activities to experience at the Galloway Activity Centre at Loch Ken, but Laser Tag, played outside in a wood, has proved particularly appealing to our children since it provides the opportunity to shoot mum and dad.

Once that has been achieved, we have tackled the climbing wall, zip wire and paddle boards, which were great fun with excellent instructors. There is also mountain biking, an aqua assault course (in the loch!), windsurfing and much more.

It is an hour to Loch Ken from Burnside Cottage but it is worth it. Not only are the activities great fun, they challenge the whole family - adults and children.

yomping in the Galloway hills

While it can be difficult to get everyone out on a walk, the sense of achievement afterwards, particularly if it is experienced in a cosy pub or over a hearty meal, usually makes the challenges worthwhile.

There are some great walks in Galloway, including, The Merrick (the highest peak in the region); Loch Trool, a beautiful loch where Scottish king, Robert the Bruce defeated the English; Kirroughtree Forest Park with easy woodland walks; Garlieston to Cruggleton Castle , a fine coastal walk, and St Ninian's Cave to the Isle of Whithorn, which edges around cliffs and coves and passes through the old Second World War gunnery school at Burrow Head.

Mountain Biking in Galloway Forest Park

The mountain biking in Galloway is excellent. One of the highlights is the mountain bike centre at Kirroughtree Forest Park, called 7Stanes. The shop onsite, The Break Pad, rents very high quality mountain bikes, which are well suited to the challenging terrain. The routes are colour-coded, with green suitable for tag-alongs and young children, blue is great for any age from seven upwards, and there are red and black for the hard core. This place is fantastic. And if you have your bike, there are additional trails at Glentrool, deep inside the Galloway Forest Park

Cycling and bike Hire in Newton Stewart

On the road, there are colour-coded routes thrpoughout The Machars and Wigtownshire, as well as in the foothills of the Galloway Forest Park, where you can cycle by the River Cree and through forest drives.

Cycle hire is available at Newton Stewart (20 minutes from Burnside Cottage). Kirkcowan Cycles offers a really good service with advice on routes around quiet country lanes and even a packed lunch. Bikes can be hired for multiple days and can sometimes be delivered to the cottage. From Newton Stewart you can cycle to Loch Trool (if you really want to tire out your older offspring).

Galloway Golf

There are six golf courses within easy reach of Burnside Cottage, where we keep a set of modest but serviceable clubs in the shed for guests to use. The spectacular nine-hole coastal course at St Medan’s in Monreith (3 miles) is the most southerly gold course in Scotalns and is a challenging par 3-4 with thick rough and coastal hazards. My favourite time to play is early in the morning when only the birds are out and the odd lobster boat in the bay.

There is a longer nine-hole course at Wigtown, which also has lovely views over the Solway, and 18-hole courses at Glenluce (15 miles), Stranraer (25 miles), Newton Stewart (15 miles), and Portpatrick (25 miles). 

Horse riding in Galloway

Galloway is a beautiful place to ride. Two equestrian centres offer riding lessons and hacks to riders of all abilities. The closest to Burnside Cottage is the Calgow Equestrian Centre, just north of Newton Stewart (30 minutes from Burnside Cottage). It offers lessons and hacks and non riders are welcome. Meanwhile, Kirkclaugh Equestrian Centre is located a bit further up the A75, between Creetown and Gatehouse-of-Fleet (about 40 minutes). It boasts spectacular views, offers treks by the sea and welcomes non riders, with miniature horses to meet and gift shop to visit.

Shooting, tanks and armoured cars

Galloway Tanks offers the opportunity to drive a tank, armoured and amphibious military vehicles, fire Enfield rifles and have a go at archery. There are activities for the whole family, from six years upwards.

As well as military vehicles, there is the chance to put a 4x4 through its paces in challenging conditions. If one person pays to drive a vehicle, the others can often ride a long as a passenger for around £10. The centre is near Garlieston, about 15 minutes drive from Burnside Cottage.

Galloway Beaches... and crabs

The beaches around The Machars offer a mixture of sand and rocks. Everyone can enjoy the beach when the sun comes out and there are some lovely warm, sheltered spots at Galieston and Mossyard. If there is no wind, Monreith is a fantastic place to go. Meanwhile, the Isle of Whithorn and what we call the ‘The Step Beach’ are good for tweens who want to climb.

And no one is too old to crab. Even the bravest teen wobbles a little at the sight of two big pincers coming their way. Our aim as the children have grown up is to beat our crabbing record - 20 in one expedition.

Eat out... in The Machars

If all else fails, you can always bribe them with a meal out. There are plenty of places near Burnside Cottage that meet the needs of a slightly fussy palate and a big appetite. The Steam Packet Inn at the Isle of Whithorn has great pub grub and is located right on the quayside. Wonderful beer, too. Fish suppers, pizza and Italian ice cream are available at the Central Cafe in Whithorn and you can takeaway from Tasty Bites in Port William.  The Craft Hotel is a fine addition to Wigtown, serving burgers and craft ales, while Cobwebs next door does traditional British food. Both deliver big portions and great value. Meanwhile, The Pheasant at Sorbie is fantastic home-cooked Italian food.

Or eat in... with some delicious galloway beef

There is some good food to be had in Galloway and excellent butchers supply fine meat in Wigtown (Steven Cronnie) and Newton Stewart (John D Owen). There is a large Weber barbecue at Burnside Cottage just waiting for their steaks, burgers and sausauges. Alternatively, scare the kids with a lobster, which can be bought off the boat from fisherman Paul Maguire at Port William. We keep Paul's number in the cottage, where there is also a giant lobster pan for cooking it in. (Fortunately, Paul puts the elastic bands on the claws so you should survive the experience with all appendages intact.)