Scottish off-grid escape established by former South African ‘nomads’

In 2009 the park was one of the first places in the world to be named an International Dark Sky Park – an area committed to protecting dark skies by controlling light pollution. There are now more than 100 around the world.

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Ms Reeves said each of the eco-friendly timber-frame pods at Galloway Glamping will be finished with luxury touches, including hot tubs and fire pits.

However, there will be no wi-fi connection with the founders hoping to encourage visitors to spend time outdoors. Situated on the banks of Loch Ken, guests can participate in water sports and wild swimming.

Prior to moving to Scotland, Ms Reeves and her partner spent almost a decade living in South Africa moving through towns and villages working on community development projects and supporting themselves by providing web development services on the side. They moved to Surrey five years ago to be closer to family and start their own.

“I’ve always been interested in nature and wellness and felt that combining these with tourism would be the ideal venture for us,” Ms Reeves said.

“My partner Kevin viewed a house in Castle Douglas during lockdown, and I took the leap to move to a new town – and a new country – without even having seen the place. But, it was perfect, and the ample land that the house offered seemed the ideal fit for our glamping cabins.

“We’ve come across a couple of hurdles along the way, such as rising build costs, but the support from the Start Up Loans programme has been an invaluable boost. We are welcoming our first guests soon and finding our feet as a new family business.”

Barry McCulloch, senior manager at the British Business Bank, said the Start Up Loans programme has supported 189 entrepreneurs with more than £1.5 million in loans in Dumfries and Galloway since it began in 2012.

“Tourism is a critical sector of the Scottish economy and, particularly since the Covid years, the staycations market is booming,” he added. “Galloway Glamping will be a fantastic place for families to experience the outdoors and sleep under the stars – with some welcome home comforts and shelter from the unpredictable climate.”