Funding boost helps three generations start new family glamping business in Castle Douglas

A family who previously lived a nomadic lifestyle in South Africa have moved to Dumfries and Galloway to establish new roots and are getting ready to launch Galloway Glamping; a new glamping business in the area’s protected Dark Sky Park.

Lottie Reeves – alongside her partner Kevin, mother, and two young children – decided to relocate to Scotland during lockdown and, after settling into the Castle Douglas community, has embarked on a new hospitality venture.

With a £25,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme and GC Business Finance, four wooden cabins are being built on the family’s seven acres of land, next to Galloway Forest Park.

Galloway Glamping is designed for people looking for an off-grid escape to the countryside and a chance to see the stars. In 2009, Galloway Forest 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 over 100 worldwide, renowned for their perfect stargazing conditions.

Each of the four eco-friendly timber-frame pods will be finished with luxury touches, including hot tubs and fire pits, but with no Wi-Fi connection, the founders hope visitors will be encouraged to spend time outdoors. Situated on the banks of Loch Ken, guests can also do water sports and go wild swimming.

Prior to moving to Scotland, Lottie and Kevin 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 Lottie’s family and start their own.

The couple’s dream has always been to set up a business in the tourism sector and they had initially considered property overseas before deciding on the South of Scotland.

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

The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme has supported 189 entrepreneurs and delivered more than £1.5 million in loans to new business owners in Dumfries and Galloway since it began in 2012.

Barry McCulloch, senior manager, UK Network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “Tourism is a critical sector of the Scottish economy and, particularly since the Covid years, the staycations market is booming.

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.

This family business began as a pipe dream, but the support and funding offered through the Start Up Loans programme means they are now taking bookings and opening the doors in a just few weeks’ time.”