# Sandyhills Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Sandyhills is a small Solway coast hamlet in Dumfries and Galloway with a wide sandy beach, dune camping and easy access to Rockcliffe and Dalbeattie Forest. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Golden Solway sands beneath the Colvend hills Photo © Elaine Mackie Wright, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants) Sandyhills is a small hamlet on the Solway Firth coast of Dumfries and Galloway, in the far south-west of Scotland, tucked between the fishing village of Rockcliffe and the granite town of Dalbeattie. It sits on what locals call the Colvend coast, a run of low cliffs, wooded hills and sandy bays that stretches along the northern shore of the Solway Firth, looking out across the water towards the fells of the English Lake District on a clear day. The village itself is little more than a scatter of houses, a shop, a café and a caravan park, but its setting is the draw. Sandyhills Bay is a broad, gently shelving beach backed by dunes and marram grass, with a wooded hillside rising immediately behind. The coastline either side is part of the Colvend Coast, threaded with paths that lead west towards Rockcliffe and Kippford and east towards Southerness. It is a quieter, less-visited stretch of Scottish coast than the Ayrshire or Fife shores further north, which is much of its appeal — long stretches of the beach can be walked without seeing another soul, even in summer. ## Getting to Sandyhills Sandyhills sits just off the A710 coast road, roughly midway between Dalbeattie and Kirkcudbright, and about 6 miles south of Dalbeattie itself. The nearest larger town is Dumfries, around 18 miles away, which has the closest railway station on the Glasgow South Western line, with connections to Glasgow and Carlisle. From Dumfries, Sandyhills is reached by car via the A710, a scenic but winding coast road, in around 30-40 minutes. There is no rail line along this stretch of coast, and bus services are limited, so a car is by far the easiest way to get here and to explore the surrounding villages. ## Best time to visit Sandyhills Summer (June to August) brings the warmest weather and the calmest conditions for the beach, though this is also when the caravan park and car park are busiest. Late spring and early autumn offer a good compromise — the coast path and forest trails are at their best when the wildflowers or autumn colours are out, and the beach is markedly quieter. Winter has its own appeal for a bracing walk, though facilities in the hamlet itself are seasonal and some close over the colder months. ## Where to stay in Sandyhills [All hotels in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/hotels) About staying in Sandyhills Hotel choice right in Sandyhills is limited — this is a small hamlet built around a beach and a caravan park rather than a resort town — so most visitors base themselves a little further along the coast or inland. Barend, close to Dalbeattie, offers self-catering properties with the bonus of an indoor swimming pool and restaurant on site, useful for families wanting something to fall back on if the Scottish weather turns. Dalbeattie itself, a granite-built market town about six miles inland, has a small range of guesthouses and B&Bs, and makes a handy base for exploring both the Colvend coast and Dalbeattie Forest with its waymarked walking and mountain biking trails. For a wider choice of hotels, the coastal town of Kirkcudbright to the west and the larger town of Dumfries to the north both have a fuller range of accommodation, from traditional coaching inns to modern hotels, and both are within half an hour's drive of Sandyhills Bay. Staying in one of these towns also puts you closer to shops, restaurants and other services, while still allowing an easy day trip out to the beach and the Colvend coast path. Whichever base you choose, booking ahead is worthwhile in the peak summer months, when the region's limited stock of rooms fills up with visitors drawn to the Solway coast's quieter beaches and the Dumfries and Galloway countryside beyond. [Clonyard House Hotel Colvend, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/clonyard-house-hotel) [The Anchor Hotel Kippford, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/the-anchor-hotel) [The Mariner Hotel Main Street, Kippford](https://staycation.co.uk/kippford/hotels/the-mariner-hotel) [The Birchtree Hotel 1 Maxwell Street, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/the-birchtree-hotel) [The Maxwell Arms Hotel 5 Maxwell Street, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/the-maxwell-arms-hotel) [Craignair Cottage Craignair Cottage, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/craignair-cottage) [Balcary Bay Hotel Auchencairn, Castle Douglas](https://staycation.co.uk/castle-douglas/hotels/balcary-bay-hotel) [Dalbeattie Guest House 13 Maxwell Park, Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/hotels/dalbeattie-guest-house) ## Things to Do in Sandyhills [All attractions in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions) Top things to do near Sandyhills The appeal of Sandyhills lies in the beach itself and the network of coastal and forest walks that surround it, rather than any built attractions in the hamlet. - **Sandyhills Bay beach** — A large, sandy Solway beach popular for paddling, rock-pooling and dog walking (dogs are allowed year-round). At low tide the sea retreats a long way out, exposing wide flats — be aware the tidal regime here is unusual and can catch out unwary bathers, so it pays to keep an eye on the tide. - **Rockcliffe and the Jubilee Path** — A few miles west along the coast, Rockcliffe is a National Trust for Scotland property with some of the prettiest coastal scenery in the region. The Jubilee Path, a roughly 3km round walk through old woodland and wildflower meadows, links Rockcliffe to the neighbouring village of Kippford. - **Mote of Mark** — An ancient hillfort above Rockcliffe dating from the 5th to 8th centuries, once an important Dark Age trading site. It's a short, steep climb for sweeping views over the Rough Firth and the wider Solway. - **Dalbeattie Forest** — Inland, this Forestry and Land Scotland woodland is one of the 7stanes mountain biking centres, known for its granite slabs and technical trails, alongside gentler walking routes such as the Birch Trail and a loop around Plantain Loch, home to herons and dragonflies. - **Colvend Coast path** — A waymarked coastal path running both directions from Sandyhills Bay, past sea-pink covered cliffs and rock pools, with views across the Firth to the Lake District fells. - **Southerness Lighthouse** — A few miles east along the coast, one of Scotland's oldest lighthouses, marking the point where the Solway opens out and giving long views back along the coastline. [Bainloch Deer Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/bainloch-deer-park) [🎟️Beaches & Coastline Rockcliffe Beach](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/rockcliffe-beach) [Southerness Beach ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/southerness-beach) [The Castle Douglas Treasure Trail ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/the-castle-douglas-treasure-trail) [🎟️Theme Parks & Funfairs Cream o Galloway](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/cream-o-galloway) [Caerlaverock Castle ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/caerlaverock-castle) [Threave Castle ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/threave-castle) [Mabie Farm Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions/mabie-farm-park) ## Where to Eat in Sandyhills [All restaurants in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants) Food and drink near Sandyhills Sandyhills itself has a small seasonal shop and café serving the beach in summer. For a wider choice, the nearby village of Rockcliffe and the sailing village of Kippford both have cafés and pubs looking out over the water, while Dalbeattie, a short drive inland, has a small selection of local shops, cafés and pubs serving the town. [Sandyhills Caravan Site Shop ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/sandyhills-caravan-site-shop) [The Tee-Room ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/the-tee-room) [Flounders Community Cafe ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/flounders-community-cafe) [Patrick @ Glenisle ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/patrick-glenisle) [Birch Field Garden Centre & Tearoom ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/birch-field-garden-centre-tearoom) [Rose Garden / Ship Inn ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/rose-garden-ship-inn) [Seahorse Chinese Restaurant ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/seahorse-chinese-restaurant) [Parkdean Resorts ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants/parkdean-resorts) ## Attractions Near Sandyhills [All attractions in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Sandyhills. [0 mi Bainloch Deer Park Dalbeattie · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/attractions/bainloch-deer-park) [🎟️Beaches & Coastline 3 mi Rockcliffe Beach Dalbeattie](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/attractions/rockcliffe-beach) [4 mi Southerness Beach Dumfries · ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries/attractions/southerness-beach) [9 mi The Castle Douglas Treasure Trail Castle Douglas · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/castle-douglas/attractions/the-castle-douglas-treasure-trail) [🎟️Theme Parks & Funfairs 10 mi Cream o Galloway Castle Douglas](https://staycation.co.uk/castle-douglas/attractions/cream-o-galloway) [10 mi Caerlaverock Castle Dumfries · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries/attractions/caerlaverock-castle) [10 mi Threave Castle Castle Douglas · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/castle-douglas/attractions/threave-castle) [11 mi Mabie Farm Park Dumfries · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries/attractions/mabie-farm-park) ## Camping in Sandyhills [All campsites in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/camping) About camping in Sandyhills The Solway coast around Sandyhills is well suited to a simple, low-key camping trip, and Scotland's access laws make it more straightforward here than in much of the UK. Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, wild camping is generally permitted on most unenclosed land, including much of the coastline and forest around Sandyhills, provided campers follow the code's guidance on staying away from buildings and roads, keeping groups small, and leaving no trace. That said, the terrain here is a mix of dunes, low cliffs and working farmland, so pitches need to be chosen carefully, and some stretches of the coast fall within National Trust for Scotland or privately managed land where different rules can apply — it's worth checking locally before pitching a tent. For a more straightforward option, Sandyhills Bay Holiday Park sits directly behind the beach, offering touring and camping pitches as well as wooden glamping pods, with the sand just a short walk away through the dunes. It's a well-established, family-run site that has served the area for decades, with basic facilities including a shop, laundry and shower block, and makes a good base for exploring both the beach and the wider Colvend coast on foot. Dalbeattie Forest, a short drive inland, is another option for those wanting a woodland setting rather than a coastal one, with its network of trails also popular with mountain bikers. The best camping season here runs from late spring through to early autumn, when the weather is at its most settled and the long daylight hours of a Scottish summer make the most of the coastal scenery. Outside these months conditions can turn quickly, with wind and rain rolling in off the Solway Firth, so campers should come prepared for changeable weather whatever the forecast says, and check tide times if pitching anywhere near the shore given the unusual tidal patterns this stretch of coast is known for. [Sandyhills Bay Holiday Park ⭐ 4.5 · from £32/night](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/camping/sandyhills-bay-holiday-park) [Wild Oak Woods Eco Campsite ⭐ 4.7 · from £58/night](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/camping/wild-oak-woods-eco-campsite) [Castle Point Caravan and Camping Site ⭐ 4.7 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/camping/castle-point-caravan-and-camping-site) [Coastal Kippford ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/kippford/camping/coastal-kippford) [Doon Park Caravan Park ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/camping/doon-park-caravan-park) [Gorsebank Glamping ⭐ 4.8 · from £60/night](https://staycation.co.uk/dalbeattie/camping/gorsebank-glamping) [Gorsebank Glamping, Bike Hire & Fishery ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/camping/gorsebank-glamping-bike-hire-fishery) [Kippford View Holiday Park ⭐ 4.5 · from £29/night](https://staycation.co.uk/castle-douglas/camping/kippford-view-holiday-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Sandyhills [All cottages in Sandyhills →](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/cottages) [🏡Cottage Clachries Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £581](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/clachries-cottage-uk45825) [Bracken Holiday Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £397](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/bracken-holiday-cottage-syk961353) [🏡Cottage Holly Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £463](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/holly-cottage-28140) [🏡Cottage Auchenhill Lodge 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £621](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/auchenhill-lodge-cc537045) [The Barn 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £661](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/the-barn-syk1037177) [Whitecroft 2 cottages · from £533](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/whitecroft-myrtle-cottage-28177) [🏡Cottage Craigrannoch Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £497](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/craigrannoch-cottage-uk33709) [🏡Cottage Fairview 4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £827](https://staycation.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/cottages/fairview-uk5392) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Sandyhills Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DSandyhills%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Sandyhills - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/sandyhills/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Sandyhills [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)