Luxury glamping pods just 90 minutes from Glasgow – for less than £100 a night

IT’S often said that we need a holiday after a holiday.

So my stay in rural Scotland came at an ideal time, having just returned from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona.

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Cosy Cluaran Cabins were a perfect place to unwind and recharge after my Spanish mayhem.

The site is nestled in the picturesque countryside around Annan in Dumfries-shire, with gentle rolling hills, lush pastures and striking views of the Solway Firth and across to the peaks of the Lake District.

With just two large glamping pods, the spacious and peaceful plot has a more intimate feel than other sites.

My partner, Claudia, and I had booked two nights in their Solway Breeze cabin.

But before arriving we made the most of the sweltering early June weather and went wild swimming in stunning Loch Ettrick, around a 40-minute drive away.

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The beauty spot was popular with paddle boarders and is an ideal spot for dog walkers.

Arriving at our cabin late on the first night we took advantage of the well equipped facilities to enjoy our takeaway meal and relaxed on the sofa with a few drinks before crashing out in our very comfy bed.

Waking up early the next day there was barely a sound to be heard outwith the birds and animals.

We enjoyed a cooked breakfast in the morning sunshine on the patio, then went for a walk in the countryside — one of several recommended by owners Emma and Cammy.

We chose the 2.8 mile pipeline walk which winds along peaceful lanes down to the Solway shores.

It was a great way to start the day and the cooling breeze from the estuary offered a welcome break from the dry heat inland.

Information boards offer an intriguing insight into the area’s proud fishing heritage and afterwards we took a trip into the centre of Annan to visit the museum.

It is free to enter and offers a fascinating story of the town’s 3,000-year history. Exhibits include First World War displays, mummified baby crocodiles and a Bronze Age burial urn.

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We grabbed a tasty lunch from family-run T.A. Francis and Son — a delicious Scotch pie, homemade lentil soup and a coffee to fuel up for the afternoon.

I couldn’t resist trying the 110-year-old bakery’s tempting muffins and as a big lover of honey I bought a jar of the local sweet stuff.

Our next stop was half-an-hour across the border to the market town of Brampton where we visited a section of Hadrian’s Wall.

The 73-mile long fortification — built in 122 AD as a bulwark against Picts from Scotland, then known as Caledonia — was also the final frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain.

The surrounding Cumbrian countryside is stunning, even more so on a sunny day, and is sandwiched between the breathtaking North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty to the south and Northumberland National Park to the north-east.

In the evening we booked a table at The Bank in Dumfries. Claudia had fabulous katsu cauliflower bites and hispi cabbage with cashew nut butter and sriracha.

I went for the beer battered cod, triple cooked chips with minted pea puree and I had to give the Irn-Bru pulled chicken loaded fries a go, which were delicious.

A nice al-fresco nightcap outside our cabin and we turned in that night, well-fed, well rested and just very well!

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Having spent the vast majority of my staycations in the Highlands or islands, a trip to the south-west was a truly eye-opening experience.

The area has sprawling forests, welcoming towns and villages, and some of the nicest lochs in Scotland.

Road signs for Dumfries and Galloway read ‘First in Scotland’ and our stay at Cluaran Cabins was a first for us but it certainly won’t be our last break from a break.

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