A family which swapped South Africa for the Stewartry – via Surrey – are getting ready to open a new glamping business near the Galloway Forest Park.
Lottie Reeves, along with partner Kevin, their two young children and her mum, moved to the area during lockdown.
And, thanks a £25,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme and GV Business Finance, they are embarking on a new hospitality venture at their home at Glenlochar House, where four wooden cabins are being built.
Galloway Glamping will offer people an off-grid escape to the countryside and a chance to see the stars, with Galloway Forest Park named an International Dark Sky Park 15 years ago.
Although the eco-friendly timber-frame pods will be finished with luxury touches, including hot tubs and fire pits, there will be no wi-fi connection, with visitors encouraged to spend time outdoors.
Lottie 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.”
Lottie and Kevin lived in South Africa for almost a decade, moving through towns and villages to work on community development projects, supporting themselves by providing web development services on the side.
Five years ago, they moved to Surrey to be closer to Lottie’s family and start their own – before they opted to move to the Stewartry to fulfil their dream of starting a tourism business.
Senior UK Network, Scotland manager at the British Business Bank, Barry McCulloch, 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.”
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