Southerness, Southerness Holiday Village

I bought a caravan at this park three years ago. while looking at vans and going through the buying process they could not have been more attentive or helpful but as soon as I had paid my money they ignored every contact I made, broke every promise they made, and treated us like pests. The salesman promised our van would be in place for the easter holiday week so we booked time off work and arrived and the van was not ready and they had no substitute van we could use. The salesman would not meet me and I was told he was not on site even though his car was there and I saw him in the bar. Four times I phoned and was told he would call me back and of course he didn't.Three weeks later our van was finally in place after I complained to the head office.We were also told that we would get a gas bottle with the van and we ended up having to buy one as the office said they didn't know anything about this. We finally sold the van recently and went through a very similar process. I was told the paper work would be sent to me, waited and waited but nothing. Phoned three times and three times was promised it was on the way but it never arrived. The buyer arranged to pick up the van and when he arrived it was still not ready. Site is staffed by teenagers who try hard but are not very good at it. There are huge queues at the bar and in the restaurant as it is often young staff working on their own. Toilets are filthy, floors covered in food scraps and outside bins are overflowing and litter left to blow around the site.

i have two toddlers and an 11 year old son. We also have friends with children the same age who came with us on our holiday to southerness last may. The park was small and friendly, very clean and surrounding area very scenic. Night time entertainment was great for the toddlers and my older son and friend spent their evenings in the arcade. this is a quieter park and you do need a car, the mobile farm was fab for all ages, the ice cream factory more suited to older children, however these are quite a car ride away, but we didnt mind theres some lovely scenery. We are going back this april i know my two little girls will like it even more this year with being a little bit older, i wouldnt take an older child without a friend or sibling to keep them compamy as they may get a little bored on their own. Beach is lovely and only five minutes away, a big hit with all my kids, hope the weather is as nice this year as last year.

Parkdean Southerness 30 August 2010 for four nights.

Booked through the Sun. Upgraded to "Annan" caravan for £120 extra. Total cost of break £162. Caravan on Cumbria View with close proximity to beach and seafront.

Location is 14 miles south of Dumfries on the pretty Solway Coast road, the A710. Weather was excellent for party of four, grandparent, two parents and one eight year old.

Caravan was two years old, fully heated and in good condition. It was surface clean with a little dust behind the TV,under the sink etc. Bed linen provided but beds not made up. Combination of privately owned and Parkdean caravans means there are lots of options - two beds, three beds, decking etc.

Check-in was quick and easy and staff are helpful. Decent Costcutter shop and launderette on site. Entertainment complex in centre has small pool, arcade, pub and venue for cabaret etc. Kids' entertainment not bad. Sampled once - eight year old was a bit "too cool for school" really but younger kids would love it. Pool and changing facilities need to be enlarged to give this park an extra star.

Area is remote with just another park next door and just a pub or two, shop, take-away in Southerness. Long round trip to Dalbeattie or Dumfries if you need anything. Mabie Farm Park is good for kids, with quad bikes, boats, bouncy castles, slides and animals to feed. Bit pricey though. Family of three adults and one child costs £20. Basically that's £5 for the child to play and £15 for adults to sit and watch!

Eating out in the vicinity is expensive. Cafe in Dumfries, with similar food on A710 on way back from Dalbeattie runs out around £9 per head for average pub meal which would sell for around £5 in England. Little competition up there, hence higher prices.

Overall, good value although a little quiet for families with older kids, both on and off the park. If you'd like a place where you won't be disturbed by noisy drinkers returning to their vans at 2am, Southerness would be a decent choice.

overpriced at 165 pounds approx for 2 nights ( 2 adults and 2 kids)in a crappy caravan, there was no water for about 2 hours, when it did come on it was white and cloudy for about 24 hours, so NOT good value for money.

entertainmant team were great, but even in the cabaret bar theres a cynical ploy to get more money from us, as at the end they say ok kids 1 pound each for the raffle for the toys, then as only 1 wins it, ok kids you can buy the prizes.. yeah yeah greedy monkeys, then...... they have someone going round the tables selling the goods, as in a theatre or the old ice cream vendor in the cineam glad to leave the place!

Southerness is FAB...... we had a great Holiday the entertainment both day and night is great.....i will definately be returning......

Pool had 2 life guards and they were excellent.... very patient with the kids....... i recommend this holiday to all.... thanks all for making our stay so memorable..

a little late but we were at southerness early june for a week it was fantastic! weather was gorgeous, entertainment was great for kids at night, staff were great!!! would definately recommend this holiday for any family, will be visiting again

Southerness holiday village...What can we say? We have just spent a week there and absolutely loved every minute of it. The food in the restaurant was top notch, the kids entertainment was amazing, the Allstars made us feel very welcome as did the bar staff. They were so helpful, keep up the good work guys we shall see you in September.

we spent a week at southerness holiday park, although the weather wasn't brilliant we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The caravan was very spacious, a little drafty but comfortable. We enjoyed the peacefulness of it all, the walks along the beach, to the lighthouse, doing a bit of rockpooling and just chilling out. You do need a car, there are plenty of places to visit. I think the shop and facillities could open earlier, for people like us who are early risers.

just spent a week at Southerness holiday village we wont forget in a hurry.the wind blew all week, mostly inside our caravan,somtimes convinced the windows were actually open.frozen all week.combine all the play areas together then you have at least enough to entertain 20 kids,4 of them being mine,the nearest one was about a 3 mins walk from our van.

The swimming pool is tiny and has to be booked days in advance for a 45 min session,2 life gaurds.

The kids entertainment was great and full marks to the team,

The bar and resturant are very understaffed,overheared many customers complaining about waiting 30,40,50 mins for food.

The beach is a dump,the photo they use in there ad is not the beach outside the camp,but over a mile away further up the estuary.The road to the beach is a disgrace and as you approach the beach you will pass many things i.e dumped cars,quilts microwaves and various other items that dont fit in your normal size bin.

Southerness, Southerness holiday village - Toilet Blocks always nice and clean. Plenty room for all tents. Good value for money.

Found this one of the cleanest sites that we have been to. The staff are all helpful and we enjoyed our stay.