Camping & Caravanning

Virtually on the Scottish and English border, Moat Vale Campsite is a small 12 acre site that lies within the Debatable Lands. The land is divided into four fields. They have a small flock of breeding sheep, laying and meat hens and they grow as many fruits and vegetables as they can. The site is currently growing tatties, onions, beetroot, rhubarb and mutton belly.

Moat Vale Campsite lies with the surrounding landscape of mixed woodland and pastured farmland. The campsite is on flat ground but just a few miles away are the remote, undulating moorlands of the Borders. Visible on the skyline looking north and south are the mountains of the Northern Lake District and Galloway Hills.

While at the campsite you will be able to see the changing of the seasons. You can witness lambing, clipping, hay-making, weeding, harvesting and egg collecting. You can even help out if you want. Guests can walk through their pasture and meadow. You can exercise your dog off of its lead in fields that do not have sheep.

The owners have a relaxed attitude to life in general and they want their guests to feel at home at Moat Vale Campsite. The field has plenty of room for ball games and children can run around the bairns. There is a library with a â??secret garden shed' feeling next to the site's washroom. The library features local leaflets and information as well as reading books and games to borrow for rainy days.

During certain times of the year you can buy farm fresh eggs from the site as well as fresh vegetables and the site's own lamb. It makes for a perfect barbeque on a sunny evening. They grow their vegetables chemical free and they do not use artificial fertilizers on the grass where the sheep graze. They allow their lambs to grow naturally on the grass so they are usually at least a year old before they are ready to be eaten. They have the lambs locally butchered and they think the flavour and tenderness is great.

Moat Vale Campsite is a great place for an over stop for those that are heading further north or further south.

We are a very handy and peaceful overnight stop if you're heading further north from further south, and vice versa. But why not stop a while longer and discover what's going on in the Borders?

* Woodland walks through Netherby Estate

* Hadrians Wall

* The Historical & Wild Debatable Lands of the Scottish Border

* Fishing on the Border Esk and River Liddle (Willow Pool less than a mile away)

* Northern Lake District and the Dumfries and Galloway Coast.

* Historic Carlisle Castle and Museums.

DIRECTIONS:

Take J44, M6 from south or J22, M74 from the north, both to Longtown. On main road through Longtown turn at the Spar / Bush Hotel and take road to Netherby/Penton for 3 miles.

Moat Vale is third house on left after a big dip in the road, immediately after the 30mph sign at Kirkandrews Moat Village sign.