Children playing outdoors on a wooden deck in front of a modern building with large glass windows, surrounded by leafless trees and outdoor play equipment, under clear blue skies.

Land Ahoy

Land Ahoy is our brand-new indoor / outdoor forest nursery, thoughtfully designed for preschool children 3–5 years, after-school care & holiday club. Opened in April 2025, Land Ahoy is located just a short drive from our original nursery, set within a spacious forest environment near Mossend House, Dalskairth.

Our unique setting inspires adventure-led learning, where children are encouraged to explore their environment, grow and build confidence every day. Guided by skilled practitioners, children learn through play in an environment where GIRFEC and SHANARRI underpin everything we do to ensure wellbeing, safety and inclusion.

Please click here for information on our Afterschool care.

Please click here for information on our Holiday club.

Children aged 3-5 years (ELC)

Children and an adult sitting on wooden stumps under a wooden roof outdoors, with natural scenery in the background. A table in the foreground displays natural objects like rocks, sticks, and pinecones.

Our Space

Our site is designed to blend the best of outdoor learning with thoughtful indoor spaces to support every child:

Outdoor Play Space - A dynamic natural environment where flowing water, woodland, climbing, vegetable garden, art and forest school-led experiences build confidence, creativity and independence.
Indoor Classroom (cloakroom, kitchen, utility room & toilets)
Outdoor toilet block
Arts and Crafts Pod - A bright, inspiring space for creativity, messy play and imaginative projects.
Sensory Pod - A calm haven for moments of quiet, reflection and sensory exploration.

Please note: Our outdoor nursery generally follows a 1:6 adult-to-child ratio to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

Outdoor Play

At Land Ahoy, each day presents children with opportunities to take risks, make decisions and explore creatively within a real natural environment. At the centre of our setting flows the water rill, a manufactured stream gently cascading over stones to form shallow pools before returning to the top via a pump. The rill forms part of a carefully designed ecological system, with wetland plants and a willow copse that naturally filters and absorbs water.

The children climb recycled beech tree limbs, navigate the climbing wall and hillside slope or balance on rope structures. Within the nursery grounds, we also enjoy a garden patch which allows children to plant, nurture, and witness growth first hand. Our children also love our mud kitchen where they use natural materials including flowers, herbs, sticks and leaves in their inventive play.

Beyond the nursery, the path through the fairy wood leads children into a magical woodland where rope structures, natural wooden bridges and tunnels encourage imaginative and risky play.

Our team ensures that children are dressed appropriately for all types of weather and cosy spaces are available when needed for rest or indoor activities.

Get In Touch

Three kids playing near a small artificial pond in a park, one of them using a small water pipe to fill a container, with a lush green landscape and wooden fencing in the background.

Why Choose Us?

An Outdoor Learning Adventure - Children thrive outdoors when developing physical skills, confidence and a deep connection with the natural world.
Thoughtfully Designed Spaces - We are the first indoor/outdoor forest nursery in Dumfries and Galloway! We have curated all of our areas with innovative practices in mind that support imaginative play, sensory exploration and building resilience.
Experienced & Caring Team - Our passionate staff are trained to nurture each child’s development and foster a love of learning in a safe, supportive environment.
Focus on Early Years Curriculum - Our activities and environment are guided by The Curriculum for Excellence helping children build strong foundations for their next steps in learning.
Daily Updates for Parents - We use the Famly app to keep you connected to your child's day. We provide real-time updates on sleep, meals, activities and more.

Meals and Nutrition

We believe that nourishing meals are key to happy, energetic learners! At Land Ahoy, our cook provides freshly prepared lunches, dinners and healthy snacks each day to keep your children fuelled for outdoor fun and learning.

All our meals and meal-time practice strictly follow the government guidance, Setting the Table.

Check out our menus here.

Next Steps

We would love to welcome you and your child/children to Land Ahoy! If you are interested to find out more, you can:

Email us now at info@kidsahoy.co.uk

Arrange a visit to tour the site and meet our friendly team through our enquiry form.
Call us on 01387 279300 for more information.

Other services at Land Ahoy

A girl crouching near a metal fence, holding a small gardening tool, tending to plants or soil outside. There is a bag of soil or mulch nearby.

Children walking on a forest trail surrounded by dense green foliage and trees.

Our After School Club offers a relaxed, welcoming space where children can unwind, play and socialise after a busy school day. Set within our forest environment, at Land Ahoy nursery, children enjoy a balance of outdoor adventure and cosy indoor activities in our dedicated After School Hut.

After School Club

Six children standing at a counter in a wooden room, looking out the window. Some are holding objects. There is a tile floor with a black and white patterned rug. Outside the window, a black van and greenery are visible. Wall-mounted fire extinguishers and a paper towel dispenser are on the wall.

Our Holiday Club offers children aged 3–12 an exciting and flexible holiday experience within our inspiring Land Ahoy nursery. With forest adventures, themed activities and local outings, every day is designed to be fun, engaging and full of variety so our children can make the most of their holidays.

Holiday Club

To support families travelling to Land Ahoy, we currently offer a limited nursery bus service from Halfords at St Michael Street Bridge. However, wherever possible, we encourage families to drive directly to the nursery, allowing children to enjoy a smoother transition into their day and giving parents the opportunity to connect with staff at drop-off and collection times.
Our nursery buses run at scheduled times throughout the day and spaces are limited. Bus spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to enquire about availability, please contact our team directly.
We recommend comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that allows children to move freely and enjoy messy or outdoor play.
You can view our suggested kit list here for full details.
Healthy, balanced nutrition is an important part of children’s wellbeing and development. At Kids Ahoy and Land Ahoy, all snacks, lunches and light teas are freshly prepared by our nursery cook, following the Scottish Government’s Setting the Table guidance. We also take inspiration from trusted healthy food approaches, including Annabel Karmel, when creating nutritious and child-friendly meals.
We work closely with families to support individual dietary requirements and can provide alternatives for children who require dairy-free, gluten-free or other specific dietary needs.

A young boy in a puffy coat and rain boots stands on wet ground near a large rock, holding a plastic container and looking down. In the background, a girl on a small rope bridge is playing in an outdoor play area with wooden structures, tires, and a mural of a rainbow on a building.

Find us

Our outdoor nursery is based at Mossend, just a short drive from Dumfries town centre. Nestled in a peaceful rural setting, Land Ahoy offers children the space and freedom to explore, discover and learn in nature.

Use the map to see exactly where we are located — we can’t wait to welcome you!