Galloway Forest Park: Britains largest Forest Park, covering some 300square miles, walking, cycle routes, wildlife a plenty including red squirrels (Galloway is a Red Squirrel Stronghold site), Otter, Pine Marten, Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Red Deer and even Nightjar. There are three visitors centres - Kirroughtree, Clatteringshaws and Glentrool. Fishing is available at many of the Lochs.
Walking: - 27 waymarked trails ranging from just a mile to over 8 - a gentle stroll round Kirroughtree to a more strenuous hike up the Merrick.
7Stanes: - The 7stanes are seven mountain biking centres spanning the south of Scotland, from the heart of the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway. `Stane` is the Scots word for stone, and at each of the 7stanes locations, you`ll find a stone sculpture reflecting a local myth or legend. The stanes are found out on the trails in the forests, in prominent locations near cycling and walking paths. They’re accessible on foot or by horse as well as by bike, and range in size from one to three metres high and from two to six tons in weight. Two of the 7 are within the GFP.
Kirroughtree - one of the two 7Stanes within the Park and home to some of the best technical singletrack in the country is also a favourite family venue with a wide range of trails, a cafe open throughout the season and a great kids’ play area. The cafe area hosts various events throughout the year - such as craft fairs, Food festival, and exhibitions by local craftspeople.
Great for a Sunday afternoon dog walk followed by a coffee while the kids play!
Glentrool - Our second Stane, unlike the other 7stanes trails in that the whole of the Big Country route is on minor public and forest roads, without any singletrack. With magnificent views of lochs and hills contrasting with sheltered woodlands, and some testing climbs and big descents in the course of its 58km, it’s a challenging but rewarding day out - and the scenery!
This is also the site of Robert the Bruces` first significant victory over the English in April 1307 - when the hid in the hills with no more than 300 men and ambushed 1500 English cavalry on the south side of Loch Trool.
Dark Skies Park: - Are you amongst the 80% of people who have never seen truly dark skies? In November 2009 the Galloway Forest Park was named the first dark skies park outside of the USA , thus acknowledging our skies as some of the best for star gazing in the world! Light pollution is measured on a scale of 0 -25, and you may expect to find a reading of around 8 in the middle of a major city and 25 in a photographers darkroom. Our skies range from 21 - 23.6, which gives us as near to total darkness as you can get given the populations around us.
There are plenty of places suitable for setting up, including the 3 visitors centres and the red deer range, and with over 7000 stars, including the milky way visable with the naked eye, there`s plenty of choices.
According to the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh you don`t even need a telescope - binoculars will do, and we have a Dark Sky box, with all you need on hand, and its free to enjoy! If your really lucky you might even see the Northern Light (we have)
Mull of Galloway & Lighthouse: The farthest south you can go in Scotland, without falling into the sea! Originally built by Robert Stevenson in 1830 at a cost of £9000, the lighthouse was demanned in 1988 and it now operated remotely from Edinburgh. It is open throughout the summer when you can climb the 114 steps up the 26mtr tower - and get a certificate to prove it! The view is breathtaking on a clear day you can see Ireland`s Antrim Hills and the Mountains of Mourne, the Isle of Man and Cumbrian Mountains. The Mull itself is home to guillemot, razorbill, fulmar, shag and kittiwake, a small number of puffin, and many other birds, butterflies, regular sightings of grey seal and porpoise and the occasional dolphin and basking shark.