Galloway Forest Park

Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells seen from Craignaw in winter

Galloway Forest Park is a woodland park, operated by the Forestry Commission, principally covering woodland in Kirkcudbrightshire, but stretching into Ayrshire also.

The park, established in 1947, covers around 300 square miles in the north and west of Kirkcudbrightshire, running up to the River Cree, the border with Wigtownshire. It receives over 800,000 visitors each year. The three visitor centres at Glen Trool, Kirroughtree, and Clatteringshaws receive around 150,000 each year.

Much of the Galloway Hills lie within the boundaries of the park and there is good but rough hillwalking and also some rock climbing and ice-climbing within the park. Within or near the boundaries of the park are several well developed mountain bike tracks, forming part of the 7stanes project.

As well as catering for recreation, the park includes economically valuable woodland, producing 500,000 tons of timber per year.

Dark sky

In November 2009 the International Dark-Sky Association conferred Dark Sky Park status on the Galloway Forest Park, the first area in the UK to be so designated.

The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, near Dalmellington in Ayrshire, is within the northern edge of the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park. On the Craigengillan estate, it was partly funded by taxpayers' money and opened in 2012.

Outside links

• Recreation at Galloway Forest Park at the Forestry Commission website
• 'Activity Tourism' from the Countryside Recreation Network
• Information on Hill Walking in the Galloway Hills
• Rock and Ice climbing in the Galloway Hills
• 7 Stanes
• 7 Stanes - Galloway Forest Park