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Images taken from Galloway Forest Park - Orion, a stargazer, the Horsehead Nebula and Cygnus

Dark Skies in Galloway Forest Park

The UK’s First Dark Sky Park

Forestry Commission Scotland has established part of Galloway Forest Park as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK. Announced on 16th November 2009 in the International Year of Astronomy, it is a massive achievement for the UK and the south West of Scotland.

 

Where can I view the stars?

Information for businesses

If you are an accommodation provider or business interested in making more of the Dark Sky Park, see our information for businesses page.

Events

For details of events taking place in the Dark Sky Park, see the            Dark Sky Park events page. 

What is a Dark Sky Park?

The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) has set up an award with the aim of reducing light pollution, conserving energy and looking after nature.

Their goals are to: stop the adverse effects of light pollution; Raise awareness about light pollution, its adverse effects, and its solutions; and to educate people about the values of quality outdoor lighting.

Which other countries have Dark Sky Parks?

There are two parks in the United States: Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, the Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania, USA, with a Dark Sky Observatory park at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org/.

Hungary also has a Dark Sky Park. For more info see www.darksky.org.

What have we got that is so special?

1. Land area and development control

The Forest Park has around 75,000 hectares of land, where limited numbers of buildings means we can keep light pollution to a minimum.  In addition, we have some control over development of this land, making it easier to control sources of light.

2. A Sky Quality Meter (SQM) scale reading of 21 to 23.6

The SQM scale is from 0 to 25. You would get a reading of 8 in the middle of a major city such as Glasgow or Edinburgh, whereas a 24 would be measured in a photographer's dark room.  Based on this scale, the Forest Park’s scores range from 21 to 23.6 which gives us as near to total darkness as you can get given the populations around us.

Our application to the International Dark Sky Association (IDA)

Our Dark Skies status was awarded after some 15 months of work pulling together audits, controls and readings from around the forest park. 

The Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park Plan (PDF 7Mb) contains the full details of our application to the IDA.

Where can I view the stars?

View a map of potential viewing sites (PDF 1.2Mb).

The numbers on the map correspond to these locations:

  1. Galloway Red Deer range car park
  2. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre car park
  3. Glentrool Visitor Centre
  4. Bruce’s stone car parks
  5. Caldons woodlands
  6. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre
  7. Loch Braden car park
  8. Loch Doon West end car park
  9. Talnotry
  10. Raiders road west end car park

There are also a number of places where you can see the stars without any problems by stepping out from the car or walking.

All forest roads in the park are accessible by foot, bike or horse, but vehicle access is controlled by permissions. The exceptions are forest drives. Galloway Dark Sky Park has two of them: Raiders road (Bortle reading 2/3) and Carrick (Bortle reading 3). Along these drives there are plenty of opportunities to stop and get out and look up.

Both forest drives will be closed during the winter months (26th October 2012 - Easter 2013) due to operational working.  The west end car park of Raiders road just off the A712 will be open to allow people to go in and experience true darkness.

On the Carrick forest drive, access from the west side on the public road from Stinchar bridge to Loch Braden is still permitted, and access to the end of Loch Doon will also be permitted. The main section of the forest drive between those points will be locked off for vehicles.

On occasion you may find that either/both of the forest drives are completely closed if the operations are deemed to be too close to the viewing areas. 

Please note that it is not permitted to take your vehicle on to forest roads without written permission, with the exception of the forest drives during the open season. This is for the protection of other forest users forest operations and wildlife.

Possible areas to set up telescopes:

  1. Galloway Red Deer range car park
  2. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre car park
  3. Glentrool Visitor Centre
  4. Bruce’s stone car parks
  5. Caldons woodlands
  6. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre
  7. Loch Braden car park
  8. Loch Doon West end car park
  9. Talnotry
  10. Raiders road west end car park

All the sites above are numbered on the viewing sites map (PDF 1.2Mb).

On top of this the Wigtownshire Astronomical Society observatory would welcome visitors. Their website link is below. There are also many locations across the Machars, which is the area of land south of Newton Stewart, with few inhabitants and fewer lights.

What can I see?

With over 7000 visible stars to look at you are spoilt for choice. The Milky Way is clearly visible with the naked eye as are near objects. With observing instruments there is no limit other than the instrument itself.

How do I get there and where can I stay?

Travelling from the south leave the M74 at Gretna and follow signs for Stranraer on the A75. Newton Stewart is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Gretna.

Travelling from Edinburgh and the east: Follow A702 to Abingdon then the M74 south until the Moffat junction and follow the A701 through to Dumfries and then the A75 west.

Travelling from Glasgow Follow the M8, M74, A701, then A75, or use the M77(A) and either turn off at Ayr and take the A713 Dalmellington road or continue on the A77 until Girvan and then take the A714.

We recommend you look at the following websites to assist with your accommodation requirements however, other sites exist and we do not promote or advertise any individual provider:

Where can I get more information?

There’s more information on the sites below:

Back to Galloway Forest Park homepage.