to Forestry Commission home page
to Scotland home page

Galloway Forest Park


(Average user rating4 unrated 3.9/5)

About Galloway Forest Park

Welcome to the Galloway Forest Park, 300 square miles of mixed landscape - yours to explore!

  • Our Visitor Centres at Kirroughtree, Glentrool and Clatteringshaws are ideal places to start your visit.
  • Check before you go - for details of trail closures, diversions and changes to listed events see the updates page.
  • Visit our new Events Page detailing all events taking place in Galloway Forest Park throughout 2013

Visitor Centres Development Project

Forestry Commission Scotland is currently tendering for businesses to run the catering at all the visitor centres in the Galloway Forest Park.
 
We are hoping to get caterers in at Kirroughtree as soon as possible and at Clatteringshaws and Glentrool once the centres are fully open, hopefuly at the end of July.  
 
In the meantime, if you are visiting Kirroughtree, you can still get light refreshments from the Breakpad bikeshop.
 
We apologise for any inconvenience whilst the construction work to upgrade and build all the centres is carrying on. We promise to keep the website up to date to keep everyone informed of any changes.

Keep up to date with how the project is progressing via the Galloway Visitor Centres Development Project page.

Blog and podcasts

Keep up to date with what's happening in the park through our blog or our monthly podcasts.

Newsletter

To get updates on events in the park, sign up to our newsletter.

Walking

Enjoy a peaceful stroll on one of our woodland trails, or if you fancy something a little more strenuous, head out to the hills and climb the Merrick, south Scotland’s highest peak. 

Details of all of our Forest Park walks are in our out and about guide (PDF 5Mb). With 27 waymarked trails to choose from, there is something for every walker.

Wildlife

Galloway has some of Scotland’s most amazing wildlife - but without the long drive north! Red Squirrels, Otter, Pine Marten, Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Red Deer and even Nightjar. For more details see our wildlife page.

Dark skies

Galloway Forest Park has some of the best dark skies in Europe - ideal for star gazing. There's more information and details of our aim of becoming a Dark Skies park on the Dark skies page.

Fishing 

There are some fantastic lochs and rivers here, all in beautiful surroundings, featuring a variety of fish from Brown Trout to Salmon.

With permits from £6.00 it’s a great way to spend the day. 

Wild camping

Wild camping in the Forest Park is permitted as long as it is done responsibly and in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Canoeing

Looking for a place to canoe? Details at www.canoescotland.org and on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website. 

Mountain biking

Some seriously amazing mountain bike trails are here in Dumfries and Galloway. From beginner to adrenaline seeker, there is something for everyone.  See the 7stanes website for more information.

Jobs and opportunities

We agree, the Galloway Forest Park is a great place to work.  For details of all the Forestry Commission's available jobs see the current vacancies page.

Anything else?

Have we missed anything? Please let us know if there's something you can't find.  Email: galloway@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.

How to get there:

Newton Stewart, New Galloway, Gatehouse of Fleet, and and Dalmellington and Castle Douglas are the nearest towns or villages.


From the South - M6 to Carlisle, A75 to Newton Stewart signposted to Stranraer.

From Glasgow - A77 to Girvan, A714 to Newton Stewart or A77 to Ayr, A713 to New Galloway.

From Edinburgh - A702 to Abington services, M74 to Beattock. A701 to Dumfries. A75 to Newton Stewart.

OS Grid Reference: NX428855
For details of public transport visit http://www.travelinescotland.com

Start your visit from:

Wild Goat Park
Barhill Wood
Red Deer Range
Bennan Wood
Laurieston - Kennick Burn
Cally Woods
Glentrool Visitor Centre
Polmaddy
Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre
Whitefield Loch
Kilsture
Knockman Wood
Camer Wood
Penninghame Pond
High Camer wood
Galloway Forest Drives
Carrick - Loch Doon
Kirroughtree Visitor Centre
Cally Woods
Murray's Birthplace

What's on in Galloway Forest Park

June

  • Meet the Deer in Summer
    Tuesday 18 June 2013
    Thursday 20 June 2013
    Tuesday 25 June 2013
    Thursday 27 June 2013
    Tuesday 2 July 2013 to Thursday 4 July 2013
    Sunday 7 July 2013 to Thursday 11 July 2013
    Sunday 14 July 2013 to Thursday 18 July 2013
    Sunday 21 July 2013 to Thursday 25 July 2013
    Sunday 28 July 2013 to Thursday 1 August 2013
    Sunday 4 August 2013 to Thursday 8 August 2013
    Sunday 11 August 2013 to Thursday 15 August 2013
    Sunday 18 August 2013 to Thursday 22 August 2013
    Sunday 25 August 2013 to Thursday 29 August 2013
  • Nightjars at Night Time
    Wednesday 19 June 2013
    Wednesday 26 June 2013
  • Dragonflies at Knockman Wood
    Friday 28 June 2013

July

  • Meet the Deer in Summer
    Tuesday 18 June 2013
    Thursday 20 June 2013
    Tuesday 25 June 2013
    Thursday 27 June 2013
    Tuesday 2 July 2013 to Thursday 4 July 2013
    Sunday 7 July 2013 to Thursday 11 July 2013
    Sunday 14 July 2013 to Thursday 18 July 2013
    Sunday 21 July 2013 to Thursday 25 July 2013
    Sunday 28 July 2013 to Thursday 1 August 2013
    Sunday 4 August 2013 to Thursday 8 August 2013
    Sunday 11 August 2013 to Thursday 15 August 2013
    Sunday 18 August 2013 to Thursday 22 August 2013
    Sunday 25 August 2013 to Thursday 29 August 2013
  • Woodland Wednesday's
    Wednesday 3 July 2013
    Wednesday 10 July 2013
    Wednesday 17 July 2013
    Wednesday 24 July 2013
    Wednesday 31 July 2013
    Wednesday 7 August 2013
    Wednesday 14 August 2013
  • Fishing Day
    Friday 5 July 2013
    Sunday 28 July 2013
    Saturday 17 August 2013
    Saturday 31 August 2013
    Sunday 8 September 2013
    Sunday 22 September 2013
  • Butterflies and Moths at Knockman
    Friday 26 July 2013

August

  • Meet the Deer in Summer
    Tuesday 18 June 2013
    Thursday 20 June 2013
    Tuesday 25 June 2013
    Thursday 27 June 2013
    Tuesday 2 July 2013 to Thursday 4 July 2013
    Sunday 7 July 2013 to Thursday 11 July 2013
    Sunday 14 July 2013 to Thursday 18 July 2013
    Sunday 21 July 2013 to Thursday 25 July 2013
    Sunday 28 July 2013 to Thursday 1 August 2013
    Sunday 4 August 2013 to Thursday 8 August 2013
    Sunday 11 August 2013 to Thursday 15 August 2013
    Sunday 18 August 2013 to Thursday 22 August 2013
    Sunday 25 August 2013 to Thursday 29 August 2013
  • Woodland Wednesday's
    Wednesday 3 July 2013
    Wednesday 10 July 2013
    Wednesday 17 July 2013
    Wednesday 24 July 2013
    Wednesday 31 July 2013
    Wednesday 7 August 2013
    Wednesday 14 August 2013
  • Fishing Day
    Friday 5 July 2013
    Sunday 28 July 2013
    Saturday 17 August 2013
    Saturday 31 August 2013
    Sunday 8 September 2013
    Sunday 22 September 2013
  • Guided Walk - Cally Woods
    Thursday 1 August 2013
  • Pond dipping at Blairmount
    Friday 9 August 2013
  • Buchan to Caldons Walk
    Friday 30 August 2013
View all events
Test of main GFP banner image

Facilities:

ToiletsParking ChargeInformationEasy AccessVisitor CentreRefreshmentsForest ShopParkingOther Facilities

Activities:

WalkingForest DriveCyclingHorse RidingEducationalFishingWildlife ActivitiesHeritagePicnicView PointArboretumArtsPlay Area

Contact:

Galloway Forest District

01671 402420
e-mail: galloway

User Comments

1 Star 1 Star

12 of s drove up from Penrith to find the Cafe Shut, after four cycling. All the info indicates a Cafe had opened on the 28th March at Kirroughtree .. Inconvenient and rather pathetic

Harry G, 3/May/2013

Updated information on the current catering situation now online

Forestry Commission Response

Two questions - Is it possible to get a 3 day fishing permit which covers all Lochs and rivers within the park? - Does anybody know where we can park the car while we are camping in the park for 2/3 nights as it says no overnight parking? Any advice appreciated Thanks

Anonymous, 29/Mar/2013

Best to contact the district office - 01671 402420 e-mail: galloway@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Forestry Commission Response

Where can I find a list of local campsites. I'm planning my summer Holiday to MTB Galloway

Austen, 24/Mar/2013

Try this link http://www.gallowayforestpark.com/camping-c32.html

Forestry Commission Response
More user comments

Please tell us what you think...


Email addresses will not be shown

Please help us reduce the amount of spam we receive by entering the following characters in upper or lower case without the quotes into the box below: "TDH"