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 ParkBarhill 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
Please tell us what you think...
User Comments