The Galloway Forest Park offers visitors 300 square miles of mixed landscape to explore. It offers a wide range of activities including walking, cycling, wildlife, and star gazing. The Galloway Forest Park is the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, hosts two of the famous 7Stanes mountain bike trails and the Merrick - south Scotland’s highest peak.
The variety of activities and events in the Forest Park are supported by three Visitor Centres -
Kirroughtree
Kirroughtree caters for all the family and attracts a range of visitors from experienced mountain bikers, walkers & families, to major events throughout the year.
Clatteringshaws
Offering spectacular views of Clatteringshaws Loch at the heart of the Dark Sky Park. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre is the gateway to the park for many visitors.
Glentrool
The smallest of the Visitor Centres, Glentrool attracts both cyclists and walkers. It is on both the 7Stanes cycle route and the Southern Upland Way, as well as being on route to the footpath to the popular Merrick Hill.
Each Visitor Centre has its own distinct character and appeal, however all three are in need of a well deserved upgrade to meet visitor expectations and requirements.
Visitor Centre Redevelopment Plan
The redevelopment will enable us to deliver key themes in the Scottish Forestry Strategy ‘Galloway Forest Park - A strategy for 2006 and beyond’. This will increase the opportunities for everyone to enjoy visits to the Galloway Forest Park and help communities to benefit from the forest.
Over 2012 and 2013 the Forestry Commission will be working hard to deliver these improvements to all three centres as follows:
Kirroughtree as the busiest and oldest of the Visitor Centres, is to have a brand new purpose built centre constructed to house all facilities including new catering and bike shop. The existing Visitor Centre will continue to operate until the new building is complete, which is hoped to be around Autumn/Winter 2013.
Clatteringshaws will see renovation and redevelopment of the existing building which will include the installation of large panoramic windows, allowing visitors to take in breathtaking views across the Loch from the new restaurant area. We hope to complete this work in Spring 2013 with the improved centre being open to the public later the same year.
Glentrool is due a minor refurbishment, building on the work carried out last winter. This work will be minimal and will maintain the current well loved character of the centre. We hope to complete this work in the Spring of 2013.
Whilst upgrade work is taking place, inconvenience will be inevitable. This page has been introduced to keep the public updated on progress and minimise the impact this essential work will have on our visitors. Signage around the main locations will also be kept up to date.
In the mean time, we appreciate your patience and co-operation whilst the works are undertaken.
We hope you agree, that the new and improved buildings will further enhance your visit and make spending time in and around our centres an even more enjoyable experience.
Please check these pages for regular updates as well as our blog http://gallowayvisitorcentres.blogspot.com to see how works are progressing. Or follow us on Twitter @gallowayforest
