Galloway Forest Park: The UK's First Dark Sky Park
Southern Scotland, Scotland
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Galloway Stargazer
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300
XP
1 day
Galloway Forest Park: The UK's First Dark Sky Park
300 XP
In November 2009 Galloway Forest Park became the first area in the UK designated a Dark Sky Park. Under those skies the Merrick rises to 843m, the highest hill in the Southern Uplands, wild goats graze beside the Queen's Way and Bruce's Stone above Loch Trool marks Robert the Bruce's victory of 1307.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Stargaze in Galloway Forest Park, which in November 2009 became the first area in the UK designated a Dark Sky Park, 774 square kilometres of forest and hill
2
of 4
Climb the Merrick (843m), the highest hill in the Southern Uplands
3
of 4
Look for the wild goats at the Wild Goat Park on the Queen's Way (A712) between Newton Stewart and New Galloway
4
of 4
Walk to Bruce's Stone above Loch Trool, marking Robert the Bruce's 1307 victory
Stargaze in Galloway Forest Park, which in November 2009 became the first area in the UK designated a Dark Sky Park, 774 square kilometres of forest and hill
Climb the Merrick (843m), the highest hill in the Southern Uplands
Look for the wild goats at the Wild Goat Park on the Queen's Way (A712) between Newton Stewart and New Galloway
Walk to Bruce's Stone above Loch Trool, marking Robert the Bruce's 1307 victory
Before you go
The long nights from October to March give the darkest skies.
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About Southern Scotland
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Potential total
300 XP
Stop 3 of 4 · Wigtown and the Galloway Forest
Galloway and the Ayrshire Coast from Cairnryan
6 nights · 8 things to do · Scotland, Southern Scotland
Six nights in a loop from Cairnryan: the Mull of Galloway, Kirkcudbright's painters and Threave's island castle, Wigtown's books and the Galloway Forest's dark skies, then Culzean and Burns's Alloway.
Stop 5 of 6 · Glen Trool and Bruce’s Stone
The SW300: The Rhins of Galloway, Culzean and the Galloway Forest
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Follow in the footsteps of Gemma and Campbell on the part of the SW300 they know best: nine nights down the Rhins of Galloway, up to Culzean on the Ayrshire coast, then inland to Loch Doon and the Galloway Forest.
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