Galloway Dark Skies

Located within the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, we want to encourage our guests to explore and learn about the Dark Skies above us. That is why we have installed a ‘Dark Sky Kit’ within our self catering accommodation, The Coorie.

The kit includes headlamps, with red LED lights, a planisphere, a 2024 month by month star gazing guide, a compass and some flasks and blankets to keep you warm in the night time cold.

In 2009, Galloway Forest Park became one of the first in the world to earn this designation. It was also awarded a Gold Tier Park for its breath-taking and rare stargazing conditions. An International Dark Sky Park is an area committed to protecting dark skies by controlling light pollution. There are now over 100 Dark Sky Places worldwide, all committed to preserving the night sky. Galloway is special due to its remoteness. On a clear night, over 7000 stars and planets are visible with the naked eye, and the bright band of the Milky Way is usually easy to see arching across the sky.

The Freelance Ranger, that's me, Elizabeth Tindal. I create and deliver activities and experiences that I love and can share with you. After dark I become a Biosphere Dark Sky Ranger at the gold standard Galloway Dark Sky Park and get to go out stargazing too.

As Dark Sky Ranger, I now get to share the legend of Orion and lots of other stories with the people who come to experience the night skies for themselves in Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park. On our Dark Sky Tours, we travel through space and time and every night is different. The most common comment people make is “Wow!” Being able to guide people in their exploration of the night sky is a real privilege and seeing their reactions when they see their first shooting star, the moons of Jupiter, or the Milky Way Galaxy arching overhead, is joyous.

Galloway Photography is work of Dave Currie, who is based in Glentrool Village in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. The photography is probably best described as “inspired by nature”. This is a broad remit which encompasses capturing the awesome natural beauty of this area. This could be literally, as a landscape shot of a stunning mountain vista or a wildlife photo of a red squirrel or roaring stag, or figuratively, through the use of close-up or long exposure photography. Living in the only village within Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park, is prime position for night photography as evidenced by some stunning starscapes and astrophotography.

The Galloway Forest Astronomical Society was founded in 1998 as the Wigtownshire Astronomical Society, by Helen Macdonald. We are 'an unincorporated voluntary association'. We exist to provide education and equipment for our members, but also provide lectures and demonstrations to clubs, schools and youth groups throughout Dumfries and Galloway.

Are you fascinated by outer space? Do you love gazing at the stars in the night sky? Have you always wondered what its like to be in space? Do you dream of being an astronaut, or visiting the ISS, even just for a day? Now is your chance! In the Dark Space Planetarium, you can enjoy state-of-the-art custom-made interactive exhibits. You can learn about space exploration, our solar system, and space technology while you play.