Galloway Forest Park in the South West of Scotland was named last week as the first Dark Sky Park in the United Kingdom. The prestigious award, announced by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), confirms Galloway as being one of the best places for stargazing in the world. It has long been a favourite destination for astronomists and amateur stargazers thanks to the limited number of buildings within the forest park’s boundary ensuring light pollution is kept to a minimum.
Hidden away in the South West of Scotland, Galloway Forest Park was established in 1947 and is the largest of its kind in the UK, covering 300 square miles. The Forest Park is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland and welcomes around 850,000 visitors each year.
