Dark skies in Dumfries and Galloway

Galloway Forest Park

International Dark Sky Park, designated by DarkSky International in 2009. The UK's first Dark Sky Park, a vast forest and hill landscape in south-west Scotland.

The park's visitor centres at Clatteringshaws and Glentrool make good bases, and Forestry and Land Scotland lists recommended viewing spots. More details: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies

Moffat

International Dark Sky Community, designated by DarkSky International in 2016. A spa town in Annandale that was Europe's first Dark Sky Town, with street lighting designed to protect the night sky.

Walk a few minutes out of town into the hills for the best views. More details: https://darksky.org/

When to go

• September to March gives long, dark nights; in June the sky never gets fully dark across much of the UK.
• Go near the new moon: see our moon calendar.
• Time a visit for a meteor shower, such as the Perseids in August or Geminids in December.

What to bring

• Warm layers, a hat and a flask: it is colder than you think on open ground.
• A red torch to keep your night vision.
• Binoculars: 10×50s show the Moon's craters and Jupiter's moons.
• A sky map app set to red night mode.

Be a good visitor

Park only in proper car parks, keep to paths, close gates and take your litter home. Many sites are working farmland or nature reserves.

Nearby local guides

Our local guides for Glasgow and Carlisle list more sacred sites, shops and dark-sky spots.