Galloway Forest Park in the South West of Scotland has been named this 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 United Kingdom covering 300 square miles. The Forest Park is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland and welcomes around 850,000 visitors each year. It sits in the heart of Galloway and has some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the South of Scotland.
The Dark Sky Park award marks the culmination of efforts to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
Part of the selection process involved giving a rating via a sky quality meter, which measures the darkness of the sky overhead. The higher the sky quality meter reading the better, with the darkest reading, such as would be recorded in a photographer’s dark room, of 24. Galloway Forest Park was rated 23 on the scale, giving it a gold tier Dark Sky Park award status – the highest achievable and the best condition for viewing distant galaxies.
WHERE TO STAY
Craiglemine Cottage & Galloway Astronomy Centre
Glasserton, Nr Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway, DG8 8NE
01988 500594
www.gallowayastro.com
£28 per person per night (double)
The Centre is located in open farmland with a night sky free of light pollution. A primary aim of the Centre is to provide lots of help and guidance to ensure all guests get maximum enjoyment out of a visit. If you are just getting interested in astronomy a visit to the Centre can give you a great start in the hobby.
The spacious residents lounge & dining room is a perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing with the cast iron stove in the stone fireplace providing a cosy warmth for the winter evenings. The Reception Area has a collection of astronomy books to help prepare for a night of observing during which hot drinks are provided. The room has red lighting to help maintain night vision and home cooked evening meals are available on request. Owner Mike Alexander has over 37 years experience of astronomy and offers a variety of short courses to guests. See website for details.
Visit www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite for more winter white activities and accommodation deals from 3 night breaks for £99 per person; 3 nights for the price of 2 as well as other money saving incentives.
Martin Morgan-Taylor, UK board member for the International Dark Sky Association said:
“Galloway Forest Park is a fantastic asset in the now international network of Dark Sky Parks. A core aim in creating such a park is to identify and honour protected public lands with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky restoration and preservation.
“Galloway Forest Park is ideally situated for access from Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Belfast and northern England meaning that many people, including children, may have access to a quality night sky, both now and in generations to come. Such skies are rapidly disappearing and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live.”
Until now, there have been only three other Dark Sky Parks in the world – the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, the Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania and the Geauga Park in Ohio.
For more Winter White activities log on to: www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=761b7396-f5aa-433f-9520-d20651f5284c)
