Dark Skies Galloway Park

ChristineHope

Guest
Hi everyone!

My first time on the site and already looking for advice! ;-)

Heading to the Galloway Forest Park (dark skies) at the end of the month and looking to wild camp in the forest - either by our wee old motorhome or by tent.

Has anyone been before and if so, what are my options?

Thanks folks ! Christine. :)
 
We were there last week and sopped at The Wood of Cree in the RSPB car park, nice spot but a bit midgy. Plenty of wilding spots on the POI database so I would look there.

Drew
 
You'll need to join up to get the files, but it is well worth it.

Drew
 
Bruces Stone

You'll need to join up to get the files, but it is well worth it.

Drew

We stayed at Bruce's Stone at Easter, you follow signs into the Park for Bruce's stone, then the road splits,left for the car park, and right for where we stayed, a lovely spot right by the loch, really nice, the skies were amazing! Hope you enjoy your trip. do report back
 
Clatteringshaws

Hi everyone!

My first time on the site and already looking for advice! ;-)

Heading to the Galloway Forest Park (dark skies) at the end of the month and looking to wild camp in the forest - either by our wee old motorhome or by tent.

Has anyone been before and if so, what are my options?

Thanks folks ! Christine. :)


hi Christine,
We overnighted at the Forestry Car park a few weeks ago at the west end of the Raiders Road just down from Clatteringshaws loch. Avon Skin so Soft is good protection against the midgies but if there's a breeze they'll stay away.
Kirroughtree is great too for day parking (ticket machine) but has 'no overnight' parking signs now.
Have fun,
Catherine:wave:
 
Greetings

Hi there
Sadly the Dark Skies wont be that dark for you at this time of year, need to head down thru the winter when on a clear night you will be rewarded with an amazing view of the milky way, the only issue can be it gets a tad chilly, ie cold enough to stop your butane gassing up. Think the coldest we had was a sort of measured -14 but the lcd had gone wonky too! At this time of year however late nights mean its not really dark enough for a good show and instead its death by midgey! even diving in the pool by the wee falls at stinchar bridge only offer brief respite!
Our parking spot of choice is the car park at stinchar bridge.
Take care and have fun
 
Raiders Road

Those midges can spoil a nice day. They're particularly bad on cloudy days with low wind. Skin so soft and Jungle Formula are the most effective, but the little blighters will find any gap you left on your exposed skin. They don't like smoke, so having a smokey BBQ going - with the wind drifting the smoke over you - will make sitting outside less of a torture. (If you try this, find some dry moss and put that on the BBQ too; that's particularly effective)

The car park at the end of the Raiders Road that someone mentioned is quite a good spot. If your van isn't too big, you could drive about 5 miles along the Raiders Road until you get to the Otter Pool. Lovely spot that even has toilets. There's also a single track road opposite that end of Raiders Road that takes you over a bridge and round the side of Clatteringshaws Loch. There are several places you can overnight there and no-one will bother you. Perfect for the starry nights later in the year, because there are no trees.
 

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