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The wild beauty of Britain's largest forest park at three hundred square miles with over 400 miles
of road is waiting to be explored. Experience the Galloway Forest Park
with its host of features, from seashore to mountain tops and its outstanding variety of plants and animals.
In
the Park there is open access for walkers, cyclists (2 of the World famous 7 Stanes mountain bike trails
lie within the Park) and horse riders on all of the forest roads. It presents an ideal opportunity to get
away from road traffic and enjoy the magnificent hill scenery.
Parts of the Park are a birdwatcher's
paradise; Barn Owls and Crossbills are not common elsewhere, but they, Buzzards, the occasional Golden Eagle, and most of
Britain's raptors, can be found in this area.
The Galloway Forest
Park is already reknowed for its abundance of natural beauty, wildlife, world class outdoor
activities, peace and quiet but now can add darkness to this impressive list.
Featured
on BBC Breakfast programme, the Galloway forest park is now officially one of the only places
outside North America to have 'dark skies' good enough to clearly see the night skies. This means that astronomers
of all levels can study the cosmos without the dreaded light pollution experienced in most parts of the UK, giving Dumfies
and Galloway the opportunity to become a 'mecca' for amateur enthusiasts
and professional star gazers alike.
It is these unique levels of darkness that makes the Galloway forest park worthy of the 'Dark Skies' Park award and such a spectacular
place to look at nature at night as much as during the daytime. Areas of the Park are so remote that on a
cloudless night it offers an unrivalled view of the heavens: a rare chance to see shooting stars, satellites,
our own solar system and distant galaxies.
Only two other places in the world, one in Pennsylvania, the other in
Utah, have been recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association, a US-based organisation that seeks
out the darkest corners of the Earth.
Accommodation in Newton
Stewart is plentiful with hotels, bed and breakfast and guest houses to
choose from.
There are many shops in Newton Stewart for provisions
including Cunningham’s Outdoor Centre for clothing and equipment.
The picturesque and friendly market town of Newton
Stewart was founded in the mid 17th Century by William Stewart, youngest
son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. The "New
Town of Stewart" was granted Burgh status by charter from King Charles II allowing
a weekly market and two annual fairs to be held.
Sited on the banks of the River Cree, Newton
Stewart has prospered and may be regarded as the gateway to the Galloway
Hills and the important historical region of the Machars. Indeed it was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St.
Ninian at Whithorn, in 1329, that Robert the Bruce forded the river where the present handsome
bridge stands. Built in 1813 it replaced the old bridge of 1745 which was destroyed by floods in 1806.
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