Galloway Forest Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Galloway Forest Park |
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Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells as seen from Craignaw in winter, showing areas of Sitka Spruce plantation.
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A map showing the location of the Galloway Forest Park (in red) in south west Scotland.
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| Location | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Area | 774 km2 (299 sq mi) |
| Established | 1947 |
| Governing body | Forestry and Land Scotland |
| Website | Galloway Forest Park |
Galloway Forest Park is a huge forest area in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. Many people say it is the biggest forest in the whole UK.
In 2009, this park became the first place in the UK to be named a "Dark Sky Park". This means it's a great spot for looking at stars because there's very little light pollution.
The park was created in 1947. It covers about 774 square kilometers (299 square miles). Over 800,000 people visit the park every year. There are three main visitor centers: Glen Trool, Kirroughtree, and Clatteringshaws. These centers welcome around 150,000 visitors annually.
The park is also home to many of the Galloway Hills. You can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and even ice climbing here. For those who love bikes, there are special mountain bike trails. These trails are part of the famous 7stanes project.
Besides being a fun place to visit, the park is important for its trees. It produces a lot of timber each year. This timber is used for many different things. In 2018, a TV show called "The Forest" on BBC One showed what life is like in the park. It featured the people who work and visit there.
Dark Sky Park Status
In November 2009, Galloway Forest Park got a special award. The International Dark-Sky Association named it a "Dark Sky Park". This was the first time an area in the UK received this honor.
Being a Dark Sky Park means the area has very dark nights. This makes it perfect for stargazing. You can see thousands of stars and even the Milky Way galaxy.
The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is located near Dalmellington. It is right on the northern edge of the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park. The observatory opened in 2012. It was partly funded by the Scottish Government. It helps people learn about space and look at the night sky.
Alexander Murray's Story
The park is also home to some old ruins. These are the remains of the house where Alexander Murray was born. He was the son of a shepherd and a farm worker.
Alexander Murray was amazing because he taught himself many different languages. He became so good that he later became a professor. He taught about languages from the Middle East at the University of Edinburgh.
Not far from his birthplace, high on a hillside, you can find Murray's Monument. This monument was built in 1835 to remember him. It stands as a tribute to his incredible learning journey.
Typhoon Crash Site
On March 18, 1944, a sad event happened in the forest. A 22-year-old Canadian pilot named Kenneth Mitchell crashed his Hawker Typhoon airplane. He died instantly in the crash.
Kenneth Mitchell was training for an important mission. His squadron was preparing to fight against German V-1 flying bombs. These bombs were a big threat during the Second World War.
Sixty-five years after the crash, on March 18, 2009, a special plaque was placed at the crash site. It is on a stone pile called a cairn. You can still see pieces of the aircraft there today. Kenneth Mitchell was buried in Ayr Cemetery, in Ayr.
