A wilderness paradise to enjoy and explore
Imagine waking up in the comfort of your holiday home, surrounded by peaceful forest, with three hundred square miles of wilderness ready to explore just outside your door. At Galloway Forest Holiday Park, you are not only staying in the heart of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes but also in one of the best places in the world to stargaze.
Whether you are here for walking, cycling, wildlife, history, or simply to escape the everyday, Galloway Forest Holiday Park gives you front-row access to all the beauty and adventure this special part of Scotland has to offer.
A Place To Relax
After a day exploring the forests, lochs, and hills, Galloway Forest Holiday Park provides the perfect setting to unwind. Here you can enjoy the peace of the forest, listen to the breeze in the trees, and watch the sun set behind the hills. And when night falls, you need only look up for one of the most spectacular stargazing experiences in the world. Whether you are staying for a weekend or a longer holiday, Galloway Forest Holiday Park combines comfort with incredible access to nature, making it the ideal destination for families, couples, adventurers, and anyone looking for a true escape in the heart of Scotland.
From Galloway Forest Holiday Park, you can step directly into one of the largest forests in the United Kingdom. Hundreds of miles of waymarked paths crisscross the landscape, offering routes for all ages and abilities. You can enjoy gentle woodland strolls, picnic by quiet rivers, or challenge yourself on longer trails through rugged hills and glens.
A highlight for many visitors is Loch Trool, just a short distance from the park. Here you will find not only stunning scenery but also Bruce’s Stone, a historic monument marking King Robert the Bruce’s victory at the Battle of Trool in 1307. The views from this spot are breathtaking and are an essential stop during your stay at Galloway Forest Holiday Park.
The forest also forms part of the Southern Upland Way, Britain’s first coast-to-coast long-distance path. Starting from your base at the holiday park, you can sample the dramatic stretch from Glentrool to Loch Trool, with the option to explore even further if you are inspired.
If you love cycling, Galloway Forest Holiday Park places you right at the centre of some of the best mountain biking in the world. The forest is home to two of the legendary Seven Stanes biking centres, with one located right here at Glentrool.
From your holiday accommodation, you can set out onto trails designed for every skill level, from beginners and families to expert riders seeking a real challenge. These award-winning routes attract visitors from across the globe, and each centre includes a unique “stane,” a stone sculpture inspired by local legends.
By staying at Galloway Forest Holiday Park, you can spend your days riding world-class trails and your evenings relaxing in comfort, surrounded by the peace of the forest.
One of the greatest highlights of staying at Galloway Forest Holiday Park is the night sky. The park sits within one of only a handful of official Dark Sky Parks in the world, designated by the International Dark Sky Association. With no city lights to spoil the view, the heavens above the forest are dazzlingly clear.
From your base at the holiday park, you can simply step outside and witness a starry sky unlike any you have ever seen before. Thousands more stars are visible than in towns and cities, and on a moonless night the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon in a spectacular arc of light. Every evening brings a new celestial show, making stargazing at Galloway Forest Holiday Park an unforgettable experience.
Nature is all around you at Galloway Forest Holiday Park. The forest is teeming with wildlife, and it is one of the best places in Scotland to see animals in their natural environment. Deer roam freely here, with red, roe, and fallow deer all calling the forest home. Red squirrels dart through the trees, while otters play along the rivers and lochs.
Birdwatchers staying at the holiday park will not be disappointed, with species ranging from black grouse and capercaillie to red kites, hawks, and ospreys. If you are lucky, you may even spot the rare golden eagle or white-tailed eagle soaring above the hills. For an even closer encounter, the Red Deer Range, located between Newton Stewart and Clatteringshaws Loch, is within easy reach of Galloway Forest Holiday Park.
For walkers who want to venture higher, Galloway Forest Holiday Park is the perfect base for tackling the Galloway Hills. The most famous climb is The Merrick, which at two thousand seven hundred and sixty-six feet is the highest peak in the Southern Uplands.
From the park, it is just a short journey to the starting point near Bruce’s Stone. From here, the round trip to the summit and back is around nine miles and offers stunning views across south-west Scotland. On clear days, it is said that you can see as far as Snowdon in north Wales, one hundred and forty-four miles away, the longest line of sight in the British Isles.
Whether you are here for The Merrick or one of the many other hills and ridges in the area, staying at Galloway Forest Holiday Park means you can return from your adventure to comfort and relaxation in the heart of the forest.
If you have any questions, need advice or would like to speak to a member of our team at the Galloway Forest Holiday park, please get in touch, we will be more than happy to help
If you have any questions, need advice or would like to speak to a member of our team at the Galloway Forest Holiday park, please get in touch, we will be more than happy to help
Visit the UK’s first Dark Sky Park! One of only seven gold-tier International Dark Sky Parks in the world and the largest dark sky park in Scotland.
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