Businesses wanted to boost Galloway’s forest tourism

Artists Impression of the new
Kirroughtree Visitor Centre

Forestry Commission Scotland is looking for dynamic entrepreneurs to help run the new £4.5 million visitor services planned for Galloway Forest Park.
Expressions of interest are being sought to help manage the new tourism facilities which include a new visitor complex at Kirroughtree, a totally modernised centre at Clatteringshaws and an upgraded centre at Glentrool.

The whole multi-million investment is part of the Commission’s plan to grow the tourism market in the region. The new and refurbished visitor centres are all due to be up and running by the end of 2013.

The drive to pull in more visitors comes on the back of major tourism projects spearheaded by Forestry Commission Scotland, including the 7stanes mountain bike initiative and Dark Sky Park status.

Keith Muir, Forestry Commission Scotland’s tourism manager for Galloway said:

"A few years ago we recorded about 800,000 visitors were coming to Galloway Forest Park. Since then, the 7stanes biking project, new walking trails and the award of Dark Sky Park status have all boosted numbers. We are currently welcoming over one million visitors a year, making it a key visitor destination which has real potential for business development.

We are very excited about the new investment plans coming to fruition as we have been working on them in the background for a number of years.

We are looking for enthusiastic, dynamic businesses with a good understanding of tourism to join with us and really grow this market in Galloway Forest Park.

There are great opportunities here for local businesses and the wider tourism sector and I recommend all of them get in touch to find out more."

Galloway Forest Park was established in 1947 and is the UK’s largest Forest Park at over 97,000 hectares the equivalent to over 300 square miles. The area is ideally placed for more growth and there is a yet fully untapped market in the North of England, the central belt of Scotland and in Ireland.

Businesses wishing to express an interest and find out more details of the business opportunities on offer should log on to http://www.forestry.gov.uk/gallowaycommercial . All interested parties should register an interest by midday on 18th June 2012.

Brrr it's cold!

Last night saw the thickest frost in the Forest Park so far this winter (can I say winter already?)
There is snow on the hills and ice on the trees and shrubs which is very picturesque.
Here are a couple of pictures taken at Clatteringshaws this mroning just before the rain, then the hailstorm started.

Dark Sky Galloway

The weekends Astro Fest went really well with many enjoying the variety of activities that were led. I have attached some pictures for you to see what the planetarium looks like and one picture on a short talk about comets.

We are already planning for the next Astro Fest which is scheduled for December so not far away at all and it will coincide with a big meteor shower around that time too.

Keep looking at our website and this blog for more information.

Bye for now

Yogi

Flooded path

Just to let you know that the short walk from Clatteringshaws visitor centre to Bruce's Stone is not accessible due to flooding. Clatteringshaws Loch is fuller than we've seen in a long while with the water now right up to the path at the roundhouse.

Bruce's Stone can still be accessed from the Bruce's Stone car park, just along from the visitor centre.

Yogi