Astronomy for all at The Bothy, Auchencastle

The Bothy, Auchencastle is located in the countryside 2 miles southwest of the Dark Sky Town of Moffat. Guests at The Bothy have enjoyed amazing views of the stars, planets and Milky Way for many years. Very occasionally the Northern Lights are visible, which is a never-forgotten experience.
To celebrate the 2026 South of Scotland Dark Sky Festival, a smart-phone app enabled telescope has been installed at The Bothy, so guests with no astronomy knowledge at all can find planets and constellations. The motion-sensitive lighting around The Bothy can be switched off to improve night-vision, and advanced LED head torches with longer-wave-length settings are provided to enable guests to safely walk around the gardens and up the nearby hill for amazing night skies.

Autumn is mating season for Scottish bats, so these may also be seen around The Bothy at dusk. As the weather gets colder they are less active, so this will be weather dependent.

Whatever the weather, The Bothy is cosy and warm. There is a wood-burning stove, with firewood provided, in addition to the central heating. Guests and their pets can snuggle up on the sofa with plenty of soft blankets and cushions.