4 Days Stargazing in the South of Scotland

Scott’s View is probably the most famous view in the Borders. It was Sir Walter Scott’s favourite view and takes in the Eildon Hills, the River Tweed and the original site of the Abbey at Melrose.

The extraordinary home of Scottish legend Sir Walter Scott, the man who gave us the historical novel, popularised tartan & rediscovered Scotland’s Crown Jewels.

Traquair is Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited house dating back over 900 years and still lived in as a family home today.

St Mary’s Loch lies right in the heart of the Scottish Borders between Selkirk and Moffat and provides a beautiful setting for a relaxing walk. It is also a great star gazing location.

The Grey Mare’s Tail is a spectacular 60 metre waterfall plunging into the Moffat Valley from the breathtaking Loch Skeen at the top of the falls. You can follow the path alongside the waterfall up to the top of the hill, where you will find spectacular views of Loch Skeen and the peaks of Lochcraig Head, Mid Craig and the summit of White Coomb beyond.

Crawick Multiverse, a spectacular Artland, transformed by globally-renowned landscape artist Charles Jencks. The site, which opened in summer 2015, links the themes of space, astronomy and cosmology. It is a truly inspiring landmark that will appeal to everyone whether you love art, science or the great outdoors.

If you like delving deep into history, soaking up the finest culture, exploring beautiful countryside – or adrenaline-fuelled mountain biking – you’ll love a day at Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate. From activities for kids to salmon fishing, you’ll find a raft of activity awaiting you. The Castle has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers and from your very first glance you’ll know you’re entering a special place. Special enough, in fact, that the producers of Outlander used the Castle for filming during Season Two! Please check opening times ahead of your visit, for much of the year, castle visits must be booked in advance.

Nestled in the Moffat hills, Moffat was Europe’s first Dark Sky Town and on a clear night the skies here are simply spectacular. The town has put in special street lighting to reduce light pollution and preserve the clarity of night sky.

Are you fascinated by outer space? Do you love gazing at the stars in the night sky? Have you always wondered what it’s like to be in space? Do you dream of being an astronaut, or visiting the ISS, even just for a day? Now is your chance! In the Dark Space Planetarium, you can enjoy state-of-the-art custom-made interactive exhibits. You can learn about space exploration, our solar system, and space technology while you play.

Dark Art Distillery, is a new premium gin distillery based in the picturesque town of Kirkcudbright. The Distillery is Scotland’s most southerly distillery!

Visit our nationally important art collection and learn the story of the Kirkcudbright ‘Art Colony’ through an audio-visual show “The Artists’ Town” and a permanent display of some of the best Kirkcudbright paintings in our collection.

The Whithorn Trust runs the exhibition and museum detailing the town’s 1600 years of Christian history. Coffee and gift shop with locally sourced products.

Nestled on the edge of Newton Stewart, Crafty Distillery is a modern grain to glass distillery pumps out gallons of multi award winning tasty stuff and delivers panoramic views over the Galloway Hills. Here you can learn about their unique distilling approach and enjoy a taste of their award winning spirits.

The Galloway Forest Park has everything you need for a great day out, whatever the time of year. Meet red deer and wild goats, choose from two scenic Forest Drives, follow in the footsteps of Robert the Bruce or picnic beside a peaceful loch. This is also Scotland’s first Dark Sky Park – one of the best places to stargaze in Europe!