With one in three visitors to Scotland making a trip to a forest or woodland park during their stay and 42% visiting a country park or garden, VisitScotland is hoping a new partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland will increase visitors to the country’s leafiest corners.
Produced in partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland, the Spring Adventures in Scotland e-book is packed with information on what to see and do in the country’s six magnificent forest parks this season, including where to take the best photograph.
The online guide gives readers the option of being a ‘trailblazer’ and embracing a whole host of unique experiences, or simply a ‘tranquil traveller’, exploring well-loved trails and forest attractions.
The Guide states: At Galloway Forest Park, stop for a picnic and see an ancient breed of colourful long-haired goats, from the car park on the Queen’s Way. In spring, new-born kids will have just arrived and are utterly adorable! A little further down the road, watch for red deer at the Red Deer Range, and learn more about these majestic creatures with tours during the spring and summer.
Also it goes on to say : For budding stargazers, there are few places better to visit than Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. This huge natural wonderland stretches for 772 km spanning forested glens and lochs, and is thought to be one of the darkest places in Europe. There are three visitor centres offering great views of the night sky, as well as panoramic vantage points at either end of the Carrick Forest Drive, in the north of the park. By day, explore lovely walks and cycle routes, and by night, admire a glittering blanket of stars with the naked eye.
Are you keen to learn more about the Milky Way or impress your friends by pointing out several twinkling constellations? Join the Dark Sky Rangers for special events at Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre, and learn all about the wonders of cosmology from the experts.
On VisitScotland’s social media channels, images of Galloway Forest Park were among the top 3 posts during the spring months of 2016, reaching 234,211 users on Facebook and 78,065 on Twitter, respectively.
Scotland’s Forest Parks are:
- Glenmore Forest Park
- Galloway Forest Park
- Queen Elizabeth Forest Park
- Argyll Forest Park
- Tay Forest Park
- Tweed Valley Forest Park
Laura Stewart, Marketing Manager of Forestry Commission Scotland said:
“As the forests ‘spring’ back into life, now is the perfect time to get out and explore. Whether you’re looking for peace and tranquility or a bit of adventure, Scotland’s six forest parks are bursting with colour, wildlife and great experiences this spring.”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:
“Scotland’s outdoors is a playground for photographers and its picturesque woodlands provide the perfect backdrop during the spring months. We’re delighted to team up with Forestry Commission Scotland to deliver an essential online guide to inspire visitors to get out and about this season and explore our magnificent forests.
“Our global campaign, Spirit of Scotland, showcases the country’s personality, place and people to the world and invites international audiences to sample it themselves. Our online guides, such as Spring Adventures in Scotland, are an important tool in spreading that message to both inform and inspire visitors.”
For more on Spring Adventures in Scotland click HERE
Images copyright R.B Photography
