Galloway is already reknowned for its abundance of natural beauty, wildlife, world class outdoor activities, peace and quiet but now can add darkness to this impressive list.

Featured on BBC Breakfast programme, the Galloway Forest Park is now officially one of the only places outside North America to have 'dark skies' good enough to clearly see the night skies. This means that astronomers of all levels can study the cosmos without the dreaded light pollution experienced in most parts of the UK, giving Dumfries and Galloway the opportunity to become a 'mecca' for amateur enthusiasts and professional star gazers alike.

It is these unique levels of darkness that makes the Galloway Forest Park worthy of the award and such a spectacular place to look at nature at night as much as during the daytime. Areas of the Park are so remote that on a cloudless night it offers an unrivalled view of the heavens: a rare chance to see shooting stars, satellites, our own solar system and distant galaxies.

Only two other places in the world, one in Pennsylvania, the other in Utah, have been recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association, a US-based organisation that seeks out the darkest corners of the Earth.