Dark Sky Observatory finds new home after blaze

A new home has been found for the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory (SDSO) which was destroyed by fire more than three years ago.

A deal has been reached to buy the former Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) visitor centre at Clatteringshaws near New Galloway.

The SDSO's board of trustees said poor accessibility, lack of utilities and security concerns had ruled out a return to their old location near Dalmellington.

Chairman Marc Charron said they were "absolutely thrilled" to have secured such a "wonderful site".

The old observatory was destroyed in a "devastating fire" on 23 June 2021.

Since then trustees said they had been "working tirelessly" to bring it back to life and explored a number of options across East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

They said they kept getting "drawn back" to Clatteringshaws Loch as the most suitable area for stargazing.

They have now completed the purchase of the old visitor centre - backed by £200,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).

The new £1.5m observatory on the site will be made up of two observing domes - each with a large telescope.

It will also include a 360 degree planetarium as well as a gift shop and small cafe.

Mr Charron thanked all the groups who had supported the plans.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have secured the purchase of such a wonderful site on which to create a new astronomical observatory," he said.

"We are determined to create an outstanding facility that will enthuse and inspire people for generations to come in the wonders to behold in a truly dark night sky."

The SDSO said it had been a "long process" but at no point had it ever crossed its mind to "throw in the towel".

It added that achieving full settlement on its insurance claim on the old building had taken longer than expected but once it had been completed it had turned its attention immediately to finding a new and better-suited site.

The group added that the "greatest improvement" would be overall visitor and vehicle accessibility.

It said the development - which should take about two years to complete - had "great potential" to have a wide range of community and economic benefits.

The Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Prof Catherine Heymans, is set to become the SDSO's patron.

She said: "In Scotland we're incredibly proud of our internationally-recognised dark sky sites, far from the streetlights that prevent urban-dwellers from seeing the true beauty of the cosmos.

"When the clouds clear at Clatteringshaws Loch, deep within the Galloway Forest, the sky is literally teeming with stars.

"It's the perfect location for the new SDSO, which, like a phoenix, is rising from the ashes of its much-loved predecessor, renewed as a bigger and better version of what came before."

SOSE's interim place and enterprise director Anthony Daye said it was happy to have backed the purchase of the site.

He said developing the observatory would be an example of how the area's natural resources could be used to benefit the region.

John Dougan, FLS's south region manager, added: "The repurposing of the former visitor centre is great news for the area.

"It is a great boost for the observatory team, who we have no doubt will transform the building into a major asset for the Dark Sky Park.”

David Hope-Jones, chief executive of tourism body the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said it was "hugely excited" by the news.

He said it could extend the visitor season to the area and, in turn, benefit the wider community and businesses.