New visitor centres open in Galloway

It's home to hundreds of millions of trees and boasts the darkest sky in Europe.

Now Galloway Forest Park is also the focus for more than 4 million pounds of investment to increase tourist numbers.

The third new visitor centre in the park opens this weekend and Katie Hunter's been to take a look:

The first of three new and upgraded visitor centres in the Galloway Forest Park is to open on Saturday.

A £4.5 million investment from Forestry Commission Scotland has helped to modernise two centres at Clatteringshaws and Glentrool and build a new complex at Kirroughtree.

All three visitor centres are using local, Galloway bases catering businesses to provide food and refreshments for their site, something those involved in the project are sure will help to boost the local economy.

The £4.5 million investment in Galloway Forest Park from the Scottish Forestry Commission has been said to show 'commitment' to boosting green tourism within our region.

The money has been invested into upgrading and building three new visitor centres within the park.

The new Kirroughtree visitor centre is due to open for the first time on Saturday.

The new tourism developments have been welcomed by Paul Wheelhouse, Environment & Climate Change Minister:

A new, state-of-the-art visitor centre is to open in Galloway Forest Park on Saturday.

£4.5 million has been invested by Forestry Commission Scotland to create and update three sites, including a new complex at Kirroughtree, a modernised centre at Clatteringshaws and an upgraded centre at Glentrool.

The new centre at Kirroughtree will be opened for the first time at 10am on Saturday.

All three visitor centres have Galloway based catering businesses providing food and refreshments.

The Kirroughtree complex aims to be very user friendly for those exploring the forests or just wanting somewhere for a bite to eat and a coffee.

For walkers or mountain bikers, there will be new showers, changing rooms, bike washes and an open space modern café.

Tourism in Galloway Forest Park is set for a boost with the opening of state-of-the-art visitor centres.

Forestry Commission Scotland has invested £4.5 million to create a brand new complex at Kirroughtree including a totally modernised centre at Clatteringshaws and an upgraded centre at Glentrool.

Local businesses are working with the Commission to provide services within the centres.

Kirroughtree visitor centre opens its doors for the first time on Saturday 7 December at 10am.