Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is full of outdoor adventures, geological wonders and fascinating history. Stone Age people, Roman soldiers, Viking settlers, and the earliest Christian community in Scotland have all called this area home. 

At the heart of the biosphere, you’ll find rivers flowing out of the Galloway Hills and through the  Galloway Forest Park. This spot is also world-renowned for its spectacular dark skies, so head out afterhours to see the night sky light up with bright stars and constellations. 

Train 

Trains run regularly from Glasgow to Ayr, and onto Barrhill in South Ayrshire. From Ayr, some trains continue along the coast to Girvan and Stranraer. Trains run in the east of Dumfries & Galloway from Carlisle or Glasgow through Gretna Green, Annan, Dumfries, Sanquhar and Kirkconnell. A direct service to Lockerbie from Glasgow and Edinburgh is also available. 

Plan your travel with ScotRail 

Bike

To experience the biosphere on two wheels, try Biosphere Bikes in Girvan. Holder of the Biosphere Certification Mark, this sustainable social enterprise offers regular and e-bikes for hire, including a range of accessible bikes. Find out more about cycling in the biosphere. 

Car 

Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire have a great network of roads, which makes it easy to get around the region. Most are quiet and peaceful, so you can enjoy stress-free country driving between the towns and villages. 

Learn more about driving in Scotland 

Plane 

Carlisle Lake District airport operates direct flights from London, Belfast and Dublin, providing easy access to south Scotland. Fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow airports from across the UK and Europe, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin and Amsterdam. 

Find more communities within the biosphere to stay in and explore.