Sauna under the stars as new festival celebrates South of Scotland’s dark skies
The first South of Scotland Dark Sky Festival gets under way this evening, with more than 50 events across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
From stargazing and live music to whisky tasting in the dark, the ten-day event celebrates the region’s low levels of light pollution, which make it easier to see the stars.
It gets underway with a free talk from dark-sky expert Duncan Wise about the benefits of protecting our nightscape at Southdean Villag Hall, near Hawick, at 6.30pm tonight (Friday).
The event has been organised by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Partnership to mark the start of the region’s five-month Dark Sky Season.
David Hope-Jones, chief executive of the SSDA, said: “More than 50 events in the festival's first year is a brilliant response from businesses and communities across the South of Scotland.
“Our dark skies are among the best in Europe, and they're right on our doorstep.
“Whether it's a whisky tasting, live music or a sauna on a cold night, I'd encourage people to come out this month and enjoy them.”
Among the events on offer is Whisky in the Dark at Moffat Distillery, where visitors can taste the distillery’s new Dark Sky Festival whisky without the distraction of sight.
In the Scottish Borders, Cedar Hus Sauna and Stars at Monteviot House near Jedburgh combines a sauna session with views of the night sky. Visitors can also take part in stargazing at Monteath Mausoleum.
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The festival also features arts and crafts inspired by the night sky and natural darkness. Special craft sessions will take place at Dalbeattie Wood, while Smail’s Printing Works in Innerleithen has teamed up with Heriot-Watt University for a video and light installation celebrating the nocturnal European eel.
Other events include dusk red deer safaris at Gledpark near Kirkcudbright, evening openings at Moffat Community Observatory and a stargazing evening at Kailzie Estate near Peebles with the Tweeddale Astronomical Society.
Several events are free, including an astronomy night at Dumfries Museum.
The festival celebrates the region’s exceptionally dark skies, including those above Galloway Forest Park, which became one of the first places in the world to be named a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park in 2009.
Full event listings and booking details are available here.
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