The Galloway Forest Observatory

Since the Society was founded one objective has been to buy or build an observatory to house our telescopes and permit viewing with the minimum of prior preparation.

As the military presence at West Freught was wound down, an approach was made to acquire a surplus cupola (dome). Although all seemed to go well, red tape once again prevented a move forward. At one stage it was planned to build on Forestry land, but the red tape involved threatened to drown those involved. A site was found on an isolated farm close to Halfway House, and the Society was presented with a mobile home to use as HQ close to the site of the proposed observatory. As work progressed in converting this, we found that the structure was rotten and unsafe, so that plan had to be abandoned.

Finally, with a new member offering a lease of land at Glenamour and a generous Lottery 'Awards for All' grant, a sizeable sliding roof structure has been constructed at Glenamour, and at long last the Society has a home.

The observatory was built from scratch over the winter months 2006/07, mainly by members Steve Robinson, Robin and Richard Bellerby. Alex and Mark Nixon, and help from Mike Alexander and Marian Reeve.