Galloway and Southern Ayrshire was designated a UNESCO Biosphere in 2012. This title, awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, recognises the fact that southwest Scotland is a world class environment for people and nature.

The GSA Biosphere is a global leader in sustainable tourism and one of thirteen designations on Scotland’s UNESCO Trail – a unique journey through the best of the nation’s visitor offering that connects Scotland’s Biospheres with World Heritage Sites, Creative Cities and our Global Geopark.

Encouraging slow tourism and the principle of ‘Leave No Trace’, Biosphere Communities provide a warm welcome to visitors from home and abroad, sharing their rural heritage and dynamic cultural scene. Galloway and Southern Ayrshire’s unique landscapes are home to some of Scotland’s most iconic wildlife and have provided the backdrop to singular moments in the nation’s history, from St Ninian to Robert Burns.

For modern day visitors, businesses awarded the Biosphere Certification Mark for sustainability supply some of the region’s finest food and drink, outdoor activities and local arts and crafts. Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere is also home to a Gold-Tier Dark Sky Park: a year-round opportunity to enjoy science, legend and myth, with stargazing above and a precious nocturnal ecology below.

Trained Biosphere Guides are available to help visitors explore and connect, while themed Biosphere Experiences take a closer look at what makes this such a special and inspiring place.

For those planning a self-guided tour, a selection of routes and itineraries downloadable from www.gsabiosphere.org.uk can provide some ideas.