GALLOWAY is now the front-runner to become Scotland’s next national park, the Scottish government announced today.

The creation of a third national park formed part of the then SNP-Green Scottish government’s coalition agreement and as the process began in February, five areas stepped forward to vie for the status — Tay Forest, Loch Awe, Lochaber, Galloway and the Borders.

On a visit to the area, SNP Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced that Galloway beat the competition to become the proposed site and a consultation on details such as boundaries will be launched and led by government agency NatureScot with its conclusions expected by April 2025.