Galloway and Southern Ayrshire on National Geographic 'cool list'

The area first secured biosphere status in 2012

A slice of south-west Scotland has been named on National Geographic's "cool list" of destinations for 2024.

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere (GSAB) joins the likes of New York State, the Atacama Desert and the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is the only Scottish location to make the list of global destinations.

National Geographic highlighted the "windswept slopes to dense forests threaded with streams" which visitors could enjoy.

The list recognises the "most exciting destinations" around the world

The list includes 30 different destinations from around the world.

The GSAB was Scotland's first Unesco biosphere and recently extended its boundary to almost double in size.

The corner of south-west Scotland has been recognised for its "world-class environment for people and nature"

Melanie Allen, who chairs its partnership board, said the board was "thrilled" with the news and it was "fantastic recognition for the area".

"With its awe-inspiring natural landscapes, fascinating heritage, and culture, we already knew the biosphere was 'cool' and now it's official," she said.

The area is home to a wide range of animals

The list recognises the "most exciting destinations" for travellers across the world for the year.

Other places to feature include the Albanian Alps, Emilia-Romagna in Italy, North Yorkshire and Tartu in Estonia.

The biosphere recently almost doubled in size

The GSAB received its biosphere designation in July 2012 for its "world-class environment for people and nature".

The definition is in recognition of the "fantastic array of landscapes, wildlife, cultural heritage and learning opportunities" in the area.

It is hoped the recognition can attract more people to visit the region

It covers the entire south-west corner of Scotland with the Galloway Forest Park at its centre.

It stretches from Portpatrick in the west to Auldgirth in the east and includes the likes of Newton Stewart, Port William, Dalmellington and Cumnock.

National Geographic highlighted the "windswept slopes" and "dense forests threaded with streams" in the area

What is a biosphere?

The definition is in recognition of the landscape, wildlife, heritage and learning opportunities in an area.

It brings no new rules or regulations - but rather encourages co-operation to create a "better future for people and nature".

The four main functions are conservation, learning, development and helping to tackle climate change.

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire site was the first in Scotland and is part of a family of hundreds of biospheres worldwide.

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