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Loch Doon Castle

Loch Doon Castle

Loch Doon Castle, Craigmalloch, Ayrshire, KA6 7QE

Best time to visit

Listed in the Galloway Dark Sky Park Leaflet as a publicly accessible location for overnight stargazing.

Loch Doon Castle has been recommended as a great place to stargaze by the local authority, national park, community organisation or property owner. May require payment for access or parking.

Weather forecast

  • 25/08/25

    16° 0%

  • 25/08/25

    14° 62%

Weather forecast for Coran Of Portmark (1.8 miles away) updated 25/08/25 at 16:00.

Local light pollution

Loch Doon Castle is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a dark site location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Loch Doon Castle

Best time to visit

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

The below chart shows when the skies will be at their darkest at this location and therefore the best time to visit. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing. See our dark sky calendar for more details.

Moon phase on Mon 25th Aug

Mon 25th Aug

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 20:58 to 03:43
Dark for 6h 44m
Moon phase on Tue 26th Aug

Tue 26th Aug

Waxing Crescent
8 % illuminated
Dark from 20:55 to 03:45
Dark for 6h 49m
Moon phase on Wed 27th Aug

Wed 27th Aug

Waxing Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 20:52 to 03:48
Dark for 6h 55m
Moon phase on Thu 28th Aug

Thu 28th Aug

Waxing Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 20:49 to 03:50
Dark for 7h 0m
Moon phase on Fri 29th Aug

Fri 29th Aug

Waxing Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 20:46 to 03:52
Dark for 7h 5m
Moon phase on Sat 30th Aug

Sat 30th Aug

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 20:43 to 03:55
Dark for 7h 11m
Moon phase on Sun 31st Aug

Sun 31st Aug

First Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 21:11 to 03:57
Dark for 6h 46m

Find more dates

If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!

Calendar

Events nearby

Display nearby events on a calendar

  • What’s in the night sky in the month ahead

    Thursday 28th August 2025 from 18:30pm to 20:30pm

    Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4EG (29.9 miles away)

    More info

  • A Guide to buying a Telescope

    Thursday 11th September 2025 from 18:00pm to 20:00pm

    Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4EG (29.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Johannes Kepler – Orbital Genius

    Thursday 18th September 2025 from 18:30pm to 19:30pm

    Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4EG (29.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Ayrshire Astronomical Society meeting

    Monday 22nd September 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Kyle Academy, Ayr, KA7 3LR (18.0 miles away)

    More info

  • What’s in the night sky in the month ahead

    Thursday 25th September 2025 from 18:30pm to 20:30pm

    Dark Space Planetarium, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4EG (29.9 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Crawick Multiverse

    Crawick, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, DG4 6ET (20.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Woodfoot Cottage – Gatehouse of Fleet

    Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, DG7 2BJ (22.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Drumroamin Farm Camping & Caravan Site

    Kirkinner, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, DG8 9DB (27.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info