In Newton Stewart, a likely gateway to the proposed park, I speak to a retired couple from Surrey who decline to be named. “We are worried about tourism, as we hear about in Venice and Edinburgh,” they tell me. This seems a strange comparison to make; even with the expected modest increase in visitor numbers, Dumfries and Galloway will still be a long way from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, or even the Highland hotspots along the North Coast 500.

David Hope-Jones, of tourism development body South of Scotland Destination Alliance, sees the park more positively. He said: “Tourism brings almost £500 million a year to the region and countless jobs, but we still have relatively low visitor numbers and are often overlooked by people heading further north or south. The national park would put us on the map.

Seeking to allay fears, he adds: “We don’t have to be exactly like any other national park. This is not a binary yes or no choice, there is a desire to work with all parties to bring everyone together in the management of the park for the benefit of the whole community in what is a very special.

The likely location is a very special place indeed, living with a rugged oil painting of mountain, loch and moor (and unlike most of the Highlands, living with thick forest) which is home to impressive flora and wildlife. It is a wild and wildly beautiful landscape that easily matches its Highland counterparts. This natural wealth has already contributed to obtaining UNESCO biosphere status.

Being a UNESCO biosphere means finding better ways to protect the landscape and its nature, while helping people to thrive there, a traditional struggle in rural Scotland often blighted by problems of depopulation. Concerns have been raised about rising house prices in a national park, but local councilors have already declared a “housing emergency”, with young people particularly struggling to find accommodation. Looking further north towards Cairngorms National Parkthe gateway town of Aviemore has seen new houses built and the population increased since 2003, with a visibly young population both retained and attracted.

John Thompson, chairman of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, which supported the national park bid, said: “The national park would build on our work, bringing much-needed investment and jobs. Citizens and local businesses would be at the very heart of the process and would have a greater say in what happens around them. In the national park there would be ongoing consultation to ensure this meets the expectations of Dumfries and Galloway.

During my four days, I saw a majority of people in favor, but also a strong desire to engage in consultation, with the Scottish Government aiming for the park to open in 2026.

In Stranraer, as Galloway meets the Irish Sea, I meet Allan Jenkins who works at the local oyster festival. “Whatever bid was accepted, concerns would have arisen,” he smiles. “This is a park that benefits everyone and it’s important to realize that we all have a say in how it will work for us if it comes to fruition.” It would be a shame if that wasn’t the case.

How to visit the proposed national park

The boundaries of Galloway National Park are not finalized, but they are likely to be focused on an area similar to the existing biosphere – essentially an expanded Galloway Forest Park – mainly in Dumfries and Galloway, plus perhaps a slice of South Ayrshire. It’s a landscape deeply worthy of national park status that you can already explore with a myriad of attractions.

The coast-to-coast Southern Upland Way walking route passes through the area and offers superb mountain biking from the centers of Glentrool and Kirroughtree. It is a vibrant wilderness with historic battle sites, castle ruins and Neolithic treasures. A new national park will of course encourage more attractions, with rumors suggesting a new observatory could open to build on the area’s already growing reputation for its dark-sky status.

Galloway is beautiful all year round, although tourist numbers decrease after summer, although autumn and winter are an interesting time to visit. This is one of the issues that the new park seeks to address.

Dumfries Tours offers tailor-made guided experiences which can cover all parts of Dumfries and Galloway, including the areas above. For more tourist information, see Scotland starts here. NatureScot has an online hub dedicated to Galloway National Park.