Aviation Brief History of RAF Operations The Royal Air Force has used Dumfries & Galloway for flight training since before the second World War. During the war the airfields were also home to squadrons for intercepting German aircraft that attacked Glasgow. Many anti-submarine and air-sea-rescue aircraft were based near the port of Stranraer and further north in Loch Ryan. The remains of three major airfields and a seaplane base still exist: West Freugh – Air observing and bombing training. Partly mothballed, it is still regularly used during joint military exercises. Baldoon (RAF Wigtown) – Navigation training. Extensive remains include runways, barracks, store-rooms and bomb shelters. Castle Kennedy – Flight training. Remains include taxiways and hangars. Recently reopened for use by light aircraft Loch Ryan seaplane base - Remains include a few sheds and a concrete base with an information board. Other military related remains are: Burrow Head - Anti aircraft training. Remains include gun bases and storage bunkers. Garlieston Harbour – Home of the Mulberry Harbour used in the D-Day landings. Heathall, Dumfries - Control Tower of the former airfield houses a remarkable aviation museum, with aircraft of many periods and types, including remains of crashed aircraft and even some fragments of a satellite. Sadly, high ground close to some of the airfields caused many fatalities particularly for inexperienced crews. At the top of Cairnsmore is memorial to the pilots plus some aircraft remains can still be found there and elsewhere. SPECIAL ACCESS TO BALDOON Baldoon is now private property, however, the owner has kindly granted permission for our guests to have access to the airfield. To ensure that we can continue to offer this access we ask that guests respect the site at all times. Any visit is undertaken at your own risk. Present Operations The RAF regularly uses Dumfries and Galloway for low-level flight training down to 100 ft. BAe Hawks are seen almost daily tail chasing at low or high level. Other aircraft seen in the area are Tornado, Harrier, F15 and now the new Typhoon. The MOD website very helpfully provides details of TTU areas and a timetable on activity in the region. Joint military exercises are undertaken annually. For example, during Eagle Eyes for two weeks in October 2004 several parachute drops were made into Castle Kennedy. Aircraft involved included Hercules, Chinook, Puma and Tornado mostly using West Freugh as a temporary base. In previous years seaborne landings have been made in Luce Bay. As the information becomes available we will list any exercises scheduled for 2005. We have a large collection of aviation books and signed prints of WWII pilots in the lounge and each of the bedrooms. For details of Accommodation, Prices, etc. click links or the Home button below