Views from one of Galloway’s most scenic coastal villages are even better than before — thanks to a new telescope.
And the spyglass on the Rockcliffe seafront is already proving popular with locals and visitors alike.
Colvend and Southwick Community Council secured permission from the council to install the device.
Previous attempts to site it at Castle Point at Rockcliffe, the Jubilee Path to Kippford and Dalbeattie forest had drawn a blank.
Community council member Eric Fisher, who led the project, told the News: “We had a bit of trouble finding a site for the telescope due to non-cooperation of local landlords.
“It lay in my garage for two or three years until we eventually got around to finding where to put it.
“But now it’s right on the front — and it’s quite a popular location.
“There seems to be a lot of interest from holidaymakers and kids as well.
“In other holiday places, most are coin-operated but our one is not — it’s free.”
Colvend and Southwick won the telescope in a Eon competition for the six community councils in its Robin Rigg community benefit fund area.
Their submission on how footpaths had been built from Colvend to Rockcliffe and at Barnbarroch using windfarm cash impressed the judges.
Community council chairperson Simon Pain said: “Special thanks go to Eric Fisher for his tenacity in bringing this project to a conclusion.
“The telescope has proved to be a great attraction.
“Monitoring shows that nearly everyone who passes it is tempted to take a look – both adults and children.
