Dumfries and Galloway the Mull of Galloway, Wood of Cree (Galloway Forest Park), Ken Dee Marshes (near Loch Ken) and Mereshead (near Dalbeattie on the Solway Firth) There are five of the world class 7Stanes mountain biking centres in Dumfries and Galloway at Dalbeattie, Mabie, Ae, Glentrool and Kirroughtree. The Sustrans Route 7 long distance cycle route also runs through the region. There is excellent hill walking in the Moffat Hills, Lowther Hills Dumfries and Galloway is well known for its arts and cultural activities as well as its natural environment. The major festivals including the region-wide Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival and
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum and Galloway Aviation Group was formed to shepherd a display of these items, the obvious location for the new museum being the former RAF Dumfries. The museum opened to the public in 1977, initially housed in the old pilot's flight hut which was last occupied by the local Dumfries Gliding Club, giving the building a long history in aviation. The first complete airframes exhibited were a de Havilland Vampire T11 and a Gloster Meteor T7, acquired from the Royal Aircraft Establishment at West Freugh, an airfield 80 miles west of Dumfries. The opening ceremony was conducted by Michał Cwynar DFC,