Places of Interest in Stranraer
Posted 16/08/2019In Wigtownshire, one of the many towns is named Stranraer, and it is found along the coastline of the sea and sports a view of the ocean, and its own harbour and railway station. Nearby are two ports for ferries leading over to Northern Ireland. With activity going on daily there is a trove of things to see for visitors and residents of the area.
There are plenty of gardens to visit around Stranraer and Castle Kennedy Gardens can be found along the A75. These gardens cover over 70 acres of land, and the ruins of Castle Kennedy are still standing alongside Lochinch Castle. There are five walkway routes for visitors to follow, or visitors can make their own way through.
Agnew Park is within Stranraer, overlooking the sea, and sports a large boating lake in which visitors can take out a canoe, pedalo, or other form of floating carrier across the waters. A miniature railway can carry visitors and tour them around the park, there’s a mini car race area and a green for 18-hole putting playing, and adventure play for children, creating activities to keep the family going for the day.
Dunskey Gardens are open by arrangements as Dunskey House is itself a family home who keep the gardens maintained. The gardens have different flower collections contained in a walled and woodland garden, and greenhouse.
Aldouran Wetland Garden is near the village Leswalt and is home to many red squirrels and wetland birds that live in the garden’s woodland, ponds and streams. Besides the red squirrel feeding station is an observation hut for prime viewing.
The RSPB Mull of Galloway Reservation is atop a cliff and is the nesting place to seabirds, such as kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots, being at their nosiest in Summer months while Winter becomes a quiet season for the reserve. The Mull of Galloway Trust owns the nearby lighthouse and operates the tours, as well as manage the nearby holiday cottages. From the cliff, the Irish Sea, Isle of Man and Ireland are viewable, and a viewing platform looks upon the breeding seabird colonies.
Within the town of Stranraer is the Castle of St John, a medieval tower house built in the 1500s. Inside is information on the building of the structure, stories of the landowners and tales from the 19th century of the prisoners held there for their crimes. This building is open to the public for a couple of months each year, during Summer.
Also, within Stranraer is the museum. Stranraer Museum is located in the Old Town Hall which focuses on the history of Wigtownshire and its roots within farming and dairying with exhibits on archaeological finds from the local area.
Kirkmadrine Church and Stones are near Sandhead, south of Stranraer. A few of the stones are dated with the earliest dates of Christian memorial in Scotland and confirm that Christianity has been present in Kirkmadrine since the 500AD period. The grounds of the church and graveyard have been said to be haunted.
Tags: stranraer, places of interest, dumfries and galloway, wigtownshire