A potted history of Portpatrick on Scotland's SW coast

Portpatrick was named after St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is reputed to have sailed from Portpatrick. Because of its proximity to Ireland, a ferry service started as early as 1616, although the first proper harbour wasn't built until 1770.

By 1849, ferry services to Northern Ireland moved to the more sheltered port of Stranraer and, a few years ago, to a new port facility at nearby Cairnryan.

The modern church in Portpatrick is Victorian, but the remains of the 17th century St Andrew's Kirk remain, most notably the tower, said to have been an early lighthouse.

short walk away along a spectacular cliff-top path, you can visit the ruins of Dunskey Castle. Built in the 16th century for the Adairs of Kinhilt, the castle was uninhabited as early as 1700 and it's rumoured that its ruin is haunted!

The village has also acted as Galloway's Gretna Green for eloping Irish couples.

The unspoilt and picturesque nature of Portpatrick makes it not only a popular destination for visitors, but also a popular film location, for example for the BBC TV series 2000 Acres of Sky. The 'island' scenes were filmed a short distance along the coast at Port Logan.

With its long seafaring history, Portpatrick is also home to an RNLI lifeboat station and museum and welcomes many boats to its pretty little harbour every year.


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Please note that Braefield House is a no-smoking property.