Stranraer Accommodation

Stena Line Stranraer Ferry to Ireland, Stranraer, Stranraer Gardens, Scotland

Port town Stranraer is a key Scottish ferry link to Ireland, namely Belfast and Larne. Well worth a visit is the Stranraer Museum for the history of Wigtownshire farming and information on many of the ancient archeological finds in the area. The Castle of St John is also situated in the town. Moving down the Rhinns of Galloway you'll arrive first at pretty seaside resort Portpatrick, an excellent base for exploring the area with a golf course, pretty harbour and coastal walking. Portpatrick is also the start of the 212 mile Southern Upland Way.

Moving further south towards the Mull of Galloway things start to get a little more wild. Stunning coastal scenery down here is home to numerous wildlife including nesting puffins. Call in at the Mull of Galloway RSPB reserve to learn more. The far west of Dumfries and Galloway is Scotland's most southerly point, and warmed by the Gulf Stream. You'll discover a superb selection of gardens in the Stranraer area (exotic plants thrive down here). A number of sites, including the Logan Botanic Gardens, were used as backdrop to the 1973 cult film classic 'The Wicker Man'.

Stena Line Ferry to Ireland Belfast, Stranraer Ferry

Stranraer to Belfast Ireland ferries are offered by Stena Line, and with crossing time in the fast Stena HSS only 105 minutes, daytrips to Belfast are more than feasible.

Click through right onto the Stena Line Ferry to Ireland weblink, or compare prices on aferry.to also linked right. It's worth knowing that ferries to Ireland also depart from Troon further up on the Ayrshire coast. These are run by P&O Irish Sea Ferries and depart regularly from Troon to Larne. Larne on the Irish coast is situated just north of Belfast. If you're planning a day trip or a couple of days in Ireland before flying home from Prestwick Airport then Troon may be more convenient as it's nearer the airport. Aferry.to (weblink right) is a good ferry booking website for comparing costs across the different ferry companies. P&O also operate ferries from Cairnryan, just north of Stranraer, to Larne. Check both the aferry.to and P&O weblinks right for ferries to Larne.

Stena Line ferries have got together with Scotland rail networks to offer some superb combined rail and ferry deals from major towns and cities in Scotland including Glasgow. Check the Stena Line website for details. Foot passengers should look to booking the Stena HSS as on some of the standard ferries it's cars only. You're better on the Stena HSS which is quicker and only slightly more expensive.

Facilities on the Stranraer to Belfast Ireland HSS Stena are superb and include ATM, kid's cinema, shopping, gaming and video games, smokers lounge, toddlers' play area and ample eating options including foot city and cafes and bars. Around 9 Stena line ferries depart daily from Stranraer to Belfast (and the other way from Belfast to Stranraer) so you've plenty of choice on timing. Click on the Stranraer-Belfast Sailing and Check-in Times section on the Stena Line website right for sailing times.

Stranraer & the Rhinns of Galloway Tourist Guide

Stranraer might be best know for its port and ferries to Ireland, but there's also a selection of attractions within the town including the historic Castle of St John dating from 1500 and its old town hall building on George Street dating from 1776, and now serving as the Stranraer Museum. Wigtownshire's farming history is explored here, with artefacts including Scotland's oldest plough. You'll also find more information here on the many ancient archeological finds in the Wigtownshire area as well as local history and changing temporary exhibitions.

Stranraer Museum, The Old Town Hall, 55 George Street, Stranraer, DG9 7JP. Tel. 01776 705088. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

The Castle of St John on Charlotte Street dates from 1500, Essentially a medieval tower house, it was built by the Wigtownshire family the Adairs of Kilhilt. Steep spiral steps survive inside the castle (visitors can climb to the top), plus there's exibits on the medieval landowners who lived here and information on its use as local court, military garrison and prison. The 'Killing Times around the 1680s and its use as a prison during the 19th century are particularly featured. Castle of St John, Charlotte Street, Stranraer, DG9 7EJ. el. 01776 705544. (open Easter to mid-September, 10am to 1pm/2pm to 5pm. Admission is free).

Gardens in Scotland, Scottish Gardens near Stranraer

The Stranraer area is less known for the number of splendid gardens located in this area of Dumfries and Galloway. Indeed exhibits at the Stranraer Museum have dug deep into the history of gardening in Wigtownshire. Being close to the water (and the warming Gulf Stream) in the far west of Dumfries and Galloway, exotic and other plants thrive here! The best known is Castle Kennedy & Gardens (weblink right). This really is one of Scotland's finest gardens and not to be missed. Covering around 75 acres, the gardens here are painstakingly landscaped, crammed particularly with rhododendrons, azaleas and embothriums (come in Spring for these at their best). Popular favourites include the Monkey Puzzle Avenue which dates from 1896. Within the Castle Kennedy grounds there are four marked walks all with different characters.

Castle Kennedy & Gardens, Stair Estates, Rephad, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway, DG9 8BX. Tel. 01776 702 024. (weblink right, open daily from Easter to end September, at weekends from beginning of February to the end of March).

Two other gardens in the Stranraer area include the Logan Botanic Garden and Glenwhan Gardens.Garden fans are in for some treats - Glenwhan is situated 300 feet above sea level overlooking Luce Bay & the Mull of Galloway. Hard to believe that in 1979 this garden was all bracken and gorse with rushes and willows thrown in. What you see today is the particular visition of one women, and as with Castle Kennedy gardens acid loving plants, rhododendrons and azaleas all thrive here. Expect to see also bluebells, snowdrops rock roses and olearias in their seasons.

Find Glenwhan just 7 miles east of Stranraer and 1 mile (signposted) off the A75 at Dunragit. (weblink right for more details). Don't miss too Logan Botanic Gardens (weblink right) situated further down the Rhins of Galloway off the B7065. (14 miles south of Stranraer. Logan's walled garden is a particular highlight, with Woodland Garden and Gunnera bog also on-site. You can buy unusual plants in the botanics shop. Remember the cult film classic 'The Wicker Man' (1973). Well, the backdrop here at Logan Botanical Gardens was used in the film (see the Wicker Man Trail weblink right for details). Wicker Man film fans will recognise certain spots! Logan Botanic Gardens, Port Logan, Stranraer, Wigtownshire DG9 9ND. Tel. 01776 860231.

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