Holiday in Stranraer

Stranraer sits at the head of Loch Ryan at the top of the Rhins of Galloway. At the centre of the town is Stranraer Castle (dating from the 16th century and former headquarters of Bonnie Dundee), which now houses a fascinating museum. By the 17th century the military road from Dumfries reached Stranraer and Portpatrick was within easier reach. Stranraer soon became the main port for Ireland (as it is today) and this was the drovers' route to Dumfries cattle market. Stranraer has a wealth of luxury self-catering holiday cottages - many are pretty cottages by the sea and others farmhouses in the Galloway countryside.

Nowadays the colourful houses and busy harbour attract lots of holiday-makers to Stranraer self catering holiday cottages in this pretty and unspoilt south-western corner of Scotland. Stranraer harbour is the ferry port to Ireland and many visitors come here to get the boat across the water. This is a great place for walkers (the Southern Upland Way is very popular - running from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath on the east coast of Scotland). There are famous gardens in this part of Galloway, including Castle Kennedy, Glenwhan and Logan, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens. There are many excellent restaurants and pubs in the Stranraer and Portpatrick area, where you can be guaranteed a great evening out, as well as good food.

Eight miles south of Stranraer lies Portpatrick, which is a gorgeous village of white-washed and coloured houses (some available as Portpatrick holiday cottages to rent) set around a pretty, working harbour. Portpatrick village is at the foot of cliffs and looks across the Irish Channel. The warm gulf stream gives this part of Galloway a mild climate as the lush and semi-tropical gardens bear witness. There are some glorious, secluded bays and beaches in the vicinity - all perfect for crabbing and sun-bathing.

If you rent a holiday cottage in The Mull of Galloway then you will be as far south you can go in Scotland, and will be rewarded with great views to Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria. Wigtown Bay is a great scenic area as well as being famous for two Covenanting martyrs who were drowned at the stake in the bay in the 17th century. The Belted Galloway cattle, known locally as Belties, are frequently seen in the beautiful Galloway countryside.