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Stranraer is a Port Town in southwest
Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway, 72 miles west
of Dumfries.
The Town is at the top of the Mull of
Galloway, a Remote Area with a large number of
interesting Attractions. Attractions in the
town are the Castle of St John and Museum in
the Town Hall.
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Stranraer Road
Map
Click On Map
for area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is of the the main A77 Road
entering Stranraer from the north. The North
West Castle Hotel is situated here, and the
vast Harbour area to the right.
The North West Castle is popular for Meals
and its Fitness Centre.
The last Ireland Ferry Service was moved
from Stranraer to Cairnryan 6 miles north in
2011. This led to the Port Area being
transformed into a Leisure Area with a Marina,
an Inner Harbour for Fishing Boats, and a large
car park for Tourists.
The Town centre is a short walk from the
Port, with the Castle of St John being the most
notable building.
Stranraer has the most Shops and Hotels in
the area, the rest of the Mull of Galloway is
one of the least populated areas in
Scotland.
The image right is of the Sheriff Court on
Lewis Street, with St Ninians Church next to
the Court.
The Stranraer
Museum is an interesting place to view the
history of the area. The Museum is housed in
the Old Town Hall in the town centre. The Town
Hall was completed in 1776.
The Museum covers Ancient Artifacts, Early
Farming and Fishing, Household Items, and
Explorers from the Area.
Stranraer has two Beaches, one at Agnew Park
on the south side of Town, and Cockle Shore as
seen bottom on the north side.
Agnew Park has a Kids Play, Train Rides,
Kart Hire, Boat Hire on the Lake, and the
modern Driftwood Restaurant.
Stranraer History
1511 - the Castle of St John is built at
Stranraer with the Town growing around it.
1600s - Stranraer became the main Market
Town for the area.
1760s - a Military Road linked Stranraer to
Dumfries and the port Village of Portpatrick
7 miles southwest, with the road being used for
Transferring Cattle between Ireland and
Dumfries.
1700s late - Stranraer Harbour was built up
to take Larger Ships entering service, leading
to Stranraer taking most of the Shipping Trade
from Portpatrick. A Ferry Service also began
around this time, becoming the main Ferry
Service between Scotland and Ireland.
1860s - the Railway connected Stranraer to
Dumfries in the east, and Girvan, Ayr, and
Glasgow to the north.
1953 - the Stranraer to Ireland Roll on Roll
Off car/passenger Ferry MV Princess
Victoria Sank off the coast of Ireland in
heavy seas with the loss of 133 lives.
1970s - P&O Ferries moved from Stranraer
to the very small Village of Cairnryan 6 miles
north, cutting travel time and fuel costs.
1996 - the huge Catamaran HSC Stena
Voyager began operating for Stena on the
crossing between Stranraer and Belfast. This Vessel
could run at speeds up to 40 knots.
HSC Stena Voyager was powered by four Jet
Engines that were expensive to operate.
Standing on the rear deck of this Ship was
amazing, watching the huge jets of water being
thrust out of its massive Water Jets.
This Ship had to reduce its speed between
Stranraer and the 7 miles north through Loch
Ryan into the Irish Sea, as the Waves it
generated were endangering People on the
Beaches.
Voyager was taken out of service in 2011
then scrapped in 2013.
2011 - Stena Ferries moved from Stranraer to
Cairnryan, leading to the Ferry Port at
Stranraer being converted to Leisure
Facilities, and for Fishing Boats.
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