The Scotland’s Best Kept Secret...Shh! Visitors Guide 2017 The Welcome Welcome to the Machars and Rhins of Galloway Visitors Guide 2017, Beautiful Birds 4 produced by the Whithorn and District Business Association for the Gardens 5 benefit of visitors to the area; we sincerely hope that you will find what you are looking for within these pages, and enjoy exploring the Lighthouses & Beaches 7 treasures the Rhins and Machars peninsulas have to offer. Cycling & Walking 7 History of the Machars & A list of local and regional events can be found on our website www.whithorn.info. Please email us at [email protected] if you Rhins 8 would like to give us feedback on this publication, or get in touch for Whithorn 9 any other reason. Map 10 Our sincere thanks go to all the businesses that have placed adverts, Wigtown 12 which have enabled this guide to be published and distributed. Culture 14 Also our grateful thanks go to our local experts who have written within this guide, to tell visitors about these special Scottish Dark Skies 17 peninsulas and what treats are in store when people come to Fishing 18 visit; Duncan Vincent, Julia Muir-Watt, Marie McNulty, Paul Tarling, Andrew Wilson, Mike Alexander and Peter Wareing (for beautiful Golf 18 Machars & Rhins Treasure map). Food & Drink 19 The Rhins 20 With very best wishes for an enjoyable adventure in Southwest Scotland, Biosphere 21 Places to Stay 22 Whithorn and District Business Association See our Where are we? Treasure Map on page 10 2 Introduction The Rhins peninsula is 25 miles (40 kilometres) setting for a golf course!) and Monreith (home of long, ending at Scotland’s most southerly point, the author Gavin Maxwell; look for the memorial Mull of Galloway, and is a designated area of to him at St Medan’s), dramatic cliffs (discover the Special Scientific Interest. Visit the wonderful ruins of Cruggleton Castle, St Ninian’s Cave, and Stevenson Lighthouse, and RSPB Nature Reserve, Burrow Head where much of the cult classic The where Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins can be Wicker Man was filmed), and harbours at Isle of seen. The natural beauty and relatively sparse Whithorn, Garlieston and Port William. population is undoubtedly why the BBC chose to film the drama ‘Two Thousand Acres of Sky’ here, Lochs in the area include Mochrum Loch, Castle in Port Logan. Visit Lochnaw Castle near Leswalt, Loch and the White Loch of Myrton. In Castle Dunskey Castle near Portpatrick (a beautiful Loch near The Old Place of Mochrum are the harbour town with lifeboat station), six wonderful remains of several crannogs. Many examples of gardens including Castle Kennedy Gardens, and prehistory remain, mainly in the form of standing Logan Botanic Gardens, gorgeous sandy beaches, stones and cup and ring marks. for example New England Bay, and the historic fishpond near Port Logan. The rich local and natural history and archaeology is reflected in the collections at the Whithorn The Machars peninsula lies within the Galloway Story, Whithorn Priory Museum, Wigtown and Southern Ayreshire Biosphere, and boasts Museum, Newton Stewart Museum, The Castle rolling green hills, forest and woodland and 40 of St John, and Stranraer Museum. There are two miles (64 km) of varied coastline; mud-flats and important collections of early carved stones at salt marshes near Wigtown (don’t miss RSPB Whithorn and at Kirkmadrine near Sandhead. reserves at Wigtown Harbour and Crook of In this year of History, Heritage and Archaeology Baldoon), sandy beaches at Garlieston, Rigg visit the Rhins and Machars peninsulas in Bay (where the WWII Mulberry Harbours were Southwest Scotland, and discover Galloway’s developed in 1943), St Medan’s (spectacular historic treasure house for yourself. Find out more at www.whithorn.info 3 Beautiful birds RSPB Scotland have three great reserves for you to The protuberance that is the Mull of Galloway explore here in South West Scotland, the newest thrusts out into the Irish Sea. A centennial to being the Crook of Baldoon, which sits in the bay shipping stands at its tip, with a cafe, lighthouse just south of Wigtown. If you spend some time museum, and an RSPB visitor centre on offer. Cliff in the bay you will see thousands of geese in cameras showing breeding birds are relayed onto winter and breeding lapwings in spring and early screens for you to watch from the comfort of the summer; visiting on any high tide can be the most centre. rewarding. The reserve is open all the time. Visit our website for events at these reserves. Another of our reserves in the area is the Wood www.rspb.org.uk of Cree, a beautiful Atlantic oak wood which in spring is full of song, with many migrant birds arriving to take advantage of the wealth of insects that are emerging. You can wander through the drifts of native bluebell when they bloom in GALLOWAY NATURE May. At other times of the year wander through & HERITAGE TRUST this stunning woodland and sit by the tumbling Conserving Barn Owls in Bonnie Galloway waterfalls and perhaps see dipper and the metallic flash of a kingfisher. Contact us for advice about nestboxes and habitat management. [email protected] 07554 146 383 Scottish charity No.SC038470 RSPB Scotland Nature Reserves The heart of Galloway hosts wonderful wildlife. Visit Wood of Cree the largest ancient oak woodland in southern Scotland. Wigtown Bay Visitor Centre within Wigtown County Buildings gives information about the local area. Get out in the ir fresh a at Crook of Baldoon, for seas of thrift, waders and geese. Events all year – see websites below. RSPB Scotland Wigtown Office 26, South Main Street, Wigtown, Wigtownshire, DG8 9EH. Phone 01988 402130 www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/crookofbaldoon/index.aspx www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/w/woodofcree/index.aspx 4 Visit Logan Gardens Botanic Garden The Rhins and Machars of Galloway enjoy a relatively Scotland’s most mild oceanic climate thanks to the balmy influence exotic Garden of the Gulf Stream ocean current, and have rich, free Discovery Centre & Gallery I draining and lime free soil which provides ideal growing Potting Shed Bistro l Gift Shop l Plant Sales l Guided Walks conditions for many plant species, including a Visitdiverse Loganand Events l Victorian-style range of tropical plants as well as hardier plants like conservatory housing tender rhododendrons and azaleas. Botanic Gardensouthern hemisphere plants Open daily from 10am, 15 March to There is wonderful variety in the 9 spectacular gardens 31 October, Sundays in February. Scotland’s mostAdmission: exotic Adult Garden £6, Concession £5, and specialist plant nurseries available to visit in the Children under 16 go free Includes Discovery Centre & Gallery | Pottingsmall voluntary Shed donation Bistro to | the Machars and Rhins peninsulas; run by enthusiastsGift who Shop | Plant Sales | GuidedGarden. Walks For entry and prices Events without | are happy to share their passion and enthusiasm,New and for summer 2014: Victorian-styledonation pleaseconservatory see website. offer expert advice. There are events and exhibitionshousing tender southern hemisphere14 miles south plants of Stranraer, off the throughout the season. There are also a numberOpen of daily from 10 am, 15 MarchB7065, to 31 October,Port Logan, Sundays Stranraer, in February DG9 9ND Admission: Adult £6, Concession £5, Children under 16Tel go 01776 free 860231 Charity Open Days where private gardens openIncludes to the small voluntary donation to the Garden. For entry prices without www.rbge.org.uk/logandonation please see website. public; a wonderful opportunity to visit hidden14 gems miles south of Stranraer, while raising money for charity. off the B7065, Port Logan, Stranraer, DG9 9ND Tel 01776 860231 Part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, www.scotlandsgardens.org www.rbge.org.uk/logan a charity registered in Scotland (no SC007983) Open Daily : 1st April – 31st October TEAROOM GARDEN RANGER CHAMPION TREES FAMILY EVENTS PLANT CENTRE HISTORY GUIDED WALKS HOLIDAY COTTAGES 3 miles east of Stranraer on the A75 Castle Kennedy Gardens, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer DG9 8SJ W: www.castlekennedygardens.com T: 01581 400 225 / 01776 702 024 Events and more at www.whithorn.info 5 CLAYMODDIE GARDEN & PLANT NURSERY CLAYMODDIE WHITHORN DG8 8LX Contact Mary Nicholson TEL: 01988 500422 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.gallowayplants.co.uk Situated in the centre of Whithorn. We stock China and Glass, Jewellery, Books, DVD’s and CD’s, Toys, Stunning 5 acre plantsman’s garden with year round interest. Many southern hemisphere plants, and Children’s and Adult clothing, good collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, Bric a brac and much more. trees and shrubs. Do come and browse! camelliasEntry £5, as groups well as welcome,and summer and guided autumn tours flowering and propagation courses by arrangement. Huge range Opening Hours: of plants for sale, sorry no mail order. Tues, Thurs, Friday 10am - 3.30pm OPEN DAILY 10AM – 5PM, honesty box basis 70 George Street, Whithorn DG8 8JQ Scottish Gardens Scheme Open Day with teas Charity No SC016681 11am-5pm, Sunday 23 April 2017 COLLECTOR’S CABINET We buy and sell top quality vintage, contemporary and modern furniture, collectables, china and jewellery Proprietor : Raymond Hamilton 29 Queen Street, Stranraer DG9 7LQ Telephone : 01776 700411 Mobile : 077997 32829 10% discount on presentation of this advert Unique knitted accessories. Designed and hand crafted in South West Scotland. To become a stockist or to place an order please call 07552 127139 or visit www.happysnail.net 6 Lighthouses & beaches Family-friendly beaches are to be found at sheltered Monreith, gently-shelving Garlieston, or all down the eastern side of the Rhins peninsula. Widely regarded as the finest beach in the Stranraer area, Luce Sands is an expansive stretch of sheltered sand.