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Nestled in a sheltered bay on the West Galloway coast, Portpatrick is a premier destination for holidays and short breaks, and as a stopover location for travellers to and from Ireland. Separated from the Emerald Isle by a 20 mile crossing of the North Channel, Portpatrick enjoys the twin benefits of a relatively sheltered location and the warming current of the Gulf Stream. Whatever your interests, the charms of Portpatrick and its magnificent natural surroundings are sure to draw you back time after time. Portpatrick became a distinct parish in 1628, deriving it's name from Saint Patrick, who is mythically credited with crossing the North Channel in a single stride! Formerly known as Portmontgomery, the town was the principle port for shipping traffic to and from Ireland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, carrying mail, passengers and cattle which passed along the Old Military Road to Dumfries and beyond. (Three of our properties stand alongside this ancient route) To the south of the town lies the atmospheric ruins of Dunskey Castle, once the home of a pirate clan! The magnificent Portpatrick Hotel overlooking the harbour still gives a sense of the town's former importance as a port of commerce. In Victorian times there was a stream railway service right up to the quayside. The harbour itself is massively constructed from stone and uses the island in the centre of the bay as additional protection from the elements. The harbour now provides a safe haven to fishing boats and pleasure craft, which come and go daily on the tides. Portpatrick Lifeboat Station stands guard over the harbour, and its annual Lifeboat Week is a major tourist attraction. The picturesque scene is complemented by the strongly constructed buildings along the seafront including several hotels, inns and a variety of small shops catering for the needs of locals and tourists. Welcoming, but not brash, the town is a popular destination for discerning families and couples seeking the tranquility and romance of the Scottish coast. There are numerous outstanding places to dine in and around Portpatrick. At the harbour side one can find the Crown Hotel with its award winning seafood, the Harbour House Hotel with its Bistro, the Crown Hotel offering al fresco dining in summer, the Downshire Arms with its own restaurant and at the south end of the promenade, Campbell's Restaurant offering many speciality dishes. The Mount Stewart Hotel has a fine seafood menu and outstanding views over the sea, and higher up the north cliff, there is the Fernhill Hotel with its conservatory. All offer fresh local produce in season, a wide range of Malts, Wines and Ales and each has its own fantastic signature dish. For the discerning food buff, Portpatrick has a great deal to offer! Locally, there are bracing cliff-top walks (The Southern Upland Way starts in Porptatrick), outstanding gardens such as the World-famous Logan Botanic Garden at Port Logan (setting for the BBC television series '2000 Acres of Sky'), Castle Kennedy Gardens and Dunskey Walled Garden to name but a few! Along the rugged coast there are many small inlets and coves with small yet enticing beaches, and a mass of wildlife and sealife, from Dolphins to Basking Sharks, from Gannets to Buzzards. Fancy a picnic? Enjoy the tranquility of our woodlands and forests, or relax amidst wide open countryside. Dumfries & Galloway - It's the Natural Place! For more information, please phone (+44) 01776 810555 |
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