Visitor Info: Local Information: Days out in Dumfries & Galloway
Mull of Galloway
The Mull of Galloway
The Route to the Mull of Galloway
Heading out of Stranraer along the A77 and A716 pass through a series of tiny villages each with their own distinct character.
A notable place of interest a couple of minutes off the beaten track is the ‘Kirkmadrine Stones’ which lie two miles west of Sandhead and are clearly signposted. The three stones are the earliest inscribed Christian gravestones in Scotland and were erected in AD 450 to mark the graves of Priests who served a Christian community close by. Park on the quiet lane and stroll up what remains of the church driveway to find the stones beautifully presented in a glass case and read the story of the ‘Lost Stone of Kirkmadrine’.
The village of Sandhead is just 10 miles South of Stranraer. Beautiful Sandhead Bay with it’s huge expanse of sand stretching as far as the eye can see into the head of Luce Bay is not visible from the main road but is well worth taking the time to drive through the pretty little village. Turning left by the newagents will take you down to the foreshore. The beach has a very gentle slope into the sea making it safe for children to swim and play and ideal for launching boats and jetskis, walking or horse riding. The foreshore is perfect for BBQ’s and close by is a children’s play area and a playing field.
Continue through the village will take you back to the A716. Turn left and head through the tiny village of Ardwell with it’s rows of brightly painted cottages.
En route to the south-western tip of Scotland lies Logan Botanic Gardens which is unrivalled as the country's most exotic Garden. With a mild climate washed by the Gulf Stream a remarkable collection of bizarre and beautiful plants are able to flourish out-of-doors.
A right turn at the next junction will take you past the gardens and into Port Logan which was the location for the filming of the BBC series "Two Thousand Acres of Sky starring Michelle Collins. Just prior to entering the village turn right and visit the Victorian fish pool and bathing hut. Visitors are invited to feed and handle the fish but watch those fingers!
At the end of the village park in the car park at the harbour which dates back to 1818-22 and take a stroll out to the circular granite lighthouse which was added in the 1830s. From here you can look out across Logan Bay or take a walk along the sandy beach towards the fish pool and back. What better way to view the entire bay than from the hilltop on which the ‘Butterchurn’ coffee shop and farm park is situated?
Turning left by the side of the Inn will take you through Kirkmaiden and along the single track road to the very end of the headland which is the Mull of Galloway – the most Southerly point of Scotland with outstanding views across the Solway Firth.
There is no mistaking the striking white lighthouse built in 1830 by Robert Stevenson and standing within the heathery grounds of the RSPB reserve where thousands of birds nest on the cliffs. Take a walk around the headland and watch a video of the local birds or climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse (summer period only). From here it is said you can see five Kingdoms – Scotland, England, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Kingdom of Heaven!
End your journey with a relaxing late lunch in the Gallie Craig coffee shop with it’s environmentally friendly turf roof and galleried windows which ensure fabulous views across the Irish Sea.
Sponsored by: Viv Andrew, Crailloch Croft Holiday Cottages