Isle Facts

Location

The Isle of Whithorn is located on the southernmost tip of the Machars peninsula in South West Scotland at Lat. 54 41.09'N; Long. 04 21.07' W.

The Village and the Surrounding Area

The Isle is one of mainland Scotland's most attractive locations. The sheltered anchorage and quay provides the focal point of the village. The majority of the village is designated as a Conservation area and this reflects its attractive character. The countryside surrounding the village is of high environmental quality and has maintained its unspoilt nature.

Population

The Isle is home to approximately 300 residents.

Economy

Traditionally the village economy has been based on agriculture and the fisheries. The contraction of both these industries has had considerable effect on the village with a decline in employment.

Tourism and Accommodation

Tourism has long been recognised as the growth industry in the area and the Isle attracts considerable numbers of visitors. There are two guesthouses and two residential hotels as well as private and commercial holiday homes in the village. See our Accommodation Directory for places to stay.

The Harbour and Fishing Fleet

The harbour retains its importance as one of the busiest in the region with regular landings from Irish Sea shell fishing boats supplying the local processing factories. The Isle's own fleet is engaged in light trawling and lobster fishing.

The harbour is also home to a growing fleet of leisure craft and is increasingly being used as a stopping off location for pleasure traffic plying the west coast, and as a launching site for trailer based craft such as small angling boats and diving RIB's.

Access

Road access has improved with the upgraded A75 Euro route, and there are few single-track roads.

Sailing

As part of a community regeneration project, a new slipway has been built to provide launch facilities at all states of the tide. Wigtown Bay Sailing Club is one of the most active groups in the area, and has a growing cadet membership. There are regular Club and Open competitions; and RYA approved sail training courses based on the Harbour feature in their annual programmes.

The Community

The village has always had a strong Community Council dating back to well before the current statutory body was established. Even now the Isle of Whithorn Community Council has retained its freedom as a self-determining independent body solely representing the Isle and its environs. This has been a very effective pressure group in making sure that the best benefit is obtained from local authority services and finance, and has been successful in utilising the abilities of those either local or newly resident.

Other Amenities

There is flourishing bowling club, a basic football pitch and two play areas for the young. The village hall is one of the most heavily used in the area and there are few days, winter or summer, when it does not host some activity by one of the many local organisations, from winter-time carpet bowling to the flourishing Senior Citizens Group.

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