Isle Tour
1: Isle of Whithorn Bowling Club:
The Isle's Bowling Club is a popular summertime venue for residents
and visitors alike. Membership fees are very reasonable. Contact
information.
[ Top ]
2: Dunbar House:
B&B accommodation in this traditional terraced house with superb
views over the Harbour. Contact
information.
[ Top ]
3: Tonderghie Row:
A varied terrace of single and two-storeyed dwelling houses,
which although much altered over time are none the less historic,
and add considerable charm to the harbour.
[ Top ]
4: Queens Arms Hotel:
One of the Isle's traditional hostelries - offering a full range
of meals and accommodation; warm and comfortable surroundings,
local Galloway ales from Sulwath Brewery (Castle Douglas).
Contact information.
[ Top ]
5: Isle Post Office & Shop:
Come and meet Margaret Cronie who provides this open-all-hours
(almost) lifeline service for residents and visitors. Besides
the Post Office, there are groceries, confectionery, milk, newspapers,
ice cream, postcards and souvenirs, fruit and vegetables.
[ Top ]
6: Isle Castle
Private, but may been seen from the road, the Isle Castle
is one of the village's oldest buildings.
[ Top ]
7: St Ninian's Hall:
Our village hall, and one of the Community's focal points -
anything from dances and fund-raising 'do's for the RNLI
to Community Council meetings and regular get togethers
for the 'Thursday Club', the Isle over-50's association.
[ Top ]
8: Captain's Garden
This private house can be
seen from the street as well from across the Harbour. Another
building which depicts the Isle's 19th century heritage of buildings.
Surrounded by a castellated effect sea wall which adds great
charm to the character of the harbour.
[ Top ]
9: Old Schoolhouse
(private, but may be seen from the road): This was once the
main school for Isle youngsters. Its single classroom last echoed
to the sound of the breaktime bell in 1978, and today Isle children
attend Primary School in Whithorn.
Isle Archive is a community project which is gathering information about the school and its pupils and staff. A collection of school photographs is being compiled, and if you have any recollections or information that might be of interest, please visit the Isle Archive page.
[ Top ]
10: Main Street:
A traditional row of houses, many of which have the sea at both
the front and rear of the buildings.
[ Top ]
11: Isle Kirk:
Another focal point of the Isle - a former Free Church, and
whose interior simplicity is all part of its charm.
[ Top ]
12: McWilliam's Store (site).
Until its demolition in 2001, this was one of the Isle's most
characterful buildings. Originally this was the site of the
McWilliam Brothers shipbuilding business, and which later
became a general store, selling almost anything from the proverbial
needle to an anchor. On the wall of the Wigtown Bay Sailing
Club opposite there is a small memorial, provided by public
subscription, to this unique piece of Isle history.
More information on the McWilliam Brothers can be found in the Isle History and Archive Pages.
[ Top ]
13: Wigtown Bay Sailing Club:
This former harbour building has been converted to provide meeting
and changing room facilities for the Isle's local sailing club.
More information. Contact
Details.
[ Top ]
14: Harbour Row:
This row of harbour buildings, much altered over the years,
was where all the trade and activities of a busy little harbour
were based. It is hoped that the area will become, through careful
and sensitive redevelopment, one of the Isle's major focal points
once more. (Latest information on the Regeneration project can
be found on Isle Futures
page).
[ Top ]
15: Steam Packet Inn:
An award-winning inn which has year-round popularity for its
restaurant and meals based on the best of local produce, including
fish and seafood straight from the quayside. With comfortable
accommodation, much of it overlooking the harbour, this is an
important reminder of the days when the Isle of Whithorn was
a key destination for Galloway's steamship trade in the 19th
century. Contact information.
[ Top ]
16: Main Jetty:
This is one of Galloway's busiest small harbours, with local
and Isle of Man fishing boats regularly landing catches
of seafood such as scallops, lobsters and crabs. There are mooring
facilities for visiting yachts, and nearby a newly built slipway
is provided for trailer-borne craft.
[ Top ]
17: Harbourmaster's Office & Isle Chandlery:
Helpful advice on using the Harbour as well as the waters around
Wigtown Bay can be obtained here. Shaun McGuire
will be able to tell you all about tides, and assist with the
supply of marine requisites, fuel and local repair services.
Contact information.
[ Top ]
18: Slipway:
The new slipway was constructed in 2002 to allow small craft
to access the sea at all states of the tide, and was the first
project to be completed as part of the Isle of Whithorn Regeneration
programme.
[ Top ]
19: St Ninian's Chapel:
This building dates back to around 1300, and marked the start
of the pilgrimage route from the Isle to St Ninian's Church
in Whithorn, 4 miles away.
[ Top ]
20: Witness Cairn:
Erected in 1997 to commemorate the arrival of the Christian
missionary St Ninian to these shores. It is sited in
the remains of a building used to house the Isle of Whithorn lifeboat.
[ Top ]
21: Solway Harvester Seat:
This simple granite-hewn seat is a tribute to the seven-strong
local crew of the fishing boat Solway Harvester which
sank in a storm off the Isle of Man in January 2000.
Read about the Solway Harvester Tragedy in the Isle History Section.
[ Top ]
22: The Cairn:
Possibly the Isle's most familiar landmark - this square, white
tower has been a navigational aid for hundreds of years. From
here there are spectacular views of the Kirkcudbright
coast, and the whole of the northern range of the English
Lake District mountains. To the south can be seen the rounded,
mountainous form of the Isle of Man. During the Second
World War this was the site of a tracking station for anti-aircraft
gunnery practice.
[ Top ]
[ Top ] [ Print this page ]
